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ROGER DUHAMEL, F.R.S.C. QUEEN’S PRINTER AND CONTROLLER OF STATIONERY OTTAWA, 1961’ Cat. No. A57-417 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The British Columbia Department of Agriculture surveyed the soils of the Upper Columbia River valley. The Water Resources Branch, Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources, provided financial assistance, maps and aerial photographs. The Provincial Department of Lands and Forests also supplied maps and data. The Provincial Department of Mines provided chemical analyses. The Canada Department of Agriculture drafted the final copy of the soi1 map for lithographing and published this report. Dr. A. Leahey, Research Branch, Canada Department of Agriculture, assisted in the classification and correlation of the soils and critically reviewed the manuscript. Over a number of years the soils were mapped by P. N. Sprout, A. J. Green, A. L. van Ryswyk, J. D. Lindsay and J. S. D. Smith. The late Dr. W. E. Cockfield, Geological Survey of Canada, made annual field visits and provided information regarding the deposits from which the soils were derived. Mr. A. McLean, Ecologist, Canada Range Experimental Farm, Kamloops, wrote the section on native vegetation. Dr. C. A. Rowles, Professor of Soi1 Science, University of British Columbia,. made field visits and gave valuable advice. The British Columbia Department of Agriculture Reclamation Committee, of which the senior author is secretary, estimated the farm duty of water of each potentially irrigable soi1 type. Mr. J. W. Awmack, District Agriculturist, Cranbrook, and other officiais of the British Columbia and Canada departments of agriculture provided advice, descriptive material, and other assistance. 3 96489-O-l& CONTENTS PAGE LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ........................................ 7 LISTOFTABLES .................................................. 7 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................ 3 INTRODUCTION . 9 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA Location and Extent ........................................... 11. History and Development ....................................... 11 Towns, Population and Industries ................................ 12 Schools, Churches and Communications .......................... 13 Transportation ................................................. 14 Agriculture ........................ ........................... 14 Climate ........................................................ 17 Native Vegetation .............................................. 21 Physiography .................................................. 25 Drainage ....................................................... 25 Geology of Soi1 Parent Materials ................................. 26 . SOILS Field Methods ................................................. 30 Soi1 Development .......................... ................... 30 Soi1 Classification .............................................. 33 DESCRIPTIONS OF SOILS 1. Dark Brown Soils .............................................. 35 Saha Loam ............. ................................. 35 2. Brown Wooded Soils ............................................ 37 Wyclifie Silt Loam ......................................... 37 ~ ’ Elko Loam ................................................ 39 Misko Loam ............................................... 41 Flagstone Loamy Sand ...................................... 42 Mayook Silt Loam .......................................... 44 Nokie Series ................................................ 46 Lakit Sandy Loam ......................................... 48 PAGE 3. Gray Wooded Soils . 49 Kinbasket Silt Loam . _ . 50 Cedrus Loam . .._...._...................... 52 Brisco Silty Clay Loam . , . _ . 54 WaptaSilt-Loam . 55 Madias Silty Clay Loam . _ . _ _ . 56 Nestor Loam . 58 4. Podzolized Gray Wooded Soils . _ . , . , . _ . _ . 59 Yoho Clay Loam ..___..................................,... 60 Bugaboo Silt Loam _.........................___........... 63 Dogtooth Sandy Loam . 64 Narboe Sandy Loam . .._........... 66 Wonah Sandy Loam .._.................._................. 6’7 Palliser Very Fine Sandy Loam . 68 Purcell Silt Loam . _ . _ _ . _ . 70 Blaeberry Silty Clay Loam . _ _ . _ . 71 Golden Sandy Loam . 73 5. The Wigwam Soi1 Complex . _ . 74 6. Regosolic Soils . _ _ . , . 77 McMurdo Sandy Loam . 77 Hamber Sandy Loam . 78 Nowitka Soi1 Complex . , . .. _ . , _ _ . 80 7. Organic Soils Deep Peat ,................................................ 84 8. Miscellaneous Areas Rough Mountainous Land . 84 Rock Outcroppings ..,...................................... 85 Bluffs and Ravines . 85 Swamp .,.........___....._.......,.._,.........__.....__.. 85 Ponds . 85 Lakes . 85 APPROXIMATE ACREAGES OF VARIOUS SOILS AND OTHER AREAS 85 CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO SUITABILITY FOR IRRIGATION . 85 SOIL MANAGEMENT . .._....._._...._........................._._ 88 CHEMICAL ANALYSES . ..__....__..... 88 MINOR ELEMENTS . ..<.__......................<.__...._........ 95 OTHER METALLIC ELEMENTS < _ _ . _ . _ . 96 PHYSICAL ANALYSES . 98 APPENDIX TABLES . _ . _ _ . _ . _ . 101 GLOSSARY . .._.......................................... 103 7 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS FIGURE , PAGE 1. Map of British Columbia showing location of soil-surveyed areas . 4 2. Lake Windermere . y. , . _ . 13 3. Monthly precipitation patterns . 20 4. Representative soi1 profiles . 32 5. Elko-Saha soils and the Purcell Mountains . 35 6. Irrigated Wycliffe silt loam . , . ;. 38 7. Flagstone loamy Sand, duned phase . 43 8. Mayook silt loam bordering Columbia Lake . 45 9. Farmstead on Yoho clay loam . 61 10. Topography and vegetation, Blaeberry silty clay loam . 71 11. Nowitka soils, Columbia River flats . 80 12. Soi1 textural classes . 106 LIST OF TABLES TABLE PAGE 1. Average seasonal temperatures .................................. 18 2. Extreme temperatures and average snowfall ..................... 19 3. High and low precipitation ..................................... 19 4. Classification of soils ........................................... 34 5. Approximate acreages of soils ................................... 86 6. Acreages of soils according to suitability for irrigation .............. 8’7 7. Total percentages of nitrogen and phosphorus and pH in seven soi1 profiles .................................................... 89 8. Total percentages of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium in six soi1 profiles ............................................ 91 9. Total percentages of silica and sesquioxides in six soi1 profiles ...... 93 10. Exchange capacity, percentage base saturation and exchangeable cations in ten soi1 profiles ................................... 94 11. Boron, cobalt and manganese in parent materials of four Brown Woodedsoils ............................................... 96 12. Metallic elements in three soi1 profiles ............................ 97 13. Particle size distributions and textural classes in three Brown Wooded soils ...................................................... 98 14. Particle size distributions and textural classes in five Gray Wooded soils.. ..................................................... 99 15. Particle size distributions and textural classes in five Podzolized Gray Wooded soils ......... .‘., .................................. 100 A Average monthly and annual temperatures ....................... 101 B Frost-free periods .............................................. 101 C ANerage monthly and annual precipitation .............. + ......... 102 INTRODUCTION This is the seventh of a series of reports describing the soils of British Columbia. The soi1 surveys are co-operative projects, the main participants being the British Columbia and Canada departments of agriculture and the University of British Columbia. Other departments of the Canada and British Columbia governments also assisted when mutual interests existed in the areas being sur’veyed. Each report is complete in itself. TO present information on soils is the primary purpose, but subjects that have a bearing on the nature and ‘utilization of the soils are included. The Upper Columbia River vahey is in a pioneer stage of agricultural development because of the dry summer climate and the need of irrigation. Although there may not be further development of irrigated agriculture in the area for some time, the valley was surveyed to establish a- right to water for the irrigable land before assignment of water-for international storage and hydroelectric power. The soils were surveyed for suitability for irrigation as well as in a detailed reconnaissance. Land class and soi1 maps were prepared but only the soi1 map is included in this report. Table 5 gives the acreages of the different soi1 types and the amounts suit- able for agriculture. In Table 6 is shown the suitability of the soi1 types for irrigation farming. Up to now the irrigated land has been limited to small acreages that could be developed at comparatively low cost. The surveyed area has many resources and attractions. Tourists find the scenery outstanding, and each year increasing numbers pass through the country to and from the nearby national parks. The climate is characterized by dry summers and clear air. In the area are valuable minerals, timber and game. Four soi1 maps on a scale of one inch to one mile accompany this report. The soils are differentiated by symbols and colors as explained in the legends. 9 964894-2 - GENERAL, DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA Location and Extent The surveyed part of the Upper Columbia River valley is in the Rocky Mountain