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BC Envir&hent SOILS OF THE ASHCROFT MAP AREA Report No. 26 British Columbia Soi1 Survey G. Young, M.A. Fenger and H.A. Luttmerding Integrated Management Branch Victoria, British Columbia 1992 Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data Young, G. (Gavin), 1947- Soils of the Ashcroft map area (MOE technical report, ISSN 0821-0942 ; 23) (British Columbia soi1 survey, ISSN 03755886 ; report no. 26) Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 0-7718-8560-l 1. Soils - British Columbia - Ashcroft Region. 2. Soils - British Columbia - Ashcroft Region - Maps. 1. Fenger, M. A., 1949- . II. Luttmerding, H. A. III. British Columbia. B.C. Environment. IV. Title. V. Series. VI. Series: British Columbia soi1 survey ; report no. 26. 5599.1 .B7Y 68 1992 63 1.4’7’7 1172 C87-092050-2 0 Copyright 1992 B.C. Environment. SOILS OF THE ASHCROFT MAP AREA Acknowledgements Gratitude is expressedto numerous individuals who have contributed to the preparation of this report, particularly to P.N. Sprout, and H.A. Luttmerding who provided soi1 cor-relation services and gave advice for the preparation of the report. Appreciation is also extended to R.J. Williams, who prepared the climate section in the introduction, and to J. van Barneveld, and J. M. Ryder, whose advice regarding forest zonation and surficial geology, respectively, provided the necessary information which helped for-m the basis of the soils report. Thanks are also extended to Dr. A. van Ryswyk, R. Mitchell and Dr. A. McLean in Kamloops for reviewing the report. Thanks is also due to Barb Webb who did the initial Word processing and to Christine Keumper who completed the first draft. Thanks to Anne Hanson and Hally Hoffmeyer who helped with the generalizing of the figures. Thanks also to Darla Cooper who incorporated all the initial editorial comments and Ron Walker who laid out the report and drafted the figures. Credit must also go to many others too numerous to mention who contributed both in the field, laboratory and office. G. Young was the party chief in charge of the soi1 mapping in the early 1970’s and prepared a first draft of Chapters four and five of the soi1 report before leaving govemment service. At that time, M. Fenger assumed the responsibility for completing the project by adding Chapters one to three and the Appendices, as well as clarifying the Tables in Chapters four and five. Specially acknowledged is the Land Resource Research Centre, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa for providing the cartography and printing of the soi1 maps in the map pocket at the end of this report. Also acknowledged is Desktop Publishing Ltd., who prepared the publication-ready manuscript of the report. Cover Photo: Kamloops Lake Photo by: D.A. Demarchi . 111 SOILS OF THE ASHCROFT MAP AREA Abstract This report describes the soils, landforms and the environment of the Ashcroft map area, located in south central British Columbia between 120” and 122” west longitude and 50” 00’ to 51” 00’ north latitude. The report consists of five chapters. The first provides a general overview of natural characteristics of the map area, including bedrock, surfrcial materials, vegetation zones and climate. This information is abstracted from previous surveys and studies from a wide variety of disciplines. A brief history of land use, present economic activities, and resource capabilities is also included. Survey methods, reliability, and scale are discussed in the second chapter of the report. The initial steps for stratifying the landscape and constructing the map legend are explained. A general overview of the soils, soi1 classification (which follows the 1973 Soi1 Classification for Canada) ànd groupings of soi1 associations is presented in the third chapter of the report. Cross sectional diagrams and oblique aerial photographs are used to show the different types of landscapes in the area. The chapter also provides an understanding of how various types of soi1 developed in the area. The fourth chapter describes the individual soi1 associations and their respective components. Each soi1 association is described in terms of its physiographic region, vegetation zone, bedrock and landfotms. A description of extent, distribution and soi1 development of major and minor portions of the components is given. Soi1 textures, coarse fragment content and drainage are also indicated. The first part of the fifth chapter describes the capability rating classes and subclasses for forestry, agriculture and grazing use. Class and subclass limitations are then assigned to each soil association in tabular form. The second portion of this chapter describes basic concepts for understanding soi1 fertility by discussing soi1 parameters measured in the laboratory such as soi1 teaction, organic matter content, phosphorous, nitrogen, cation exchange capacity and base saturation. General soi1 fertility ratings are then assigned to each soi1 association in tabular for-m. The third portion of this chapter provides surface soi1 erosion and mass movement hazard ratings for a11soi1 associations.The fourth portion of this chapter describes some soil properties significant to engineering such as depth to watertable and bedrock, texture (unified classification) and percent Sand, silt and clay for each soi1 association. The final portion of the chapter describesthe soil parametersused for assigning suitability ratings and limitations to each association for uses such as septic tank absorption fields, sewage lagoons, shallow excavations, sand and grave1 sources, irrigation and topsoil. Appendix A describes all previous soi1 surveys within and adjacent to the Ashcroft map area. Appendix B provides a complete list and shows the locations of described and sampled soi1 associations. Appendix C contains soi1 profile descriptions and chemical analyses for the more widespread and important soi1 associations in the map area. The map pocket in the back of the report contains 1:lOO 000 scale soil and landform maps for the Kamloops, Merritt, Ashcroft and Lytton map sheet areas. iv SOILS OF THE ASHCROFT MAP AREA How to use the soi1 and landform report and maps This report describes the soils, the environment in which they occur, and their suit- ability (or limitations) for specific uses. The maps at the back of the report show the distribution and extent of various soi1 associations and landforms. Individual soi1 associations and landforms are identifîed by unique symbols whose characteristics are briefly described in the map legend. A more thorough description of the soi1 associations is contained in this report. The soi1 and landform maps may be used by planners, managers, and researchers to evaluate a wide variety of land uses. The maps represent reconnaissance scale of survey and are intended as an overview for planning pur-posesand general manage- ment decisions. Site specific applications Will require additional on-site inspection. V SOILS OF THE ASHCROFT MAP AREA Table of Contents Page Acknowledgements ................................. iii Abstract ....................................... iv How to use the soi1 and landform report and maps ................. v Table of Contents .................................. vi List of Figures ................................... xi List of Tables ..................................... xii List of Plates .................................... xiii List of Maps .................................... xiii CHAPTER ONE Introduction 1.1 Location, Extent and Access ..................... 1 1.2 History ................................. 1 1.3 Economie Activity ........................... 3 1.4 Climate ................................ 3 1.5 Physiographic Regions and Drainage ................ 12 1.6 Bedrock Geology .......................... 14 1.7 Landforms and Surficial Materials (Soi1 Parent Materials) ..... 15 1.7.1 Glacial History ........................ 15 1.7.2 Recent Events ........................ 16 1.7.3 Distribution of Landforms within the Ashcroft Map Area . 22 1.8 Vegetation .............................. 22 1.9 Agriculture. ............................. 32 1.10 Forestry ............................... 34 1.11 Wildlife and Waterfowl ....................... 34 1.12 Fisheries ............................... 35 1.13 Recreation .............................. 35 CHAPTER TWO Soi1Survey, Mapping Proceduresand Mapping Philosophy 2.1 Mapping Procedures ......................... 39 2.2 Reliability .............................. 39 2.3 MapUnits .. 1 ........................... 40 CHAPTER THREE A General Summary of Soils of the Ashcroft Map Area 3.1 Factors Affecting Soi1 Development in the Map Area ....... 45 3.2 The Soil Association Defined .................... 45 3.3 Soils of the Grassland Areas; the Chernozems ........... 49 3.4 Soils of the Lower Elevation Forested Areas; the Brunisols .... 49 vi SOILS OF THE ASHCROFT MAP AREA Table of Contents (Continued) 3.5 Soils of the Mid-Elevation Forested Areas; the Luvisols ...... 50 3.6 Soils of the High Elevation Forested Areas; the Podzols ...... 51 3.7 Soils of the Floodplains and Poorly Drained Areas; the Regosols, Gleysols and Organics ........................ 51 CHAPTER FOUR A Description of the Soi1Associations and their Characteristics 4.1 Map Symbols ............................ 67 4.2 Landform Definitions ........................ 68 4.3 Definition of Soi1 Association Components ............ 70 4.4 Soi1 Moisture Phases ........................ 72 4.5 Slope Classes ............................ 73 4.6 Soi1 Drainage Classes ........................ 74 4.7 Description of the Soi1 Associations