Univers@ of Alberta Alberta Soi1 Survey Bulletin No. SS-1 Report No. 19 ----zZY--_ ~_._ ~--...-~_------ -...- --.- Soi1Survby of\ Rocky Mountain House Sheet BY‘ T. W. PETERS and W. E. BOWSER Canada Experimental Farms Service Report Published by University of Alberta Soi1 Maps Published by Canada Department of Agriculture Distribut@ by Department of Extension -University of Alberta ._... _.-- _--... _. -. .-.. -. - . __ -.~-- ALBERTA SOIL SURVEY CO&IMITTEE Dr. J. D. Newton, Chairman,.Dept. of Soi1 Science, University of Alberta Mr. W. E. Bowser, Senior Pedologist, Canada Experimental Farms Service Mr. Wm. Odynsky, Senior soi1 Surveyor, Research Council of Alberta Dr. A. Leahey, Principal Pedologist, Canada Experimental Farms Service - l’&s report is published with the approval of the Gommittee on Agricultural Extension and Publications of the University oj Alberta COVER EXPLANATION This chimney is one of two and are a11 that remain of the old trading post of Rocky Mountain House. These remains are preserved as rare examples of the primitive chimneys built by the fur traders in their forts long before this region had a settled population. The Rocky Mountain House trading post was built in 1799 by North West Company. David Thomson wintered here in 1800-1, 1801-2, 1806-7, and from here he set out in 1807 for the discovery of the Columbia River. It was for over seventy years the most westerly and the most southerly post in the Blackfeet country and remained in operation until 1875. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................5 Location Map .....................................................................................................................................................6 Description of the Area .................................................................................................................... Settlement Histor y ....................................................................................................................................; Clin-rate and Vegetation ....................................................................................................................8 The SO& Parent Material .............................................................................................................10 Relief ..........................................................................................................................................................................11 Drainage .....................................................................................................................................................................11 Drainage System Map ......................................................................................................................... Soils ...............................................................................................................................................................................ii Soü Texture .......................................................................................................................................................14 CHEBNOZEMIC SOILS ................................................................................................................................15 Modal Black Soils ...................................................................................................................................... 16 htler loam .............................................................................................................................................16 Didsbury loam ....................................................................................................................................16 Penhold loam, silt loam .......................................................................................................17 Peace Hills sandy loam, loamy sand .........................................................................17 Ferintosh sandy loam ..................................................................................................................17 Solodic Black Soils ....................... ........................................................ .................................................. 18 Ponoka loam, silt loam ....................................................................................................18 Cygnet loam ........................................................................................................................................19 Degrading Black Soils ................................. ........... ................................................. ......................19 Benalto loam ........................................................................................................................................26 Bimbey loam, silt loam ..............................................................................................................26 Bearberry clay loam, clay ..................................................................................................26 Su&re Ioam ........................................................................................................................................21 Meadow-Like Black Soils ........_......._.... .......................................................................................... 22 penh&l meadow .........................................................................................................................22 PODZOLIC SOILS ..................................................................................................................................................22 Modal Grey Wooded Soils ........................................ ................................. ................................... 23 Breton loam ..........................................................................................................................................24 Tohnan loam .......................................................................................................................................25 Modeste loam ........................................................................................................................................25 Culp sandy loam, loamy Sand ....................................................................................... 25 Cultivation Map ..............................................................................................................centre spread Dark Grey Wooded Soils ............................................................................................................... 26 Leith sandy loam, loamy sand ..........................................................................................26 Podzol Grey Wooded Soils ...........................................................................................................26 Caroline loam, silt loam ........................................................................................................27 Lobley loam, heavy loam .........................................................................................................28 Prentice sandy loam, loamy sand ..........................................................................28 Horburg . sandy loam ................................................................................................................29 SOLONETZIC SOILS ........................................................................................................................................29 Black Solonetz Soils ................................................................................................................................36 Duagh silty clay loam, clay ...............................................................................................86 Black Solodised Solonetz Soils ........................................................................................31 Wemskiwin loam, silt loam .........................................................................................31 Kavanagh loam ................................................................................................................................31 Black Solod Soils .........................................................................................................................................32 Malmo silt loam, silty clay loam ...........................................................................32 TABLE OF CONTENTS-Continued Page GLEISOLIC SOILS ........................................ ........................................................................................... 32 Meadow Soils .................... .................... .... .......................................... ........................................................ 33 Codner ... .......................... .......... ..... ................... ............... .... ............................................... ............ 33 Navarre meadow ... ..... ...... ........................ .......................... ........................................................33 Raven silty clay loam ....................................................................................................... 33 REGOSOLIC SOILS .......................................................................................................................................