The University of Alberta Research Council of Alberta Bulletin No. SS-7 Report No. 87 RECONNAISSANCE Soi1Survey of the BuckLake (NE83B) and Wabamun Lake (E112 836) Areas BY J. D. LINDSAY and W. ODYNSKY SoiEs Division, Research Council of Alberta AND T. W. PETERS and W. E. BOWSER Research Branch, Canada Department of Agricdture ALBERTA SOIL SURVEY REPORT No. 24 1968 Report printed by The University of Alberta Map published by the Canada Department of Agriculture Distributed by the Department of Extension, The University of Alberta ALBERTA SOIL SURVEY COMMITTEE Dr. J. A. Toogood, Chairman, Department of Soi1 Science, The University of Alberta Mr. W. E. Bowser, Senior Pedologist, Research Branch, Canada Department of Agriculture Mr. W. Odynsky, Head, Soils Division, Research Council of Alberta Dr. W. A. Ehrlich, Research Coordinator (Pedology), Canada Department of Agriculture This report is published with the approval of the Alberta Soi1 Survey Committee and with permission of the Committee on Agricultural Extension and Publications of The University of Alberta. COVER: Vertical nerial pkotogrnplz of Nortlz Saskatclzewa?z River xear Genesee. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Acknowledgments 7 Preface ,..., ,....,... ,.. .,...,,..,,....,. ..,.......... 9 General Description of the Area Location and Extent 11 Historical Development ..,,..... 11 Settlement and Agricultural Development 12 Transportation 16 Physiography and Topography .., ,. 16 Geology ,..., ..,,.... .., ...,.. 18 Drainage 21 Vegetation .’ ‘: 21 Climate .., ,.. ,.. ,.., .,. ,.. 24 Soils Soi1 Classification 27 Soi1 Mapping .,... Description of Soils 27 Chernozemic Soils 32 Peace Hills series ..,, Ferintosh series 9; Ponoka series ,..,.,... 33 Rimbey series .,. 33 Cygnet series 34 Mica series ., ..,. ..,.. 34 Mewassin series ..,. Falun series 85 Winterburn series 36 Majeau series 36 La Nonne series Solonetzic Soils .., ,.. 37 Kavanagh series 38 Kawood series Dnister series ., .., :9 Ministik series Wabamun series 40 Thorsby -series ., .,, 41 Lowater series ,.., 41 Podzolic Soils 42 Uncas series Dekalta series .., ., ,.. .., ,... 48 Benalto series 44 Macola series .., ,... .,... ,.. Keephills series 45 Judah series ,... .., Carvel series 2 Brightbank series .., ,... Leith series 47 Cooking Lake series 49 Breton series ,. 50 Hubalta series ,,... .,... 50 Maywood series Highvale series ,... 5: Kathleen series 52 Glory series 53 Tolman series Culp series :4 Modeste series ,... .., ,... ,. Nakamun Series ;t Clouston series .,... .,... ,.. ..,.....,,...,,,.. ,...,,... ..,,.,.. ., ,. 55 - TABLE OF CONTENTS-Continued Page Caroline series ..,,.,.. .,.,,..,,.... .._........,.. 56 O’Chiese series .._...... 56 Prentice series Horburg series .._..................... 5; Baptiste series 58 Regosolic Soils ,..... 58 Alluvium and Beach Sands ,..................... Codesa series .._.................... 59 Gleysolic Soils _... .._... 59 Onoway series 60 Raven series .._....................... 60 Codner series Demay series .._......... 6: Organic Soils ,........................ Eaglesham series z3 Kenzie series 63 Chen&al and Physical Analyses 64 Soi1 Reaction ,... .,... ,.. ,.. .._................. 64 Carbon, Nitrogen, Carbon-Nitrogen ratio 64 Cation Exchange .._... 64 Particle Size Distribution Analytical Methods 68 Appendix 1 Soi1 Interpretation .._................................ ., Soi1 Productivity Rating si Soi1 Classification in Relation to Assessment 70 Soi1 Management 71 Potentials for Farming .._........ 73 Appendix II Definitions of Descriptive Terms Glossary 78 TABLES Page Table 1. Number of farms and improvement statistics 1921-1961 12 Table 2. Crop acreages in the map area 1921-1961 13 Table 3. Livestock numbers in the map area 1921-1961 13 Table 4. Acreage and percentage distribution of topographie classes in the map areas ..................... ...................................................... ................... ................. .... .... 17 Table 5. Mean meteorological data for stations in the map areas .......... 25 Table 6. Frost-free period at selected stations in or near the map areas 26 Table 7. Length of frost-free period and degree days above 42 degrees Fahrenheit for the climatic zones of the map areas ........................ 26 Table 8. Classification of the soils ...... ......................................................... ........................ 29 Table 9. Analyses of representative soils .... ........................ ......... ........... ........ ........... 65 Table 10. Comparative soi1 productivity rating for the soi1 series on undulating topography .................... ................. ......................... .... ..... ......................... 69 Table 11. Summary of soi1 productivity rating acreages for the Buck Lake and Wabamun Lake map areas ..................................... ............... ............ 70 -- FIGURES Page Figure 1. Location map 10 Figure 2. Map showing the cultivated, abandoned, and virgin lands in the Buck Lake area at time of survey _. 14 Figure 3. Map showing the cultivated, abandoned and virgin lands in the Wabamun Lake area at time of survey 15 Figure 4. An exposure of the Edmonton Formation. This saline material is the parent material for the Kavanagh and Kawood soi1 series ,. ,.. ...,. ,. ,... 18 Figure 5. The Paskapoo Formation. The parent material for the Ben- alto and Modeste soi1 series .., ,. ,.... ,. 19 Figure 6. Hummocky topography typical of the pitted deltaic area in the vicinity of Carvel ,... ,.. 20 Figure 7. Soi1 parent material map for the Buck Lake area 22 Figure 8. Soi1 parent material map for the Wabamun Lake Area 23 Figure 9. Diagram of a soi1 nrofile showing various horizons 28 Figure 10. An area of Ministik soils in the fireground with an “island” of Modeste soils (Paskapoo Formation) in background 40 Figure 11. An area of Macola soils in the Sangudo district. These soils occur on a range of topographie classes varying from un- dulating to rolling 45 Figure 12. Brightbank soi1 profile showing distinct bands .,. 48 Figure 13. An area of Cooking Lake soils recently cleared 49 Figure 14. Highvale soi1 profile showing distinct Ae Horizon which tends to flow down the exposure .._.......... 52 Figure 15. An area of Raven soi1 utilized for forage production on the Paddle River floodplain .., 61 Figure 16. An area of Eaglesham soils adjacent to Lowater Lake 63 Figure 17. Chart showing proportions of soi1 separates 76 Soi1 Maps and Rating Maps Inside Back Cover ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The soi1 survey of the Buck Lake and Wabamun Lake areas was conducted as a joint project of the Research Council of Alberta, Canada Department of Agriculture and The University of Alberta. The Research Council of Alberta supplied the funds for the field work and data compilation for the Wabamun Lake map area; the Canada Department of Agriculture undertook similar responsibility for the Buck Lake map area. The analysis of soi1 samples was con- ducted in a unified laboratory with funds being supplied by both the Research Council of Alberta and the Canada Department of Agriculture. The University of Alberta provided the office and laboratory accommodation and undertook to publish the report. The township plans, aerial photographs and field maps were ob- tained through the Technical Division, Alberta Department of Lands and Forests. The soi1 and rating maps of the Buck Lake and those for the Wabamun Lake areas were drawn and published by the carto- graphie section of the Research Branch, Canada Department of Agriculture, Ottawa. In the Wabamun Lake map area field assistance was given by Messrs. D. Hanson, P. K. Heringa, A. G. Twardy, C. N. Van Waas, U. Wittneben, C. F. Wulff, and A. Wynnyk. In the Buck Lake map area the field assistants were: R. Arguilles, J. A. Carson, W. Hinman, H. J. Hortie, E. Jensen, A. A. Kjearsgaard, J. N. Leat, 0. Ree, B. Russell, F. Schroer, T. Sommerfeldt and R. E. Wells. Mrs. A. Bembridge assisted in the compilation and proof reading of this report and Mr. R. M. Ditchburn assisted with the prepara- tion of the maps, tables and figures. PREFACE This report describes the soiIs of two mapped areas-the Buck Lake and the Wabamun Lake areas. These two areas lie geographi- cally adjacent and are characterized by somewhat similar soils. The more northerly of the two map areas, the Wabamun Lake, was in- vestigated by the Soils Division, Research Council of Alberta while the Buck Lake map area was a project of the Research Branch, Canada Department of Agriculture. The original soi1 survey work in this area was carried out by Wyatt et al.” in 1930. In 1955 Collins and Swann”* published a re- port and maps of the Lac Ste. Anne area describing the surficial deposits. These studies provided useful reference information for the present survey of the area. The present surveys were of a reconnaissance nature in which traverses were made at one mile inter-vals with soi1 inspections ap- proximately every half mile along the lines of traverse. Aerial photos were used to assist in the establishment of soi1 and topo- graphy boundary Iines. The publication includes colored soi1 maps and soi1 rating maps. The soi1 maps, printed on a scale of 2 miles to 1 inch, show the location and distribution of the various soi1 areas and the associated topographical features. The soi1 rating maps, at a scale of 4 miles to 1 inch, are interpretive maps in which the main landscape features, soils and topography, are evaluated and given a relative productivity rating. *W~att, Newton and Mather. Soi1 Survey of Ste. Anne Sheet, The University of