RESEARCH MANAGEMENT DIVISION LOGO The logo represents the interdisciplinary and holistic nature of the Division’s environmental research programs. Each of the five sections of the symbol represent compre- hensive programs on air, water, land, humans and their constant interaction. The sections converge to form a cohesive chain, characteristic of an effective research organization. This cohesive bonding makes the sections blossom into the environment in the form of a flower - an Albertan wild rose. Soils Inventory of the Alberta Oil San& Environmental Research Program Study Area AOSERP Report 122 July 1982 Albbrta ENVIRONMENT Research Management Division 14th Floor, Standard Life Centre 10405 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta. Canada T5J 3N4 ii ALBERTA OIL SANDS ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH PROGRAM RESEARCH REPORTS These research reports describe the results of investigations funded by the Alberta Oil Sands Environmental Research Program. This program was designed to direct and coordinate research projects concerned with the environmrntal effects of development of the Athabasca Oil Sands in Alberta. A list of AOSERP research reports published to date is included at the end of this report. For information on AOSERP reports or any other reports published by the Research Management Division, contact: Research Management Division 14th Floor, Standard Life Centre 10405 - Jasper Avenue Edmonton, Alberta ., T5J 3N4 (403) 427-3943 AOSERP Report 122 This report may be cited as: Turchenek, L.W. and J;D. Lindsay. 1932. Soils inventory of the Alberta Oil Sands Environmental Research Program study area. Prep. for the Alberta Oil Sands Environmental Research Program by Alberta Research Council. AOSERP Report 122. 240 pp. I I 1 The Hon. J.W. (Jack) Cookson Minister of the Environment 222 Legislative Building Edmonton, Alberta Si r: Enclosed is the report “Soi 1s Inventory of the Alberta Oil Sands Envi ronmental Research Program Study Area”. This report was prepared for the Research Management Division through the Alberta Oil Sands Environmental Research Program. Environment iv This report’ is made available as a public service. The Department of Envi ronment neither approves nor disagrees with the conclusions expressed herein, which are the responsibi 1 ity of the authors. SOILS INVENTORY OF THE ALBERTA OIL SANDS ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH PROGRAM STUDY AREA L.W. TURCHENEK J.D. LINDSAY Alberta Research Council Soils Department for ALBERTA OIL SANDS ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH PROGRAM AOSERP Report 122 July 1982 vi i TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES ............................................ X LIST OF FIGURES ........................................... xi LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHS ............. ..e ....................... xii LIST OF MAPS . xiv ABSTRACT . ..i............. xv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . ..a.......... xvii 1 . INTRODUCTION . 1 2. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA . 3 2.1 Location and Extent . 3 2.2 Socio-Economie History . 3 2.3 Climate . ...*..... 5 2.4 Vegetation . ...*..... 8 2.5 Physiography . 10 2.5.1 Methy Portage Plain Physiographic Section . 10 2.5.2 Firebag Hills Upland Physiographic Section . 10 2.5.3 Stony Mountain Upland Physiographic Section . 12 2.5.4 Wabasca-Athabasca Lowland Physiographic Section 12 2.5.5 Richardson Hills Upland Physiographic Section . 12 2.5.6 Great Slave Pla n Physi ographic Section . 12 2.5.7 Birch Mountains Upland Physiographic Section . 13 2.5.8 Tazin River Pla n Physi ographic Section . 13 2.6 Hydrology . 13 2.7 Bedrock Geology . .a..... 15 2.8 Surficial Deposits and Soi 1 Parent Materials . 15 3. SOILS ........................................... 22 3.1 The Soi1 Profile ................................ 22 Soi1 Formation ......................... ..i ...... 22 ;:; Soils of the Study Area ......................... 25 3.3.1 Luvisolic Order ........................ ..... 25 3.3.2 Brunisolic Order ............................. .26 3.j.3 Gleysolic Order .............................. 27 3.3.4 Regosolic Order ................ ............. 28 3.3.5 Solonetzic Order ............................. 28 3.3.6 Organic Order ............. ..d ................ 3.3.7 Cryosolic Order .............................. :Fi 3.4 Soils and Ecological Systems .................... 32 3.5 Resume of Soils Information Pertinent to the AOSERP Study Area ............................... 34 4.0 METHODOLOGY ..................................... 37 4.1 Classification and Mapping Systems .............. 37 vi i i _TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONTLNUED) Page 4.1 .l Ecological Land Classification ................ 37 4.1.2 Soi 1 Survey ................................... 39 4.2 Descriptive Methods and Terminology .............. 40 4.2.1 Soi1 Classification System .................... 40 4.2.2 Terminology for Describing Soils .............. 40 4.2.3 Landform Classification System ................ 40 4.2.3.1 Genetic Materials ............................. 41 4.2.3.2 Material Modif iers ............................ 44 4.2.3.3 Surface Express ion ............................ 44 4.2.3.4 Slope ......................................... 46 4.2.3.5 Modifying Processes ........................... 4.2.3.6 Qua1 ifying Descriptors ........................ 2 4.2.4 Vegetation Classification System .............. 48 4.3 Mapping Procedure ................................ 54 4.4 Inspection, Density and Reliability .............. 4.5 Mapping Convent ions .............................. :8 5. DESCRIPTION OF ECOLOGICAL UNITS .................. 64 5.1 Ecoreg ions ....................................... 64 5.1 .l Boreal Mixedwood Ecoregion .................... 65 5.1.2 Northern Boreal Ecoregion ..................... 69 Ecodistricts ..................................... 71 ::2.1 Ecodistricts of the Boreal Mixedwood Ecoregion 71 5.2.1 .l Garson Plain .................................. 71 5.2.1.2 Hangingstone Plain ............................ 5.2.1.3 Brule Plain ................................... :2 5.2.1.4 McMurray Lowland .............................. 5.2.1.5 Clearwater Plain .............................. :; 5.2.1.6 Steepbank Plain ............................... 74 5.2.1.7 Hartley Plain ................................. 5.2.1.8 Dover Plain ................................... :: 5.2.1.9 MacKay Plain ......... ., ........................ 76 5.2.1.10 Fort Hills Upland ............................. 5.2.1.11 Johnson Lake Plain ............................ E 5.2.1.12 Muskeg Mountain Upland ........................ 78 5.2.1.13 Wabasca Plain ................................. 5.2.1.14 Algar Plain ................................... :; 5.2.1.15 Dunkirk Plain ................................. 80 5.2.1.16 Thickwood Hills Upland ........................ 80 5.2.1.17 Cheecham Hills Escarpment ..................... 81 5.2.1.18 House Plain ................................... 5.2.1.19 Richardson Hills Upland ....................... ii: 5.2.1.20 Muskeg River Plain ............................ 82 5.2.1.21 Embarras Plain ................................ 5.2.1.22 Buckton Plain ................................. 83' 5.2.1.23 Athabasca Del ta Plain ......................... 84 ix TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONCLUDED) Page 5.2.2. Ecodistricts of the Northern Boreal Ecoregion 84 5.2.2.1 Birch Mountains Upland ........................ 84 5.2.2.2 Birch Mountains Escarpment .................... 5.2.2.3 Gardiner Upland ............................... 8: 5.2.2.4 Mclvor Plain ................................... 5.2.2.5 Flett Lake Plain .............................. i: 6. DESCRIPTION OF SOILS IN THE AOSERP STUDY AREA .... 87 6.1 Algar Soi1 Group ................................. 87 6.2 Bitumount Soi1 Group ............................. 89 Buckton Soi1 Group ............................... 91 2 Chipewyan Soi1 Group ............................. 6.5 Disturbed Land Type .............................. il; 6.6 Dover Soi1 Group ................................. 95 6.7 Eaglesham Soi1 Group ............................. 98 6.8 Firebag Soi1 Group ............................... 103 6.9 Heart Soi1 Group ................................. 106 6.10 Horse River Soi1 Group ........................... 110 6.11 Joslyn Soi1 Group ................................ 113 6.12 Kearl Soi1 Group ................................. 115 6.13 Kenzie Soi1 Group ................................ 117 6.14 Kinosis Soi1 Group ............................... '120 6.15 Legend Soi1 Group ................................ 122 6.16 Livock Soi1 Group ................................ 125 6.17 Mamawi Soi1 Group ................................ 127 6.18 McMurray Soi1 Group .............................. 129 6.19 Mikkwa Soi1 Group ................................ 131 6.20 Mildred Soi1 Group ............................... 134 6.21 Namur Soi1 Group ................................. 137 6.22 Rock Land Type ................................... 140 6.23 Rough Broken Land Type ........................... 142 6.24 Ruth Lake Soi1 Group ............................. 143 6.25 Steepbank Soi1 Group ............................. 145 6.26 Surmont Soi1 Group ............................... 146 7. SOIL SURVEY INTERPRETATIONS ...................... 149 7 :1 Soi1 Interpretations for Forest Management ....... 149 7.2 Agricultural Interpretations ..................... 153 7.3 Engineering Interpretations ...................... 154 7.4 Other Land Capability Classifications ............ 158 7.5 Sensitivity of Soils to Acidic Deposition ........ 158 8. REFERENCES CITED ................................. 164 9. APPENDIX ......................................... 171 9.1 Photographs Illustrating