HomeMy WebLinkAboutAPA1725SOIL SURVEY OF
Goldstream-Nenana Area, Alaska
United States Department of Agriculture
Soil Conservation Service
in cooperation with
University of Alaska
Institute of Agri.:;ultural Sciences
This is a publication of the National Cooperative Soil Survey, a joint effort of the United States De-
partment of Agriculture and agencies of the States, usually the Agricultural Expel"iment Stations. In some
surveys, other Federal and local agencies also contribute. The Soil Conservation Service has leadership for
the Federal part of the National Cooperative Soil Survey. In line with Department of Agriculture policies,
benefits of this program are available to all who need the information, regardless of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, marital status, or age.
Major fieldwork for this soil survey was completed in the period 1958-72. Soil names and descriptions
were approved in 1973. Unless otherwise indicated, statements in the publication refer to conditions in
the area in 1973. This survey was made cooperatively by the Soil Conservation Service and the Univer-
sity of Alaska, Institute of Agricultural Sciences. It is part of the technical assistance furnished to the
Alaska Soil Conservation District.
Soil maps in this survey may be copied without permission, but any enlargement of these maps could
cause misunderstanding of the detail of mapping and result in erroneous interpretations. Enlarged maps
do not show small areas of contrasting soils that could have been shown at a larger mapping scale.
HOW TO USE THIS SOIL SURVEY
T HIS SOIL SURVEY contains information
that can be applied in managing farms and
woodlands; in selecting sites for roads, ponds,
buildings, and other structures; and in judging
the suitability of tracts of land for farming,
industry, and recreation.
Locatinq Soils
All the soils of the Goldstream-Nenana Area
are shown on the detailed map at the back of
this publication. This map consists of many
sheets made from aerial photographs. Each
sheet is numbered to correspond with a number
on the Index to Map Sheets.
On each sheet of the detailed map, soil areas
are outlined and are identified by symbols. All
areas marked with the same symbol are the
same kind of soil. The soil symbol is inside the
area if there is enough room; otherwise, it is
outside and a pointer shows where the symbol
belongs.
Findinq and Usinq Information
The "Guide to Mapping Units" can be used
to find information. This guide lists all the
soils of the county in alphabetic order by map
symbol and gives the management group ( capa-
bility classification) of each. It shows the page
where each soil is described and the page for
the management group and woodland suitabili-
ty group in which the soil has been placed.
Individual colored maps showing the relative
suitability or degree of limitation of soils for
many specific purposes can be developed by
using the soil map and the information in the
text. Translucent material can be used as an
overlay over the soil map and colored to show
soils that have the same limitation or suitabili-
ty. For example, soils that have a slight limita-
tion for a given use can be colored green, those
with a moderate limitation can be colored yel-
low, and those with a severe limitation can be
colored red.
Farmers and tho'8e who work with farmers
can learn about use and management of the
soils from the soil descriptions and from the
discussions of the management groups, and the
woodland suitability groups.
Foresters and others can refer to the section
"Use of the Soils as Woodland," where the soils
of the county are grouped according to their
suitability for trees.
Game managers, sportsmen, and others can
find information about soils and wildlife in the
section "Wildlife."
Community planners and others can read
about soil properties that affect the choice of
sites for dwellings and industrial buildings in
the section "Engineering Uses of the Soils."
Engineers and builders can find, under "En-
gineering Uses of the Soils," tables that con-
tain test data, estimates of soil properties, and
information about soil features that affect en-
gineering practices.
Scientists and others can read about how the
soils formed and how they are classified in the
section "Formation and Classification of Soils."
Newcomers in the Goldstrea~N enana Area
may be especially interested in the section "Gen-
eral Soil Map," where broad patterns of soils
are described. They may also be interested in
the information about the Area in the section
"General Nature of the Area."
Contents
Page
Suininary of tables _____________________________ _
How this survey was ~nade_______________________ 1
General soil InaP--------------------------------2
1. Fairbanks-Steese-Gilmore association________ 2
2. Minto-Goldstream association---------------2
3. Goldstream-Tanana association______________ 3
4. Nenana-Tanana-Donnelly association_________ 4
Descriptions of the soils ___ ~----------------------4
Bradway series________________________________ 6
Br-Bradway very fine sandy loam____________ 6
Donnelly series--------------------------------6
DoA-Donnelly silt loam, nearly leveL________ 6
DoB-Donnelly silt loam, gently sloping_______ 6
DoF-Donnelly silt loam, steep_______________ 7
Ester series___________________________________ 7
EsD-Ester silt loam, strongly sloping________ 7
EsE-Ester silt loam, moderately steep________ 7
EsF -Ester silt loam, steep___________________ 7
Fairbanks series_______________________________ 7
FaA-Fairbanks silt loam, nearly leveL_______ 8
FaB-Fairbanks silt loam, gently sloping______ 8
FaC-Fairbanks silt loam, moderately sloping__ 8
FaD-Fairbanks silt loam, strongly sloping____ 8
FaE-Fairbanks silt loam, moderately steep___ 8
FaF-Fairbanks silt loam, steep______________ 8
Gilmore series_________________________________ 8
GmB-Gilmore silt loam, gently sloping_______ 9
GmC-Gilmore silt loam, moderately sloping___ 9
GmD-Gilmore silt loam, strongly sloping_____ 9
GmE-Gilmore silt loam, moderately steep____ 9
GmF~Gilmore silt loam, steep________________ 9
GrB-Gilmore silt loam, very shallow, gently
sloping-----------------------------------9
GrC-Gilmore silt loam, very shallow,
moderately sloping------------------------9
GrE-Gilmore silt loam, very shallow,
moderately steep __________ ----------------9
GrF-Gilmore silt loacm, very shallow, steep____ 10
Goldstream series -----------------------------10
GtA-Goldstream silt loam, nearly leveL______ 10
GtB-Goldstream silt loam, gently sloping_____ 10
Goodpaster series ______________________________ . 10
GuA-Goodpaster silt loam___________________ 11
Lemeta series_________________________________ 11
Lp--Lemeta peat____________________________ 11
Mine tailings__________________________________ 11
Me-Mine tailings___________________________ 11
Minto series ----------------------------------11
MnA-Minto silt loam, nearly leveL___________ 12
MnB-Minto silt loam, gently sloping:._________ 12
MnC-Minto silt loam, moderately sloping_____ 12
MnD-Minto silt loam, strongly sloping_______ 12
Nenana series_________________________________ 12
NaA-Nenana silt loam, nearly leveL_________ 13
NaB-Nenana silt loam, gently sloping________ 13
Page
NeA-Nenana silt loam, sandy substratum,
nearly level-------------------------------13
NeB-Nenana silt loam, sandy substratum,
gently sloping_____________________________ 13
Salchaket series-------------------------------13
Sc-Salchaket very fine sandy loam____________ 13
Saulich series_________________________________ 13
SuA-Saulich silt loam, nearly leveL__________ 14
SuB-Saulich silt loam, gently sloping_________ 14
SuC-Saulich silt loam, moderately sloping____ 14
SuD-Saulich silt loam, strongly sloping_______ 14
SuE-Saulich silt loam, moderately steep______ 14
SuF-Saulich silt loam, steep_________________ 14
Steese series----------------------------------14
SvB-Steese silt loam, gently sloping__________ 15
SvC-Steese silt loam, moderately sloping_____ 15
SvD-Steese silt loam, strongly sloping________ 15
SvE-Steese silt loam, moderately steep_______ 15
SvF-Steese silt loam, steep__________________ 15
Tanana series_________________________________ 15
Ta-Tanana silt loam________________________ 16
Volkmar series________________________________ 16
Vk-Volkmar silt loam_______________________ 16
Use and Inanage~nent of the soils__________________ 16
Land clearing_________________________________ 16
Crops and pasture_____________________________ 17
Fertilization requirements______________________ 17
Estimated yields ------------------------------17 . Capability grouping____________________________ 17
Management groups___________________________ 18
Engineering uses-of the soils______________________ 21
Engineering classification systems______________ 22
Engineering test data__________________________ 23
Estimated soil properties significant to
engineering_______________________________ 28
Engineering interpretations of the soils__________ 29
Use of the soils as woodland-----------~----------30 Site class_____________________________________ 31
Limitations and hazards________________________ 32
Woodland suitability groups____________________ 32
For~nation and classification of soils_______________ 35
Factors of soil formation_______________________ 35
Parent material -----------------------------36
Climate ------------------------------------36
Plants and animals--------------------------36
Relief --------------------------------------36 Time_______________________________________ 36
Classification of soils--------------------------36
General nature of the area_______________________ 38
Physiography and drainage_____________________ 38
Geology ---------------------------------------38
Climate --------------------------------------38
Settlement and development____________________ 40
Wildlife --------------------'------------------41 Literature cited_________________________________ 43
Glossary________________________________________ 43
Guide to ~napping units _________________ Following 44
Issued July 1977
ii
Summary of Tables
Page
Descriptions of the Soils
Approximate acreage and proportionate extent of the soils (Table 1)_______ 5
Use and Management of the Soils ·
Estimated average yields per acre of principal crops under an improved
level of management (Table 2) ----------------------------------------17
Engineering Uses of the Soils
Engineering test data (Table 3)-----------------------------------------22
Estimated soil properties significant to engineering (Table 4)______________ 24
Interpretations of engineering properties .of the soils (Table 5)____________ 26
Use of the Soils as Woodland
Board-foot volume per acre of white spruce (Table 6)______________________ 31
Cubic-foot volume per acre of birch and aspen (Table 7)___________________ 32
Formation and Classification of Soils
Classification of soil series (Table 8)--------··-----------------------------37
General Nature of the Area
Temperature and precipitation data (Table 9)______________________________ 40
Probabilities of last freezing temperatures in spring and first in
fall (Table 10) -------------------------------------------------------42
Monthly minimum temperature probability during the growing
season (Table 11)---------------------~------------------------------42
..
• \ ....
) .
SOIL SURVEY OF GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA
BY CLARENCE E. FURBUSH AND DALE B. SCHOEPHORSTER,
SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE
FIELDWORK BY CLARENCE E. FURBUSH, DALE B. SCHOEPHORSTER, JAMES A. DeMENT, CHARLES F. HOTZ, ROBERT
B. McNUTT, AND DUPREE SANDERS, SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE, IN COOPERATION WITH
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA, INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
T HE GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA is partly in
the Tanana Valley of interior Alaska and partly
in the Yukon-Tanana Upland north of the valley
(fig. 1). The Area includes about 510 square miles in
a strip 2 to 15 miles wide and 68 miles long. It extends
from Ester Dome southwestward between the north
bank of the Tanana River and a high ridge north of
the Goldstream Valley to Nenana, and south from
Nenana to the south boundary of T. 8 S. Although
Clear Air Force Base is located in the Area, it was
not mapped.
How This Survey Was Made
Soil scientists made this survey to learn what kinds
of soil are in the Goldstream-Nenana Area, where they
are located, and how they can be used. The soil scien-
tists went into the survey area knowing they likely
would find many soils they had already seen and per-
haps some they had not. They observed the steepness,
length, and shape of slopes, the size and speed of
streams, the kinds of native plants or crops, the kinds
!
/
/
/ __ _;
~
*Swe ~tun! Experiment Statim
Figure I.-Location of the Goldstream-Nenana Area in Alaska.
of rock, and many facts about the soils. They dug many
holes to expose soil profiles. A profile is the sequence of
natural layers, or horizons, in a soil ; it extends from
the surface down into the parent material that has not
been changed much by leaching or by the action of
plant roots.
The soil scientists made comparisons among the pro-
files they studied, and they compared these profiles
with those in areas nearby and in places more dis-
tant. They classified and named the soils according to
nationwide, uniform procedures. The soil series and
the soil phase are the categories of soil classification
most used in a local survey.
Soils that have profiles almost alike make up a
soil series. Except for different texture in the surface
layer, all the soils of one series have major horizons
that are similar in thickness, arrangement, and other
important characteristics. Each soil series is named
for a town or other geographic feature near the place
where a soil of that series was first observed and
mapped. Fairbanks and Tanana, for example, are the
names of two soil series. All the soils in the United
States having the same series name are essentially
alike in those characteristics that affect their behavior
in the undisturbed landscape.
Soils of one series can differ in texture of the sur-
face soils and in slope, stoniness, or some other charac-
teristic that affects use of the soils by man. On the
basis of such differences, a soil series is divided into
phases. The name of a soil phase indicates a feature
that affects management. For example, Fairbanks silt
loam, gently sloping, is one of several phases within the
Fairbanks series. ·
After a guide for classifying and naming the soils
had been worked out, the soil scientists drew the boun-
daries of the individual soils on aerial photographs.
These photographs show woodlands, buildings, field
borders, trees, and other details that help in drawing
boundaries accurately. The soil map in the back of this
publication was prepared from the aerial photographs.
The areas shown on a soil map are called mapping
units. On most maps detailed enough to be useful in
planning the management of farms and fields, a map-
ping unit is nearly equivalent to a soil phase. It is not
exactly equivalent, because it is not practical to show
on such a map all the small, scattered bits of soils of
some other kind that have been seen within an area
that is dominantly of a recognized soil phase.
1
2 SOIL SURVEY
In most areas surveyed there are places where the
soil material is so rocky, so shallow, or so severely dis-
turbed by man that it cannot be classified by soil series.
These places are shown on the soil map and are de-
scribed in the survey, but they are called land types and
al'e given descriptive names. Mine tailings is a land
type in the Goldstream-Nenana Area.
While a soil survey is in progress, samples of soils
are taken, as needed, for laboratory measurements and
for engineering tests. Laboratory data from the same
kinds of soil in other places are assembled. Data on
yields of crops under defined practices are assembled
from farm records and from field or plot experiments
on the same kinds of soil. Yields under defined manage-
ment are estimated for all the soils.
But only part of a soil survey is done when the soils
have been named, described, and delineated on the map,
and the laboratory data and yield data have been as-
sembled. The mass of detailed information then needs
to be organized in such a way as to be readily useful to
different groups of users, among them farmers, man-
agers of woodland and rangeland, and engineers.
On the basis of yield and practice tables and other
data, the soil scientists set up trial groups. They test
these groups by further study and by consultation with
farmers, agronomists, foresters, engineers, and others,
then adjust the groups according to the results of their
studies and consultation. Thus, the groups that are
finally evolved reflect up-to-date knowledge of the soils
and their behavior under present methods of use and
management.
General Soil Map
The general soil map at the back of this survey
shows, in color, the soil associations in the Goldstream-
Nenana Area. A soil association is a landscape that has
a distinctive proportional pattern of soils. It normally
consists of one or more major soils and at least one
minor soil, and it is named for the major soils. The
soils in one association may occur in another, but in a
different pattern.
A map showing soil associations is useful to people
who want a general idea of the soils in an Area, who
want to compare different parts of an Area, or who
want to know the location of large tracts that are suit-
able for a certain kind of land use. Such a map is a use-
ful general guide in managing a watershed, a wooded
tract, or a wildlife area, or in planning engineering
works, recreational facilities, and community develop-
ments. It is not a suitable map for planning the man-
agement of a farm or field, or for selecting the exact
location of a road, building, or similar structure, be-
cause the soils in any one association ordinarily differ
in slope, depth, stoniness, drainage, and other charac-
teristics that affect their management.
The soil associations in the Goldstream-Nenana Area
are discussed in the following pages.
I. Fairbanks-Steese-Gilmore Association
Deep, nearly level to steep, well-drained silty soils, on
upland hills and ridges
This association is on hills and ridges of the uplands
above the flood plains of the Tanana River and smaller
streams in the Area. The soils formed in wind-laid
silty material that overUes weathered mica schist.
Generally the silty material becomes thinner with in-
creasing elevation and distance from the alluvial
plains. Bedrock outcrops are common on bluffs along
the streams and on ridges and peaks of high hills.
Elevation ranges from about 400 feet near Nenana
to 2,364 feet at the top of Ester Dome, the highest point
in the Area. At lower elevations average annual air
temperature is about 26° F, and average annual pre-
cipitation is about 11 inches. No data are available for
higher elevations. The frost-free period ranges from
85 to 100 days.
In this association soils that face directions other
than north are well drained and are not perennially
frozen. They support a mixed forest of quaking aspen,
paper birch, and white spruce. Soils that have north-
facing slopes receive less direct sunlight and are poorly
drained, and they have permafrost at a shallow depth.
They support stands of black spruce.
This association makes up about 45 percent of the
survey area. Fairbanks soils make up about 45 percent
of the association ; Steese soils, about 20 percent ; and
Gilmore soils, about 20 percent. Minor soils make up
about 15 percent of the association. Typical positions
of the major soils are illustrated in figure 2.
Fairbanks soils have slopes with aspects other than
north. These soils range from nearly level to steep.
They are deep and well drained.
Steese soils have exposures comparable to those of
Fairbanks soils, and they are also well drained. They
are moderately deep over very channery silt loam and
are gently sloping to steep.
Gilmore soils are on bluffs and on all but north-facing
slopes of higher hills. They are silt loams that are
shallow and very shallow over very channery silt loam.
They are gently sloping to st~p. ·
Minor soils in this association are Ester and Saulich
soils on north-facing slopes.
The level to moderately sloping Fairbanks and Steese
soils are the most productive soils of this association
for farm crops. If cleared, fertilized, and properly
managed, these soils are suitable for frost-hardy vege-
tables, potatoes, barley, oats, and grasses. The steep
soils must remain under a permanent cover of vegeta-
tion, however, because they are susceptible to severe
erosion. Ester and Saulich soils generally are too steep
or too cold for cultivated crops, but in a few areas
perennial grasses can be grown for hay or pasture. The
Ester and Saulich soils are commonly covered by black
spruce, but they are capable of producing stands of
paper birch if the moss cover is removed.
2. Minto-Goldstream Association
Deep, nearly level to strongly sloping, moderately well
drained silty soils, on foot slopes; and deep, nearly level
to gently sloping, poorly drained silty soils with perma-
frost, on flood plains ·
This association is on the flood plains of Goldstream
and Little Goldstream Creeks and the adjoining foot
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA 3
N ~ • S
0~
oi;;-<..e;
0(f
Figure 2.-Relative positions of soils, nature of soil material, and location of permafrost in associations 1 and 2.
slopes of the uplands. The soils formed in deep silty
loess and alluvium that contains either deeply buried
ice masses or continuous permafrost.
Elevation ranges from 350 to 800 feet above sea
level. Average annual air temperature is about 26° F,
and average annual precipitation is about 11 inches.
The frost-free period ranges from 85 to 100 days.
Most of the soils in this association support stands of
black spruce. Paper birch and white spruce are com-
mon, however, on moderately sloping to strongly slop-
ing, south-facing foothills. Treeless areas have a cover
of low-growing shrub, sedge tusspcks, and moss.
This association makes up about 22 percent of the
survey area. Minto and Goldstream soils each make up
about 45 percent of the association. Minor soils make
about 10 percent of the association. Typical posi-
tions of the major soils are illustrated in fig-ure 2.
Minto soils are moderately well drained silt loams on
foot slopes. They are underlain by discontinuous masses
of ice at depths of 6 feet or more.
Goldstream soils are poorly drained and shallow over
permafrost. They are in valley bottoms and broad
alluvial plains.
Minor soils in this association are Saulich soils on
north-facing foot slopes and Lemeta soils in depres-
sions in valleys.
The Minto soils potentially are the best soils for
growing crops adapted to the Area. Clearing commonly
results in pitting and uneven settling in these soils, but
they can generally be smoothed for continued farming.
Minto soils can support paper birch if the moss mat is
removed. The Goldstream soils, if properly drained, are
suited to some frost-hardy vegetables and grasses for
hay and pasture.
3. Goldstream-Tanana Association
Deep, nearly level to gently sloping, poorl11 drained and
somewhat poorly drained silty soils with permafrost,
on flood plains
This association is on the flood plains bordering the
Tanana River and Seventeenmile Slough of the Nenana
River. The soils formed in water-laid silty material and
are underlain by permafrost.
Elevation ranges from about 350 to about 600 feet
above sea level. Average annual air temperature is
about 26° F, and annual precipitation is about 11
inches. The frost-free period ranges from 85 to 100
days.
The soils of this association suppport a forest of
dominantly black spruce, but paper birch, quaking
aspen, white spruce, and cottonwood grow on the well-
drained minor soils of this association. Treeless areas
have a cover of low-growing shrubs, sedges, and moss.
This association makes up about 29 percent of the
survey area. Goldstream soils make up about 50 percent
of the association, and Tanana soils, about 25 percent.
Minor soils make up about 25 percent of the association.
Typical positions of the major soils are illustrated in
figure 3.
Goldstream soils are poorly drained silt loams with
permafrost. They are on lower parts of flood plains.
Tanana soils are somewhat poorly drained silt loams,
and they are deeper to permafrost. These soils are on
high bottoms.
Minor soils in this association are Bradway soils in
old, abandoned stream channels and on low parts of the
Tanana River flood plains; Goodpaster soils in areas
bordering the Nenana River; Lemeta soils in muskegs;
Nenana soils on stabilized sand dunes on flood plains ;
and Salchaket soils on natural levees.
All of the soils in this association are subject to oc-
casional flooding. Despite this hazard, properly drained
Tanana and Bradway soils are suitable for frost-hardy
vegetables, grains, and grasses. Goldstream and Good-
paster soils are generally restricted to grasses even af-
ter drainage because of excess soil moisture in spring.
Salchaket soils are suitable for all crops adapted to the
Area, but they tend to be droughty. Lemeta soils are
not suited to cultivated crops. Tanana soils can support
4 SOIL SURVEY
W ~ • E
~ ~ ~~
c.,<>
~(}4.
0
<Q'-Cf
0.~
'(}<"
:-..0
"(} ~c,
6'-c; ~ru<" <:-o4. ~
0~ e; o~'
02f
Figure 3.-Relative positions of soils, nature of soil material, and location of permafrost in association 3.
good stands of white spruce and birch, but only black
spruce is likely to grow on Bradway, Goldstream, Good-
paster, and Lemeta soils. Salchaket soils can produce
stands of white spruce and birch, but because of re-
peated fires, they are generally covered by willows,
alder, young birch, and aspen.
4. Nenana-Tanana-Donnelly Association
Very shallow to moderately deep, nearly level to steep,
well-drained and excessively drained silty soils over
gravel or sand, on outwash plains and moraines; and
deep, nearly level, somewhat poorly drained silty soils
with permafrost, on flood plains
This association is on moraines, terraces, and high
bottoms of the Nenana River in the southwestern part
of the survey area. The soils formed in shallow and
very shallow silty loess over gravel or sand, and in deep
silty alluvium that has permafrost. Elevation ranges
from about 600 to about 1,300 feet above sea level.
Average annual air temperature is about 26° F, and
average annual precipitation is 11 inches. The frost-
free period ranges from 85 to 100 days.
The soils of this association support forests of white
spruce, paper birch, and quaking aspen, or of black
spruce.
This association makes up about 4 percent of the
survey area. Nenana soils make up about 35 percent of
the association; Tanana soils, about 25 percent; and
Donnelly soils, about 25 percent. Minor soils make up
w4
ru:<.. ~4. ~ ~ ~0: t::-ru ~
c.,<>
o<:' ~ru <::>
about 15 percent of the association. Typical positions
of the major soils are illustrated in figure 4~
Nenana soils are well drained. In this association,
they are shallow, wind-laid silt loams over gravel on
broad outwash plains. They are nearly level to moder-
ately sloping.
Tanana soils are deep, somewhat poorly drained silt
loams on nearly level flood plains. They are perennially
frozen at a depth of about 2 to 7 feet.
Donnelly soils are excessively drained silt loams that
are very shallow over gravel. They are on alluvial
plains and high terraces and moraines. They are nearly
level to steep.
Minor soils in this association are Salchaket soils
on natural levees and Volkmar soils on terraces.
All soils in this association except Donnelly soils are
suitable for cultivated crops and grasses adapted to the
Area. Donnelly soils are too shallow and droughty to be
used for anything but limited cultivation and pasture.
Tanana soils need artificial drainage in places. Strongly
sloping to steep Donnelly soils are susceptible to severe
water erosion if they are cleared. Removal of the moss
mat on Tanana soils generally permits natural seeding
of white spruce and paper birch.
Descriptions of the Soils
This section provides detailed information about the
soils in the Goldstream-Nenana Area. It describes first
.E
~4. 0 o<-
'S!:-~ <:-(> t::-ru :tS><"
0 <:::P<:-~ru ~0 '(><"
0 0 0 ooo 0
o o o o o oo o 0 0 o' o Oo Ooooooo 0 oooo~ftofto,...n,... O"ooo ..D =-------o 00 ooOOOO
0 0 00 'b 0 0 0° rr oooo gRounded grave j,o oo oOoc:roo 00 0 oo -_:Permafrost.-o 0 0 0 0 0
o o 0o 0 oo Oo o 0 00 o Q-v Q--vvoo 0 0o 0o 0 0o 0 0o0-0 ep()-o o
0 00 0 0 0 0 0
Figure 4.-Relative positions of soils, nature of soil material, and location of permafrost in association 4.
•
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA 5
each soil series and then each phase or mapping unit,
of the series. The soils are described in alphabetical
order.
The description of a soil l!leries mentions features
that apply to all of the mapping units of that series.
Differences among the mapping units of one series are
pointed out in the descriptions of the individual soils
or are apparent in the name.
A typical profile of each series is described in detail
in the general description of the series. This profile
description is for use by scientists, engineers, and
others who need to make technical soil interpretations.
The layers, or horizons, are designated by symbols such
as Al, B21, and Cl. These ·symbols have special mean-
ing for soil scientists. Many readers, however, need
only remember that symbols beginning with "A" are
for surface layer; those with "B" are for subsoil; and
those with "C" are for substratum, or parent material.
The color of each horizon is described in words, such
as yellowish brown, and is also indicated by symbols
for hue, value, and chroma, such as lOYR 5/4. These
symbols, called Munsell color notations, are used by
soil scientists to evaluate the color of the soil precisely
(13)1. Unless otherwise stated, the color and con-
sistence terms used in this survey are for moist soils.
The texture of the soil refers to the content of gravel,
sand, silt, and clay. It is determined by the way the soil
feels when rubbed between the fingers, and it is
checked by laboratory analys·es. Each mapping unit is
identified by a textural class name, such as "fine sandy
1 Italic numbers in parentheses refer to Literature Cited, p. 43.
loam." This name refers to the texture of the surface
layer, or A horizon.
The structure is indicated by the way the individual
soil particles are arranged in larger grains or aggre-
gates, and the amount of pore space between grains.
The structure of the soil is described by terms that
denote strength or grade, size, and shape of the aggre-
gates. For example, a layer may consist of soil ma-
terials that have weak, fine, blocky structure.
Boundaries between horizons are described to in-
dicate their thickness and shape. The terms for thick-
ness are abrupt, clear, gradual, and diffuse. The shape
of the boundary is described as smooth, wavy, ir-
regular, or broken.
Other terms used for describing the soils are de-
fined in the Glossary. For more general information
about the soils, the reader can refer to the section
"General Soil Map," in which broad patterns of soil
are described.
Preceding the name of each mapping unit is a symbol
that identifies the mapping unit or land type on the de-
tailed map at the back of this survey. Shown at the end
of the description of each mapping unit are the man-
agement group and capability classification in which
the mapping unit has been placed. The page on which
each is described and the page on which the woodland
suitability group in which each soil has been placed are
listed in the "Guide to Mapping Units." The location of
the soils in the Area are shown on the detailed map at
the back of this survey, and the acreage and propor-
tionate extent of the mapping units are shown in
table 1.
TABLE !.-Approximate acreage and proportionate extent of the soils.
Soil Acres Percent Soil Acres Percent
Bradway very fine sandy loam _____________ 2,620 0.8 Minto silt loam, nearly leveL _______________ 3,910 1.2
Donnelly silt loam, nearly leveL ____________ 1,800 .6 Minto silt loam, gently sloping ______________ 30,700 9.4
Donnelly silt loam, gently sloping ___________ 320 .1 Minto silt loam, moderately sloping _________ 11,300 3.4
Donnelly silt loam, steep ___________________ 670 .2 Minto silt loam, strongly sloping ____________ 2,260 .7
Ester silt loam, strongly sloping ____________ 410 .1 Nenana silt loam, nearly leveL _____________ 3,500 1.0
Ester silt loam, moderately steep ____________ 5,200 1.6 Nenana silt loam, gently sloping ____________ 160 .1
Ester silt loam, steep ______________________ 5,990 1.8 Nenana silt loam, sandy substratum, nearly
Fairbanks silt loam, nearly leveL ___________ 610 .2 level _____ ------------------------------600 .2
Fairbanks silt loam, gently sloping __________ 4,780 1.5 Nenana silt loam, sandy substratum, gently
Fairbanks silt loam, moderately sloping ______ 9,450 2.9 sloping __________________________________ 600 .2
Fairbanks silt loam, strongly sloping ________ 17,550 5.3 Salchaket very fine sandy loam _____________ 13,560 4.2
Fairbanks silt loam, moderately steep _______ 20,470 6.2 Saulich silt loam, nearly leveL _____________ 380 .1
Fairbanks silt loam, steep __________________ 7,410 2.3 Saulich silt loam, gently sloping ____________ 7,390 2.3
Gilmore silt loam, gently sloping ____________ 1,240 .4 Saulich silt loam, moderately sloping ________ 3,740 1.2
Gilmore silt loam, moderately sloping ________ 1,690 .5 Saulich silt loam, strongly sloping __________ 650 .2
Gilmore silt loam, strongly sloping __________ 4,020 1.2 Saulich silt loam, moderately steep __________ 720 .2
Gilmore silt loam, moderately steep _________ 6,320 1.9 Saulich silt loam, steep ____________________ 30 (')
Gilmore silt loam, steep ____________________ 8,020 2.5 Steese silt loam, gently sloping _____________ 360 .1
Gilmore silt loam, very shallow, gently Steese silt loam, moderately sloping _________ 2,190 .7
sloping __________________________________ 790 .2 Steese silt loam, strongly sloping ____________ 3,470 1.1
Gilmore silt loam, very shallow, moderately Steese silt loam, moderately steep ___________ 18,110 5.6 sloping _________________________________ 310 .1 Steese silt loam, steep _____________________ 4,250 1.3
Gilmore silt loam, very shallow, moderately Tanana silt loam __________________________ 23,990 7.3 steep ___________________________________ 230 .1 Volkmar silt loam _________________________ 960 .3
Gilmore silt loam, very shallow, steep ________ 2,220 .7 Gravel pits _____________________________ 130 (')
Goldstream silt loam, nearly leveL __________ 70,580 21.6 --
Goldstream silt loam, gently sloping _________ 9,610 3.0 Total land area _______________________ 326,250 100.0
Goodpaster silt loam _______________________ 7,370 2.3 ~ater -----------------------------130 Lemeta peat ______________________________ 3,520 1.1 Mine tailings _____________________________ 90 (') Total ----------------------------326,380
' Less than 0.05 percent.
6 SOIL SURVEY
Bradway Series
The Bradway series consists of poorly drained, near-
ly level soils that formed in stratified silty and sandy
material on low parts of flood plains and old stream
channels. These soils are perennially frozen below a
depth of 2 to 4 feet. The vegetation is generally a dense
stand of sedges and grasses, but clumps of black spruce
and shrubs grow in places.
Elevation is generally between 350 and 450 feet.
Average annual air temperature is 26° F, and average
annual precipitation is 11 inches. The frost-free period
is 85 to 100 days.
In a typical profile a black mat of partially de-
composed plant material and roots about 4 inches thick
overlies a surface layer of black mucky silt loam about
2 inches thick. The subsoil is dark-gray very fine sandy
loam that has dark-brown mottles and thin lenses of
silt loam and fine sand. Below a depth of 36 inches, the
soil material is perennially frozen and contains clear
ice lenses.
Bradway soils are near Goldstream, Lemeta,
Salchaket, and Tanana soils. The vegetative cover on
Bradway soils provides habitat for wildlife, but unless
the soils are drained, they generally are too wet for
trees or vegetables.
Typical profile of Bradway very fine sandy loam,
SW1,4SW1,4 sec. 23, T. 1 S., R. 1 E., Fairbanks
Meridian:
01-4 inches to 0, black (5YR 2/1) mat of roots, partially
decomposed organic material, and charcoal; slight
admixture of silt; medium acid.
A1-0 to 2 inches, black ( 5YR 2/1) mucky silt loam; weak,
fine, granular structure; very friable; many roots;
slightly acid; abrupt, wavy boundary.
B2g-2 to 36 inches, dark-gray (N 4/0) very fine sandy
loam with thin lenses of silt loam and fine sand,
mostly below a depth of 24 inches; many, large,
prominent, dark-brown mottles; weak, thin, platy
structure; very friable; few roots ; mildly alkaline;
water table at a depth of 18 inches; frozen at a
depth of 36 inches.
The organic mat ranges from 3 to 5 inches in thickness.
The A horizon is absent in places and is as much as 3 inches
thick in others. The B horizon is dominantly very fine sandy
loam or fine sandy loam.
Br-Bradway very fine sandy loam. This is the only
Bradway soil mapped in the Area. It is in lower por-
tions of flood plains close to· the Tanana River. The
soil is generally saturated, but the water table fluctu-
ates during the summer from the surface to a few
inches above the permafrost. Permeability is moderate
above the permafrost. Runoff is very slow, and in spots
the soil is ponded part of the growing season. The
hazard of erosion is slight, but the soil is subject to oc-
casional flooding.
Included with this soil in mapping are small tracts
of Goldstream, Lemeta, Salchaket, and Tanana soils.
This soil is generally suitable for wildlife habitat, but
it may be used for grain and vegetables after it is
drained and the permafrost table is lowered. Manage-
ment group 14 (IVw-1).
Donnelly Series
The Donnelly series consists of excessively drained,
nearly level to steep soils that formed in silty material
that is very shallow over very gravelly coarse sand.
These soils are on outwash plains and moraines. The
vegetation is dominantly paper birch, quaking aspen,
and white spruce. Recently burned areas have a cover
of young aspen, willow, -low shrubs, and thin patches
of native grasses.
Elevation ranges from 600 to 900 feet. Average an-
nual air temperature is 26° F, and average annual pre-
cipitation is 11 inches. The frost-free period is about
85 to 100 days.
In a typical profile the surface layer is dark-brown
silt loam about 11;2 inches thick. The subsoil is brown
silt loam and gravely silt loam that extends to a depth
of about 7 inches. The substratum is very gravelly
coarse sand.
The Donnelly soils commonly are near the Nenana
and Tanana soils. Donnelly soils are suitable for limited
cultivation and pasture.
Typical profile of Donnelly silt loam, nearly level,
NE1,4SW1,4 sec. 12, T. 8 S., R. 9 W., Fairbanks
Meridian:
01-% inch to 0, black (10YR 2/1) forest litter; admixture
of silt; many roots; strongly acid; abrupt, smooth
boundary.
A1-0 to 1% inches, dark-brown (7.5YR 3/4) silt loam;
weak. fine, granular structure; very friable; many
roots; strongly acid; clear, smooth boundary.
B21-l% to 4 inches, brown (10YR 4/3) silt loam; weak,
fine, granular structure; very friable; common
roots; medium acid; clear, wavy boundary.
B22-4 to 7 inches, brown (10YR 4/3) gravelly silt loam;
weak, fine, granular structure; very friable; com-
mon roots; medium acid; clear, wavy boundary.
IIC-7 to 18 inches, very gravelly coarse sand; color varies
with individual grains; single grained; loose; few
roots; slightly acid.
Depth to gravel ranges from 5 to 10 inches. The C horizon
contains cobblestones and stones in places. Reaction is
medium acid to strongly acid in the layers above the gravel
and ranges to slightly acid or neutral with increasing depth.
DoA-Donnelly silt loam, nearly level (0 to 3 percent
slopes). This nearly level soil is on outwash plains and
terraces. It has the profile described as typical for the
series. Permeability is moderate in the silty material
and very rapid in the underlying very gravelly coarse
sand. Runoff is very slow. The hazard of water erosion
is slight, and the hazard of soil blowing is moderate to
severe.
Included with this soil in mapping are small tracts of
Nenana soils.
This soil is wooded in most places, but some areas
are suit~ble for pasture. Management group 13 (IVs-
1).
DoB-Donnelly silt loam, gently sloping (3 to 7 per-
cent slopes). This gently sloping soil is on outwash
plains and moraines. Permeability is moderate in the
silty material and very rapid in the underlying very
gravelly coarse sand. Runoff is slow. The hazard of
water erosion is moderate, and the hazard of soil blow-
ing is moderate to severe.
Included with this soil in mapping are small areas of
•
•
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA 7
Nenana ·and Tanana soils. Also included are small areas
of steeper Donnelly soils.
This soil is wooded in most places. In cleared areas,
this soil has only limited potential for growing cul-
tivated crops. Management group 12 (IVe-2).
DoF-Donnelly silt loam, steep (12 to 45 percent
slopes) . This strongly sloping to steep soil is on
moraines. Permeability is moderate in the silty ma-
terial and very rapid in the underlying very gravelly
coarse sand. Runoff is medium to rapid. The hazard of
erosion is severe to very severe.
Included with this soil in mapping are small areas of
Nenana soils and less steep Donnelly soils.
This soil is useful for wildlife habitat and watershed
protection. Management group 18 (VIle-1).
Ester Series
The Ester series consists of poorly drained, strongly
sloping to steep soils that formed in silty loess on
north-facing slopes. Permafrost is at a shallow depth.
The vegetation is dominantly black spruce, shrubs, and
moss, but paper birch grows in areas that have been
severely burned.
Elevation ranges from 600 to 1,500 fe·et. Average
annual air temperature is 26° F, and annual precipi-
tation is 11 inches. The frost-free period is about 85 to
100 days.
In a typical profile a layer of peat and roots about 14
inches thick overlies a surface layer of very dark gray
silt loam, 4 inches thick, that has clear ice lenses. The
substratum is dark-gray very channery silt loam that
has dark-brown mottles and that grades with depth to
shattered schist.
Ester soils generally are near Gilmore, Saulich, and
Steese soils. They are useful for wildlife habitat and
watershed protection.
Typical profile of Ester silt loam, moderately steep,
SW1A,NWJ4 sec. 1, T. 2 S., R. 4 W., Fairbanks
Meridian:
011-14 inches to 7, dark yellowish-brown (10YR 4/4)
sphagnum moss, pink (7.5YR 7/4) when pressed;
100 percent fiber after rubbing; many roots; very
strongly acid; abrupt, smooth boundary.
012-7 inches to 4, dark reddish-brown (5YR 2/2) moss
peat, reddish brown (5YR 4/3) when pressed; 100
percent fiber after rubbing; many roots; very
strongly acid; abrupt, smooth boundary.
013-4 inches to 0, very dark grayish-brown (10YR 3/2)
moss peat, dark brown (10YR 4/3) when pressed;
80 percent fiber, 40 percent after rubbing; many
roots; very strongly acid; abrupt, smooth boundary.
A1f-O to 4 inches, very dark gray (5Y 3/1) silt loam;
frozen with clear ice lenses; no live roots; strongly
acid; abrupt, wavy boundary.
Cf-4 to 9 inches, dark-gray (5Y 4/1) very channery silt
loam; common, distinct, dark-brown (10YR 3/3)
mottles; frozen with clear ice lenses; no roots ;
strongly acid.
The organic mat of moss and roots ranges from 6 to 16
inches in thickness. The silt loam mantle is 4 to 20 inches
thick. Reaction ranges from extremely acid in the A horizon
to medium acid in the C horizon. Consolidated schist is below
a depth of 48 inches in places.
In places the soils have a thin, gray horizon immediately
below the organic. mat and mottles of higher value and
chroma in the lower horizons. Permafrost is below a depth
of 20 inches. The vegetation on such soils generally includes
young birch, alder, willow, and grass.
EsD-Ester silt loam, strongly sloping (12 to 20 per-
cent slopes). This soil is on north-facing slopes of
ridges and hills. It has a profile similar to the one
described as typical for the series, except the silt loam
mantle is generally a little thicker than the one in that
profile. Permeability is moderate. Runoff is medium in
most areas but is rapid in severely burned or cleared
areas. The hazard of erosion is severe.
Included with this soil in mapping are small areas of
Gilmore and Steese soils and, in a few places, Saulich
soils. Also included are a few spots of rock outcrop.
This soil is useful for wildlife habitat and watershed
protection. Management group 19 (VIlw-1).
EsE-Ester silt loam, moderately steep (20 to 30
percent slopes). This soil is on long, north-facing slopes
of hills and ridges. It has the profile described as typical
for the series. Permeability is moderate. The hazard of
erosion is very severe in areas where vegetation has
been burned off.
Included with this soil in mapping are small areas of
Gilmore, Saulich, and Steese soils. Also included are a
few spots of rock outcrop.
This soil is useful for wildlife habitat and watershed
protection. Management group 19 (VIlw-1).
EsF -Ester silt loam, steep (30 to 45 percent slopes) .
This soil is on north-facing slopes of high ridges and
hills. Permeability is moderate. It is susceptible to very
severe erosion if the vegetation is burned or cleared.
· Included with this soil in mapping are small areas of
Gilmore, Saulich, and Steese soils and a few spots of
rock outcrop.
This soil is useful for wildlife habitat and watershed
protection. Management group 19 (VIlw-1).
Fairbanks Series
The Fairbanks series consists of deep, well-drained,
nearly level to steep silty soils that formed in loess.
These soils are on all but north-facing slopes of hills
and on the tops of ridges. The vegetation is commonly
a forest of white spruce, paper birch, and quaking
aspen, in pure or mixed stands. Birch and aspen do-
minate in burned or cutover areas.
Elevation ranges from 400 to 1,200 feet. Average
annual air temperature is 26° F, and average annual
precipitation is 11 inches. The frost-free period is 85
to 100 days.
In a typical profile a black, partially decomposed mat
of forest litter about 3 inches thick overlies a mineral
surface layer about 8 inches thick. It is dark-brown silt
loam in the upper 3 inches and brown silt below. The
subsoil is dark-brown silt about 13 inches thick. It
contains thin, roughly .horizontal bands of dark-brown
fine silt loam. The substratum is grayish-brown silt.
Fairbanks soils are near Gilmore and Steese soils on
uplands and in places are adjacent to the Goldstream,
Minto, Saulich, and Tanana soils in valleys and on foot
slopes. The Fairbanks soils are generally forested. On
lower slopes they are suitable for all adapted crops and
pasture.
Typical profile of Fairbanks silt loam, nearly level,
NE%,NE%, sec. 29, T. 2 S., R. 5 W., Fairbanks
Meridian:
8 GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA
01-3 inches to 0, black (10YR 2/1), partially decomposed
forest litter; many roots; medium acid; abrupt,
smooth boundary.
A1-0 to 3 inches, dark-brown (10YR 4/3) silt loam; weak,
very fine, granular structure; very friable; many
roots; slightly acid; abrupt, wavy boundary.
A2-3 to 8 inches, brown (10YR 5/3) silt (color on plate
faces is 1h value step higher than on plate edges);
weak, very thin, platy structure; very friable;
common roots; slightly acid; clear, wavy boundary.
B2-8 to 21 inches, dark-brown (10YR 4/3) silt, many thin,
roughly horizontal bands of dark-brown (10YR
3/3) fine silt loam forking and merging in irregular
pattern with a thin layer, lf4 to 1;2 inch thick, of
brown (10YR 5/3) silt above each band; weak,
very thin, platy structure, but structure in bands
is weak, very fine, angular blocky; friable; com-
mon roots; slightly acid; abrupt, smooth boundary.
C-21 to 40 inches, grayish-brown (10YR 5/2) silt, many
horizontal streaks of dark yellowish brown (10YR
4/4) and few streaks of very dark grayish brown
(10YR 3/2); weak, very thin, platy structure; very
friable; few roots; slightly acid.
The loess is 40 inches to many feet thick over bedrock.
The soil material is generally silt loam or silt throughout,
but in places the B horizon is very fine sandy loam. In
places, a thin, grayish-brown horizon is immediately below
the organic mat. Reaction ranges from strongly acid to
slightly acid in . the A horizon and from medium acid to
slightly acid in the B horizon. The B horizon contains fine
silt loam in bands that range in thickness from lfs to
lf4 inch. These bands undulate in an irregular pattern, but
they are generally nearly horizontal. In places a horizon of
fine sand up to several feet thick is below a depth of 36
inches. On a few bluffs along Goldstream Creek and the
Tanana River, this soil is not as brown as it is in other
parts of the Area.
FaA-Fairbanks silt loam, nearly level (0 to 3 per-
cent slopes). This soil is only in two tracts that adjoin
steeper Fairbanks soils. It has the profile described as
typical for the series. Permeability is moderate. Runoff
is slow. The hazard of water erosion is slight.
This oil is used for frost-hardy vegetables, small
grains, and pasture. Management group 1 (IIc-1).
FaB-Fairbanks silt loam, gently sloping (3 to 7 per-
cent slopes). This soil is on ridgetops and foot slopes.
On ridges, it is generally bounded by steeper Fairbanks
soils, and on foot slopes, it is generally bounded by
Minto soils on its lower boundary and by steeper Fair-
banks soils on its upper boundary. Permeability is
moderate. Runoff is medium. The hazard of water
erosion is slight to moderate.
Included with this soil in mapping are a few small
areas of Minto soils and steeper Fairbanks soils.
This soil is suitable for small grains, grasses, and
vegetables. Management group 3 (Ile-1).
FaC-Fairbanks silt loam, moderately sloping (7 to
12 percent slopes). This soil is on ridges and lower
slopes of hills. On ridges, it is generally bounded by
steeper Fairbanks soils, and on lower slopes, it general-
ly borders Goldstream and Minto soils on its lower
boundary and steeper Fairbanks soils on its upper
boundary. Permeability is moderate. Runoff is medium
in burned or cleared areas. The hazard of water erosion
is moderate.
Included with this soil in mapping are small tracts of
Goldstream and Minto soils and steeper Fairbanks
soils.
This soil is suitable for small grains, grasses, and
vegetables. Management group 5 (IIIe-1).
FaD-Fairbanks silt loam, strongly sloping (12 to
20 percent slopes). This soil is in the middle of slopes
on long hillsides and on lower slopes. It is commonly
dissected by many small draws. In some places bedrock
is within a depth of 50 inches. Permeability is moder-
ate. Runoff is rapid in burned or cleared areas. The
hazard of water erosion is severe.
Included with this soil in mapping are small tracts
of Gilmore, Goldstream, Minto, and Saulich soils. Also
included are small areas of moderately sloping and
moderately steep Fairbanks soils.
Because of its slope, this soil has limited potential
for growing cultivated crops. It is used mainly for
woodland and wildlife habitat. Management group 11
(IVe-1).
FaE-Fairbanks silt loam, moderately steep (20 to
30 percent slopes). This soil is on long side slopes of
hills. It is commonly dissected by many draws. Per-
meability is moderate. Runoff is rapid where the
vegetation has been burned or cleared. The hazard of
water erosion is severe.
Included with this soil in mapping are small areas
of Gilmore, Steese, and Saulich soils. Also included
are a few areas of strongly sloping and steep Fair-
banks soils.
This soil is used mainly for woodland and wildlife
habitat. It is too steep for cultivated crops, but if
cleared, it is suitable for perennial grasses for hay and
pasture. Management group 16 (VIe-1).
FaF-Fairbanks silt loam, steep (30 to 45 percent
slopes). This soil is generally on upper slopes of high
hills, but in places it is on long middle slopes. Per-
meability is moderate. Runoff is rapid where the
vegetation has been removed. The hazard of soil erosion
is very severe.
Included with this soil in mapping are small tracts
of Gilmore and Steese soils. Also included are small
areas of less steep Fairbanks soils.
This soil is used mainly for woodland and wildlife
habitat. Management group 18 (VIIe-1).
Gilmore Series
The Gilmore series consists of well-drained, gently
sloping to steep soils that formed in shallow and very
shallow deposits of silty loess that overlies very
channery silt loam. These soils generally are on the
upper slopes and ridges of high hills. The vegetation is
dominantly paper birch, quaking aspen, and in recently
burned areas, white spruce.
Elevation ranges from 400 to 2,300 feet. Average
annual air temperature is 26° F, and average annual
precipitation is 11 inches. The frost-free period ranges
from 85 to 100 days.
In a representative profile a dark reddish-brown mat
of forest litter and peat overlies a surface layer of
dark-brown silt loam about 4 inches thick. The sub-
surface layer is 3 inches of yellowish-brown silt. The
subsoil is dark yellowish-brown silt about 7 inches
thick. It contains one or more very thin bands of dark-
brown fine silt loam. It is underlain by olive very
channery silt loam that grades with depth to con-
solidated mica schist.
•
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA 9
Gilmore soils commonly are near Ester, Fairbanks,
and Steese soils. Deeper Gilmore soils are potentially
suitable for growing most crops adapted to the Area.
Typical profile of Gilmore silt loam, gently sloping,
NW1,4SW14, sec. 1, T. 2 S., R. 4 W., Fairbanks
Meridian:
01-3 to 0 inches, dark reddish-brown (5YR 2/2) forest
litter and hypnum moss peat; many roots; mycelia;
medium acid; abrupt, smooth boundary.
A1-0 to 4 inches, dark-brown (7.5YR 4/4) silt loam; weak,
very fine, granular structure; very friable; many
roots; medium acid; abrupt, wavy boundary.
A2-4 to 7 inches, yellowish-brown (10YR 5/4) silt; few
patches are dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4);
weak, very thin, platy structure; very friable;
common roots; medium acid; abrupt, smooth
boundary.
B2-7 to 14 inches, dark yellowish-brown (10YR 4/4) silt;
discontinuous band of dark-brown (10YR 4/3) fine
silt loam · near top of horizon; weak, very thin,
platy structure; very friable; few roots; medium
acid; clear, smooth boundary .
IIG-14 to 24 inches, olive (5Y 4/3) very channery silt
loam; massive; no roots; schist fragments make up
65 percent of soil volume; slightly acid.
The mantle of silt loam and silt is 5 to 20 inches thick
over very channery silt loam. Reaction ranges from strongly
acid to slightly acid. A thin grayish-brown horizon is
immediately below the organic mat in places. Consolidated
mica schist is below a depth of 48 inches in most places, but
outcrops of bar·e rock are common.
GmB-Gilmore silt loam, gently sloping (3 to 7 per-
cent slopes). This soil is on a few ridgetops. It has the
profile described as typical for the series. Permeability
is moderate. Runoff is slow to medium. The hazard of
water erosion is slight to moderate.
Included with this soil in mapping are small tracts
of Ester and Steese soils. Also included are small areas
of steeper Gilmore silt loams and spots of Gilmore soils
that are very shallow over very channery material.
This soil is wooded in most places. If cleared, it is
suitable for most crops adapted to the Area. Manage-
ment group 8 (IIIe-4).
GmC-Gilmore silt loam, moderately sloping (7 to 12
percent slopes). This soil is on ridgetops. It is generally
adjacent to steeper Ester, Steese, or Gilmore soils. Run-
off is medium. Permeability is moderate. The hazard of
water erosion is moderate.
Included with this soil in mapping are small tracts of
Ester and Steese soils. Also included are small areas
of strongly sloping Gilmore soils.
This soil is wooded in most places. If cleared, it is
suitable for crops adapted to the Area. Management
group 12 (IVe-2).
GmD-Gilmore silt loam, strongly sloping (12 to 20
percent slopes). This soil is generally on high ridges. It
borders Ester soils on north-facing slopes and Steese
soils or more steeply sloping Gilmore soils on slopes
facing other directions. Runoff is medium to rapid.
Permeability is moderate. The hazard of water erosion
is severe.
Included with this soil in mapping are a few areas of
Gilmore silt loam, moderately steep, Gilmore silt loam,
steep, and Ester and Steese soils. Also included are a
few small tracts of Gilmore soils that are very shallow
to very channery material.
This soil is forested in most places. If cleared, it is
suitable for perennial grass·es for hay and pasture.
Management group 12 (IVe-2).
GmE-Gilmore silt loam, moderately steep (20 to 30
percent slopes). This soil is on middle and upper slopes
of high hills. It is generally bounded by Steese soils and
by other Gilmore soils. In some areas it is contiguous
to Ester or Fairbanks soils. Permeability is moderate.
Runoff is rapid where the soil is cleared. The hazard of
water erosion is severe.
Included with this soil in mapping are a few areas
of Ester, Fairbanks, and Steese soils. Also included are
rock outcrops, spots of steeper and less steep Gilmore
silt loams, and spots of Gilmore soils that are very
shallow to very channery material.
This soil is forested in most places. If cleared, it is
suitable only for perennial grasses for ·pasture. Man-
agement group 16 (VIe-1).
GmF-Gilmore silt loam, steep (30 to 45 percent
slopes) . This steep soil has a profile similar to the one
described as typical for the series, except it is com-
monly somewhat shallower over very channery ma-
terial than less steep Gilmore soils. Permeability is
moderate. Runoff is very rapid if the soil is cleared.
The hazard of water erosion is very severe.
Included with this soil in mapping are a few small
areas of Steese soils. Also included are a few rock out-
crops and a few small areas of less ste·ep Gilmore silt
loams.
The natural vegetation on this soil is forest. If
cleared, the soil is useful only as permanent pasture.
Management group 18 (VIIe-1).
GrB-Gilmore silt loam, very shallow, gently sloping
(3 to 7 percent slopes). This soil is on high ridges. The
profile of this very shallow Gilmore soil differs from
the profile of the typical Gilmore soil by having less
than 10 inches of loess over very channery material.
Permeability is moderate. Runoff is slight to medium.
The hazard of ·erosion is moderate.
Included with this soil in mapping are a few small
tracts of Ester soils and deeper Gilmore soils. Also in-
cluded are small areas of steeper very shallow Gilmore
soils and rock outcrops.
The vegetation on this soil is stunted in most places.
The soil is useful mostly as wildlife habitat. Manage-
ment group 12 (IVe-2).
GrC-Gilmore silt loam, very shallow, moderately
sloping (7 to 20 percent slopes). This soil is in a few
areas on high ridges. The profile of this very shallow
Gilmore soil differs from the profile of the typical
Gilmore soil by having less than 10 inches of loess over
very channery material. Permeability is moderate.
Runoff is medium to rapid. The hazard of water erosion
is moderate to severe.
Included with this soil in mapping are small areas
of steeper Gilmore soils, Steese soils, and rock out-
crops.
The vegetation on this soil is stunted. This soil is use-
ful only as wildife habitat. Management group 16
(VIe-1).
GrE-Gilmore silt loam, very shallow, moderately
steep (20 to 30 percent slopes). This soil is on high hill-
sides. The profile of this very shallow Gilmore soil
differs from the profile of the typical Gilmore soil by
10 SOIL SURVEY
having less than 10 inches of loess over very channery
material. Permeability is moderate. Runoff is rapid.
The hazard of water erosion is severe.
Included with this soil in mapping are small areas of
Steese soils and rock outcrops. Also included are small
tracts of Gilmore soils that have a silty mantle thicker
than 10 inches.
The vegetation on this soil is a stunted forest of
paper birch or quaking aspen in most places. This soil
is useful mostly as wildlife habitat. Management group
18 (VIIe-1).
GrF-Gilmore silt loam; very shallow, steep (30 to
45 percent slopes) . This soil is on the sides of steep
hills and bluffs. The profile of this very shallow Gilmore
soil differs from the profile of the typical Gilmore soil
by having less than 10 inches of loess over very
channery material. Permeability is moderate. Runoff
is very rapid. The hazard of water erosion is very
severe.
Included with this soil in mapping are a few small
areas of Ester and Steese soils, rock outcrops, and
deeper Gilmore soils.
The vegetation includes stunted paper birch, quaking
aspen, and brush. This soil is useful mainly as wildlife
habitat. Management group 18 (VIIe-1).
Goldstream Series
The Goldstream series consists of poorly drained,
nearly level to gently sloping soils that formed in deep
silty alluvium. These soils are perenially frozen at a
shallow to moderate depth. They are on broad flood
plains and valley bottoms on uplands. The vegetation
includes black spruce, low shrubs, mosses, and sedge
tussocks that are 12 to 18 inches in diameter and up to
18 inches in height. Elevation is generally 350 to 600
feet. Average annual air temperature is 26° F, and
average annual precipitation is 11 inches. The frost-
free period is 85 to 100 days.
In a typical profile a dark reddish-brown and black
mat of mosses, roots, and partly decomposed organic
matter about 10 inches thick overlies a layer of mottled,
dark greenish-gray silt loam that contains streaks and
pockets of organic matter. Permafrost is 28 inches be-
low the surface of the mineral soil.
Goldstream soils commonly are near Goodpaster,
Nenana, Salchaket, and Tanana soils on broad alluvial
plains and Lemeta, Minto, and Saulich soils in upland
valleys. Generally, the Goldstream soils are too cold
for trees or crops, but if the surface mat is removed
and adequate drainage is provided, the permafrost
table may be lowered and the soils warmed sufficiently
for grass and some vegetable crops.
Typical profile of Goldstream silt loam, nearly level,
NE1;2SE1;4 sec. 20, T. 1 N., R. 3 W., Fairbanks
Meridian:
01-10 inches to 2, dark reddish-brown (5YR 3/2) fibrous
hypnum moss peat, brown (7.5YR 5/3) pressed;
many roots; strongly acid; abrupt, smooth boundary.
02-2 inches to 0, black (N 2/0), finely divided organic
matter; many roots; charcoal; strongly acid; clear,
wavy boundary.
B21g-0 to 10 inches, dark greenish-gray (5GY 4/1) silt
loam; many black (N 2/0) streaks and coari;\e,
distinct, dark-brown (10YR 4/3) mottles; massive;
friable ; common roots; very strongly acid; gradual
boundary.
B22g-10 to 28 inches, dark greenish-gray (5GY 4/1) silt
loam; common, medium, distinct, dark grayish-
brown (2.5Y 4/2) mottles and few streaks and
pockets of black (N 2/0) organic material; mas-
sive; friable; few roots in the upper part; very
strongly acid; abrupt, smooth boundary.
B23gf-28 to 36 inches. similar to horizon above, but frozen
with clear ice lenses; very strongly acid.
The organic mat is 6 to 14 inches thick. A dark, mixed
mineral and organic horizon is beneath the mat in places.
Lenses of fine sand are in the soil material in places.
Permafrost is 10 to 30 inches below the surface of the
mineral soil.
GtA-Goldstream silt loam, nearly level (0 to 3 per-
cent slopes). This nearly level soil is in large areas on
broad alluvial plains and in valleys on uplands. It has
the profile described as typical for the series. Per-
meability is moderate above permafrost. Runoff is very
slow. The hazard of erosion is slight.
Included with this soil in mapping on broad alluvial
plains are a few small areas of Nenana, Salchaket, and
Tanana soils. Small tracts of Lemeta, Minto, and
Saulich soils are included in upland valleys.
The native vegetation is useful only as habitat for
wildlife. Hardy early-maturing vegetables and grasses
for hay and pasture can be grown on this soil where it
is adequately drained. Management group 14 (IVw-1).
GtB-Goldstream silt loam, gently sloping (3 to 12
percent slopes). This soil is in valley bottoms on up-
lands. Permeability is moderate above the permafrost.
Runoff is slow to medium. The hazard of erosion is
slight to moderate.
Included with this soil in mapping are small tracts
of Minto and Saulich soils. Also included are small
areas of Fairbanks soils on the adjoining foot slopes.
The native vegetation is useful only as wildlife
habitat. Hardy early-maturing vegetables and grasses
for hay and pasture plants can be grown on this soil
where it is adequately drained. Management group 15
(IVw-2).
Goodpaster Series
The Goodpaster series consists of poorly drained,
nearly level silty soils that are shallow to moderately
deep over very gravelly sand. These soils have a thick
organic layer at the surface, but the permafrost table
is deep. They are exclusively on low terraces near
Seventeenmile Slough of the Nenana River. The vege-
tation includes black spruce, dwarf birch, willow,
sedges, and mosses.
Elevation ranges from 350 to 600 feet. Average an-
nual air temperature is 26° F, and average annual pre-
cipitation is 11 inches. The frost-free period is 85 to
100 days.
In a typical profile a dark-brown and black mat of
moss, peat, and roots, about 9 inches thick, overlies a
layer of olive-gray silt loam that has olive mottles and
black organic streaks. The substratum of very gravelly
coarse sand is at a depth of about 15 inches.
The Goodpaster soils are near the Donnelly, Gold-
stream, Salchaket, and Tanana soils. Where cleared
and adequately drained, the Goodpaster soils are suit-
able for frost-hardy vegetables and for hay and
pasture.
..
"
..
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA 11
Typical profile of Goodpaster silt loam, SE%,NE1,4
sec. 32, T. 6 S., R. 8 W., Fairbanks Meridian:
011-9 inches to 4, dark-brown (7.5YR 4/4) hypnum moss
peat; no change in color by pressing; nearly 100
percent fiber after rubbing; many roots; medium
acid; abrupt, smooth boundary.
012-4 inches to 0, black (5YR 25/1) moss peat; no color
change by pressing; about 95 percent fiber after
rubbing; many roots; slightly acid; abrupt, irregu-
lar boundary.
B2-0 to 15 inches, olive-gray (5Y 5/2) silt loam with
irregular streaks of sandy loam; many, coarse,
faint, olive (5Y 5/3) mottles; black (N 2/0)
streaks, especially in upper part; massive; friable;
no roots; patches of frozen soil in lower part of
horizon; medium acid; abrupt, wavy boundary.
IIC-15 to 25 inches, very gravelly coarse sand; colors vary
with individual grains ; single grained; loose ; no
roots.
The depth to very gravelly coarse sand ranges from 15 to
27 inches. The B horizon contains some cobbles in places.
GuA-Goodpaster silt loam (0 to 3 percent slopes).
This is the only Goodpaster soil mapped in the Area.
It is in one large area on low terraces. Permeability
is moderate in tlie silt loam and very rapid in the un-
derlying gravelly coarse sand. Runoff is very slow. The
hazard of water erosion is slight.
Included with this soil in mapping are small tracts
of Donnelly, Goldstream, Salchaket, and Tanana soils.
If cleared and adequately drained, frost-hardy vege-
tables and grasses for hay and pasture can be grown.
Management group 14 (IVw-1).
Lemeta Serie.s
The Lemeta series consists of very poorly drained,
nearly level organic soils made up of sphagnum moss
with strata of sedge peat. These nearly level soils are
in flat or slightly domed muskegs. Permafrost is at a
shallow depth. The vegetation is dominantly sphagnum
moss with low shrubs, sedges, and in places, black
spruce.
Elevation ranges from 350 to 600 feet. Average an-
nual air temperature is 26° F, and average annual pre-
cipitation is 11 inches. The frost-free period is 85 to
100 days.
In a typical profile peat is more than 60 inches thick.
Sphagnum and sedge peat are both fibrous, and they
are dark reddish brown under natural conditions. The
peat derived from sphagnum becomes yellowish red
when the water is removed.
Lemeta soils are near Goldstream, Minto, Saulich,
and Tanana soils. Lemeta soils do not support com-
mercial stands of timber, and they are not suitable for
cultivated crops.
Typical profile of Lemeta peat, NE1,4SE1,4 sec. 20,
T. 1 N., R. 3 W., Fairbanks Meridian:
Oil-0 to 11 inches, reddish-brown (5YR 4/4) sphagnum
moss peat, pink (5YR 7/3) when pressed; 100
percent fiber after rubbing; loose mat; many roots;
extremely acid in water; abrupt, smooth boundary.
Oi2-11 to 13 inches, dark reddish-brown (5YR 3/2) moss
and sedge peat, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/3)
when pressed; 100 percent fiber, 90 percent after
rubbing; weakly laminated; many roots; very
strongly acid in water; abrupt, smooth boundary.
Oi3-13 to 23 inches, dark reddish-brown (5YR 3/4)
sphagnum moss peat, dark brown (7.5YR 4/4)
rubbed, yellowish red (7.5YR 5/6) pressed;
arranged in thin, cohesive layers; no live roots;
very strongly acid in water; abrupt, smooth
boundary.
Oi4-23 to 32 inches, dark reddish-brown (5YR 2/2) sedge
peat, dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) rubbed, dark
reddish brown (5YR 3/3) pressed; arranged in
thin, cohesive layers; no live roots; very strongly
acid in water. Frozen below a depth of 32 inches.
The peat is always more than 60 inches thick, and in
places. it extends to a depth of 100 inches or more. The
water table is always at or near the surface. Permafrost is
at a depth of 15 to 36 inches.
Lp-Lemeta peat. This is the only Lemeta soil
mapped in the Area. Permeability is moderately rapid.
Runoff is very slow to ponded. The hazard of water
erosion is none to slight.
Included with this soil in mapping are small tracts of
Goldstream, Minto, Saulich, and Tanana soils. Also in-
cluded are a few small ponds.
The natural vegetation on the L'emeta soils is useful
only as wildlife habitat. This soil is not suitable for
commercial forest or cultivated crops. Management
group 20 (VIIw-2).
Mine Tailings
Me-Mine tailings. This land type consists of mounds
of gravelly rubble deposited by gold dredges in Nugget
Creek and some tributaries of the Tanana River. The
silty overburden above the gold-bearing gravel was
formerly many feet thick, but it was removed hydrau-
lically before dredging operations began. Management
group 21 (VIIIs-1).
Minto Series
The Minto series consists of moderately well drained,
deep, nearly level to strongly sloping soils that formed
in silty loess that commonly contains large masses of
ice below a depth of 6 feet. These soils are on low knolls
and ridges in valleys and on foot slopes of hills. The
vegetation is dominantly paper birch, quaking aspen,
and white spruce, but many areas support black spruce
and willowa.
Elevation ranges from 400 to 800 feet. Average an-
nual air temperature is 26° F, and average annual pre-
cipitation is 11 inches. The frost-free period is about
85 to 100 days.
In a typical profile a dark reddish-brown mat of
partially decomposed organic matter and roots 5 inches
thick overlies a surface layer of very dark grayish-
brown silt loam about 3 inches thick. The subsoil con-
sists of irregular streaks and patches of gray and dark-
brown silt about 16 inches thick. The substratum is
gray silt streaked with dark brown.
Minto soils are near Fairbanks, Goldstream, Saulich,
and Tanana soils. Many areas of Minto soils support
forests that have commercial value. Frost-hardy vege-
tables, perennial grasses, oats, and barley can be grown
on these soils.
Typical profile of Minto silt loam, nearly level,
NE1,4NE1,4 sec. 20, T. 1 N., R. 3 W., Fairbanks
Meridian:
01-5 inches to 0, dark reddish-brown (5YR 2/2) forest
litter; many roots; charcoal fragments; mycelia in
12 SOIL SURVEY
lower part; very strongly acid; abrupt, smooth
boundary.
A1-0 to 3 inches, very dark grayish-brown (10YR 3/2) silt
loam; patches of dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2);
weak, very fine, granular structure; very friable;
many roots; strongly acid; clear, smooth boundary.
B21-3 to 10 inches, gray (10YR 5/1) and dark-brown
(10YR 4/3) silt in irregular streaks and patches,
each making up about 50 percent of the soil mass;
weak, very thin, platy structure; very friable;
common roots; medium acid; gradual boundary.
B22-10 to 19 inches, dark-brown (10YR 3/3) and gray
(10YR 5/1) silt in irregular streaks and patches
with dark brown making up about 60 percent of
the soil mass; weak, very thin, platy structure;
very friable; few roots; medium acid; gradual
boundary.
· C-19 to 40 inches, gray (10YR 5/1) silt with roughly
horizontal streaks of dark brown (7.5YR 4/4)
making up about 25 percent of the soil mass; weak,
very thin, platy structure; very friable; no roots;
neutral.
MnA-Minto silt loam, nearly level ( 0 to 3 percent
slopes) . This soil is on low knolls in broad valleys. It
has the profile described as typical for the series. Fewer
thermokarst lakes are on this soil than are on Minto
silt loam, gently sloping. Permeability is moderate.
Runoff is slow. The hazard of water erosion is slight.
Removal of the vegetation and the organic surface
layer increases uneven settling or pitting because of
melting of buried ice masses.
Included with this soil in mapping are small areas
of Goldstream and Saulich soils and steeper Minto
soils. Also included are a few small tracts of Fairbanks
soils.
This soil can produce commercial timber if no thick
moss mat is present. If the soil is cleared, frost-hardy
vegetables, potatoes, perennial grasses, barley, and oats
can be grown. Management group 2 (IIc-2).
MnB-Minto silt loam, gently sloping (3 to 7 percent
slopes). This soil is on foothills. In places, thermokarst
lakes are fairly common. Permeability is moderate.
Runoff is slow. The hazard of water erosion is slight to
moderate. Clearing this soil causes uneven settling or
pitting because of melting ice masses.
Included with this soil in mapping are small tracts
of Fairbanks, Goldstream, and Saulich soils. Also in-
cluded are a few small areas of Tanana soils and steep-
er Minto soils.
Commercial timber can be grown on this soil if no
moss mat is present. Frost-hardy vegetables, potatoes,
perennial grasses, barley, and oats can be grown in
cleared areas. Management group 4 (IIe-2).
MnC-Minto silt loam, moderately sloping (7 to 12
percent slopes). This soil is on foot slopes of high hills.
Small, steep-sided thermokarst pits are in a few places.
Permeability is moderate. Runoff is medium. The
hazard of water erosion is moderate. Clearing this soil
causes uneven settling or pitting because of melting ice
masses.
Included with this soil in mapping are a few tracts
of Fairbanks, Goldstream, and Saulich soils. Also in-
cluded are a few areas of less steep Minto soils.
·Commercial timber can be grown on this soil if no
moss mat is present. If the soil is cleared, cultivated
crops, perennial grasses, barley, and oats can be grown.
Management group 6 (IIIe-2).
MnD-Minto silt loam, strongly sloping (12 to 20 per-
cent slopes). This soil is on foot slopes of high hills.
Permeability is moderate. Runoff is rapid. The hazard
of water erosion is severe. Clearing this soil causes un-
even settling or pitting because of melting ice masses.
Included with this soil in mapping are a few small
tracts of Fairbanks, Saulich, and Steese soils. Also in-
cluded are a few small areas of Minto silt loam, moder-
ately sloping.
This soil supports a forest of paper birch and white
spruce, and tall willow brush grows in depressions. If
cleared, it is used for perennial grasses and pasture.
Management group 11 (IVe-1).
Nenana Series
The Nenana series consists of well-drained soils that
formed in silty loess that is shallow to moderately deep
over a substratum of sand or very gravelly sand. These
soils are nearly level to moderately sloping on broad
outwash plains and nearly level to undulating on dunes
on flood plains. The vegetation includes paper birch,
quaking aspen, and white spruce.
Elevation ranges from 600 to 1,300 feet. Average
annual air temperature is 26° F, and average annual
precipitation is 11 inches. The frost-free period is 85
to 100 days.
In a typical profile, a black organic mat, 1 inch thick,
overlies a surface layer of dark grayish-brown silt loam
about 2 inches thick. The subsoil is dark yellowish-
brown and dark-brown silt loam about 13 inches thick.
The substratum to a depth of 20 inches is yellowish-
brown gravelly silt loam. Below this, it is very gravelly
coarse sand.
Nenana soils are only in the extreme southwestern
part of the Area. They are near Donnelly, Goldstream,
Salchaket, Tanana, and Volkmar soils. Forests on the
Nenana soils have commercial potential, but most are
in burned-over areas and are now too young. If cleared,
these soils can be used for cultivated crops and peren-
nial grasses.
Typical profile of Nenana silt loam, nearly level,
SW%,NW1,4 sec. 5, T. 8 S., R. 8 W., Fairbanks
Meridian:
01-1 inch to 0, black (10YR 2/1) forest litter; admixture
of silt; many roots; very strongly acid; abrupt,
smooth boundary.
A2-0 to 1lh inches, dark grayish-brown (2.5Y .4/2) silt
loam; weak, very fine, granular structure; very
friable; common roots; medium acid; abrupt, wavy
boundary.
B21-1lh to 10 inches, dark yellowish-brown (10YR 4/4)
silt loam; weak, very thin, platy structure; very
friable; common roots; medium acid; clear, wavy
boundary.
B22-10 to 15 inches, dark-brown (10YR 4/3) silt loam;
moderate, thin, platy structure; very friable; com-
mon roots; medium acid; clear, wavy boundary.
C1-15 to 20 inches, yellowish-brown (10YR 5/4) gravelly
silt loam; moderate, very thin, platy structure;
very friable; few roots; somewhat more micaceous
than horizons above; medium acid; abrupt, wavy
boundary.
IIC2-20 to 30 inches, very gravelly coarse sand; color
varies with individual grains; single grain; loose;
no roots; slightly acid.
The silt loam mantle is about 10 to 25 inches thick over
very gravelly coarse sand or sands. Reaction ranges from
...
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA 13
medium acid in the silty material to neutral in the under-
lying gravelly or sandy material.
NaA-Nenana silt loam, nearly level (0 to 3 percent
slopes). This soil is on nearly level outwash plains. It
has the profile described as typical for the series. Per-
meability is moderate in the silty material and very
rapid in the underlying sandy material. Runoff is slow.
The hazard of water erosion is slight.
Included with this soil in mapping are small tracts
of Donnelly, Tanana, and Volkmar soils.
If cleared, this soil is suitable for frost-hardy vege-
tables, small grains, and grasses. Management group 9
(IIIs-1).
NaB-Nenana silt loam, gently sloping (3 to 12 per-
cent slopes). This soil has been mapped in only a few
areas adjoining bluffs and along the south boundary
of the survey area. Permeability is moderate in the
silty material and very rapid in the underlying sandy
material. Runoff is medium. The hazard of erosion is
slight to moderate.
Included with this soil in mapping are small areas
of Donnelly and Tanana soils.
If cleared, this soil is suitable for frost-hardy vege-
tables, small grains, and grasses. Management group
8 (Ille-4).
. NeA-Nenana silt loam, sandy substratum, nearly
level (0 to 3 percent slopes). This soil is on low dunes
in narrow strips on the flood plain of the Nenana River.
It has a profile similar to the one described as typical
for the series, except it has a fine sand substratum. Per-
meability is moderate in the silty material and rapid
in the underlying fine sand. Runoff is slow. The hazard
of soil blowing is severe if there is no vegetative cover.
The hazard of water erosion is slight.
Included with this soil in mapping are small areas of
Goldstream, Salchaket, and Tanana soils.
If cleared, the soil is suitable for frost-hardy vege-
tables, small grains, and grasses. Management group
7 (IIIe-3).
Neb-Nenana silt loam, sandy substratum, gently
sloping (3 to 7 percent slopes). This soil is on stabilized
dunes on the flood plain of the Nenana River. It has a
profile similar to the one described as typical for the
series, except it has a fine sand substratum. Permea-
bility is moderate in~ the silty material and rapid in the
underlying fine sand. Runoff is medium. The hazard of
soil blowing is severe where the vegetation has been
removed. The hazard of water erosion is moderate.
Included with this soil in mapping are small areas of
Goldstream and Tanana soils.
This soil is suitable for frost-hardy vegetables, small
grains, and grasses. Management group 7 (IIIe-3).
Salchaket Series
The Salchaket series consists of deep, well-drained,
nearly level to gently sloping soils that formed in sandy
and silty alluvial deposits. They are mainly on natural
levees adjacent to rivers and streams. The vegetation
includes paper birch, cottonwood (balsam poplar), and
white spruce.
Elevation is 350 to 600 feet. Average annual air tem-
perature is 26° F, and average annual precipitation is
11 inches. The frost-free period is 85 to 100 days.
In a typical profile a dark reddish-brown mat of
forest litter about 2 inches thick overlies a 6-inch layer
of dark grayish-brown very fine sandy loam that has
many dark-brown mottles. This is underlain by strati-
fied dark grayish brown very fine sandy loam and fine
sand that extends to a depth of about 25 inches. Below
this is gray fine sand.
Salchaket soils generally are near Bradway, Gold-
stream, and Tanana soils. In the southern part of the
Area, Salchaket soils also are near Donnelly and
Nenana soils. Salchaket soils are used for frost-hardy
vegetables, grains, and pasture.
Typical profile of Salchaket very fine sandy loam,
NE%,NW1,4, sec. 2, T. 4 S., R. 8 W., Fairbanks
Meridian:
01-2 inches to 0, dark reddish-brown (5YR 2/2) forest
litter; admixture of silt; many roots; neutral;
abrupt, smooth boundary.
C1-0 to 6 inches, dark grayish-brown (10YR 4/2) very fine
sandy loam; many, coarse, distinct, dark-brown
(10YR 3/3) mottles; layers and pockets of dark,
partly decomposed organic matter; weak, fine,
granular structure; very friable; common roots;
neutral; clear, smooth boundary.
C2-6 to 25 inches, stratified dark grayish-brown (10YR
4/2) very fine sandy loam and dark grayish-brown
(2.5Y 4/2) fine sand; sand strata are lh to 1%
inches thick, making up about 20 percent of the
volume of the horizon; few lenses of organic matter;
very fine sandy loam is massive, fine sand is single
grain; very fine sandy loam is very friable, fine
sand is loose; common to few roots; neutral;
abrupt, smooth boundary.
C3-25 to 42 inches, gray (10YR 5/1) fine sand; single
grain; loose; few roots; neutral.
Reaction is commonly neutral throughout the profile, but
in places it is slightly acid or medium acid in the upper
horizons. The strata in the upper part of the C horizon
vary greatly in thickness and range in texture from silt
loam to sands. In most places, the C horizon is gravelly at
a depth of 40 to 72 inches.
Sc-Salchaket very fine sandy loam. This soil is on
natural levees adjacent to rivers and streams. Per-
meability is moderate. Runoff is slow. The hazard of
water erosion is slight except on streambanks.
Included with this soil in mapping are small areas
of Goldstream, Tanana, and Bradway soils in old
stream channels. In places, Donnelly soils make up about
40 r:ercrnt. of the mapped area. Also included are small
tracts of Nenana soils.
Trees generally grow to commercial size, except in
areas where they have been repeatedly destroyed by
fire. The existence of old stream channels in areas of
these soils and adjacent poorly drained soils reduces
the potential fire hazard. Where the soil is cleared,
crops of frost-hardy vegetables, potatoes, perennial
grasses, barley, and oats can be grown. Management
group 1 (Ilc-1).
Saulich Series
The Saulich series consists of poorly drained, nearly
level to steep silty soils that formed in moderately deep
to deep deposits of loess that overlies schist. These soils
are generally on north-facing foot slopes of hills or on
other foot slopes shaded by high hills. The vegetation
includes black spruce, scattered clumps of willow and
alder, low brush, and mosses.
14 SOIL SURVEY
Elevation ranges from 400 to 800 feet. Average
annual temperature is 26° F, and average annual pre-
cipitation is 11 inches. The frost-free period is about
85 to 100 days.
In a typical profile a dark reddish-brown and black
mat of peat and roots about 15 inches thick overlies
frozen, dark-gray silt loam that contains streaks of
organic matter.
Saulich soils generally are near Ester, Fairbanks,
Goldstream, and Minto soils. The vegetation is a forest
of black spruce in most places but commercial forests
or cultivated crops can be grown in areas that can be
drained.
Typical profile of Saulich silt loam, moderately
sloping, SEl)J,NEl)J, sec. 28, T. 2 S., R. 5 W., Fairbanks
Meridian:
011-15 inches to 9, dark reddish-brown (5YR 3/3)
sphagnum moss peat, light reddish brown ( 5YR
6/3) when pressed; 100 percent fiber after rubbing;
many roots; very strongly acid; clear, smooth
boundary.
012-9 inches to 4, black (N 2.5/0) moss and sedge peat;
100 percent fiber after rubbing; many roots;
strongly acid; clear, smooth boundary.
02-4 inches to 0, black (N 2.5/0) peat, black (lOYR 2/1)
when pressed; 70 percent fiber, 30 percent after
rubbing; common roots; strongly acid; lower half
of horizon is frozen; clear, smooth boundary.
Clf-0 to 6 inches, dark-gray ( 5Y 4/1) silt loam: streaks
of organic matter; frozen with clear ice lenses; no
roots; neutral.
The mantle of silt loam is about 30 inches to many feet
thick over shattered schist. Permafrost is generally at a
depth of 12 to 20 inches below the surface, but is deeper
where the thick moss mat has been burned. Reaction is
generally very strongly acid in the organic mat to medium
acid or neutral in the C horizon.
SuA-Saulich silt loam, nearly level (0 to 3 percent
slopes) . This soil is in a few widely scattered areas
adjacent to valley bottoms. Permeability is moderate
above permafrost. Runoff is very slow. The hazard of
water erosion is slight.
Included with this soil in mapping are a few small
tracts of Fairbanks and Minto soils.
The native vegetation on this soil is useful mostly as
wildlife habitat. Management group 14 (IVw-1).
SuB-Saulich silt loam, gently sloping (3 to 7 per-
cent slopes). This soil is on north-facing foot slopes of
hills and ridges. Permeability is moderate above per-
mafrost. Runoff is slow. The hazard of water erosion
is slight to moderate.
Included with this soil in mapping are small areas of
Ester, Goldstream, Minto, and Steese soils. Also in-
cluded are small tracts of moderately sloping Saulich
soils.
Where cleared of moss and artificially drained, this
soil may support a paper birch forest and is suitable
for grass crops and some frost-hardy vegetables. Man-
agement group 15 (IVw-2).
SuC-Saulich silt loam, moderately sloping (7 to 12
percent slopes). This soil is on north-facing foot slopes
of hills and ridges. It has the profile described as typical
for the series. Permeability is moderate above perma-
frost. Runoff is medium. The hazard of water erosion
is moderate.
Included with this soil in mapping are small areas of
Ester and Goldstream soils and a few areas of gently
sloping and strongly sloping Saulich soils.
Removal of the moss cover and artificial drainage
could create conditions suitable for a paper birch forest
or grass crops. Management group 15 (IVw-2).
SuD-Saulich silt loam, strongly sloping (12 to 20
percent slopes). This soil is on north-facing foot slopes
of high hills and ridges. Permeability is moderate
above permafrost. If the vegetation is removed, run-
off is rapid and the hazard of water erosion is severe.
Included with this soil in mapping are small tracts
of Ester, Goldstream, and Minto soils.
If the moss cover were not present, the soil could
support a forest of paper birch and be suitable for
pasture. Management group 17 (VIw-1).
SuE-Saulich silt loam, moderately steep (20 to 30
percent slopes). This soil is on a few long, north-facing
slopes of hills. It has a profile similar to the one de-
scribed as typical for the series, except the depth to
shattered schist is generally more than 4 feet. Per-
meability is moderate above permafrost. If the soil has
been cleared, runoff is rapid, and the hazard of water
erosion is very severe.
Included with this soil in mapping are patches of
Minto soils and small areas of less steep Saulich soils.
If the moss cover were not present, this soil could
support stands of paper birch. The natural vegetation
is useful only as wildlife habitat. Management group
19 (VIIw-1).
SuF -Saulich silt loam, steep {30 to 45 percent
slopes). Only one area of this soil has been mapped,
near Bonanza Creek. Permeability is moderate above
permafrost.
The soil could probably support a stand of paper
. birch if it were cleared and the mossy surface layer re-
moved, but the hazard of water erosion would be very
severe. The soil is not suitable for crops. Management
group 19 (VIIw-1).
Steese Series
The Steese series consists of well-drained, gently
sloping to steep soils that formed in silty loess 20 to 40
inches thick over very channery silt loam. These soils
commonly occupy middle slopes of hillsides and some
ridgetops. The vegetation is a forest of paper birch,
quaking aspen, and white spruce.
Elevation generally ranges from 800 to 1,600 feet.
Average annual air temperature is 26° F, and average
annual precipitation is 11 inches. The frost-free period
is 85 to 100 days.
In a typical profile a dark reddish-brown mat of
decomposing forest litter and roots about 2 inches
thick overlies a mineral surface layer of very dark
grayish-brown silt loam about 3 inches thick. The
subsurface layer is dark grayish-brown silt about 3
inches thick. The subsoil is dark-brown silt that con-
tains thin bands and pockets of fine silt loam. The
substratum, below a depth of 21 inches, is grayish-
brown silt about 6 inches thick over grayish-brown
very channery silt loam.
Steese soils generally are near Ester, Fairbanks,
and Gilmore soils, but in places they are near Gold-
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA 15
stream, Minto, and Saulich soils. Steese soils support
a forest of paper birch and white spruce that is of
commercial size except in recently burned areas. If
cleared, these soils are suitable for frost-hardy vege-
tables, potatoes, small grains, hay, and pasture.
Typical profile of Steese silt loam,. moderately
sloping, NE~NE~ sec. 30, T. 2 S., R. 5 W., Fair-
banks Meridian:
01-2 inches to 0, dark reddish-brown (5YR 2/2) forest
litter; many roots; mycelia at base of horizon;
charcoal fragments; slightly acid; abrupt, smooth
boundary.
A1-0 to 3 inches, very dark grayish-brown (10YR 3/2) silt
loam; weak, very fine, granular structure; very
friable; many roots; strongly acid; abrupt, wavy
boundary.
A2-3 to 6 inches, dark grayish-brown (10YR 4/2) silt;
many dark-brown (10YR 4/3) patches and streaks;
weak, very thin, platy structure; very friable;
many roots; medium acid; abrupt, wavy boundary.
B2-6. to 21 inches, dark-brown (10YR 4/3) silt; contains
thin, nearly horizontal bands and pockets of dark-
brown (10YR 3/3) fine silt loam; weak, very thin,
platy structure; very friable; common roots; char-
coal fragments; medium acid; abrupt, wavy
boundary.
C1-21 to 27 inches, grayish-brown (10YR 5/2) silt; many
horizontal, yellowish-brown (10YR 5/4) streaks;
weak, very thin, platy structure; very friable; few
roots; medium acid; abrupt, wavy boundary.
IIC2-27 to 36 inches, grayishcbrown (2.5Y 5/2) very
channery silt loam; massive; no roots; fragments
of schist and quartz make up 60 percent of the
soil, by volume; slightly acid.
The silty material is 20 to 40 inches thick over very
channery silt loam. Reaction ranges from strongly acid to
medium acid in the A and B horizons and slightly acid to
neutral in the C horizon. Unweathered mica schist is below
a depth of 48 inches.
SvB-Steese silt loam, gently sloping (3 to 7 percent
slopes). This soil is in a few areas of ridges. Per-
meability is moderate. Runoff is slight to medium. The
hazard of water erosion is moderate.
Included with this soil in mapping are small areas
of Fairbanks and Gilmore soils a.nd steeper Steese soils.
Paper birch, quaking aspen, or white spruce can be
grown on this soil for commercial use. If the soil is
cleared, frost-hardy vegetables, potatoes, perennial
grasses, barley, and oats can be grown. Management
group 3 (Ile-1).
SvC-Steese silt loam, moderately sloping (7 to 12
percent slopes). This soil is on ridges. It has the pro-
file described as typical for the series. Permeability is
moderate. Runoff is medium. The hazard of water
erosion is moderate.
Included with this soil in mapping are small tracts
of Fairbanks and Gilmore soils.
Paper birch, quaking aspen, or white spruce can be
grown on this soil for commercial use. If the soil is
cleared, frost-hardy vegetables, potatoes, perennial
grasses, barley, and oats can be grown. Management
group 5 (IIIe-1).
SvD-Steese silt loam, strongly sloping (12 to 20
percent slopes). This soil is on middle slopes of high
hills and on a few broad, low ridges. Permeability is
moderate. Runoff is medium to rapid. The hazard of
water erosion is severe.
Included with this soil in mapping are a few small
tracts of Fairbanks soils and steeper Steese soils.
Paper birch, quaking aspen, and white spruce can
be grown on this soil for commercial use. If the soil
is cleared, perennial grasses for hay and pasture can
be grown safely, but other crops can be grown only if
extreme precautions against erosion are taken. Man-
agement group 11 (IVe-1).
SvE-Steese silt loam, moderately steep (20 to 30
percent slopes). This soil commonly is on intermediate
slopes of high hills. Permeability is moderate. Runoff
is rapid. The hazard of water erosion is severe.
Included with this soil in mapping are small areas of
Ester, Fairbanks, Gilmore, and, in places, Minto and
Saulich soils.
Paper birch, quaking aspen, and white spruce can
be grown on this soil for commercial use. The soil may
also be used for perennial grasses. Management group
16 (VIe-1).
SvF-Steese silt loam, steep (30 to 45 percent
slopes). This soil is on a few side slopes. Permeability
is moderate. Runoff is very rapid if the soil is cleared.
The hazard of water erosion is very severe.
This soil is used mainly as wildlife habitat. Manage-
ment group 18 (VIIe-1).
Tanana Series
The Tanana series consists of nearly level, somewhat
poorly drained soils that formed in silty and sandy
sediment on flood plains. These soils are perennially
frozen at a depth of 30 inches or more. This depth
varies greatly, depending on the thickness of the or-
ganic mat on the surface and the frequency of flooding.
The vegetation is black spruce, low-growing shrubs
and sphagnum moss, or a young forest of willow, alder,
and paper birch.
Elevation ranges from 350 to 1,000 feet. Average
annual air temperature is about 26° F, and average
annual precipitation is 11 inches. The frost-free period
ranges from 85 to 100 days.
In a typical profile a black mat of partially de-
composed forest litter about 3 inches thick overlies a
layer of dark-gray silt loam mottled with dark brown
and dark olive gray. This layer contains nearly hori-
zontal, black organic streaks. It extends to a depth of
43 inches. The substratum is dark-gray fine sand.
Tanana soils generally are near Lemeta, Minto, and
Salchaket soils and, in places, Goldstream and Nenana
soils. The native vegetation on Tanana soils is mainly
useful as wildlife habitat. If the organic mat is removed
and artificial drainage is provided where necessary,
these soils can produce stands of paper birch and white
spruce, and they can be used for frost-hardy vege-
tables, potatoes, perennial grasses, barley, and oats.
Typical profile of Tanana silt lo~;~.m, SE1,4,SE1,4 sec.
34, T. 3 S., R. 8 W., Fairbanks Meridian:
01-3 inches to 0, black ( 5YR 2/1), partially decomposed
forest litter; about ¥2 inch of fresh, flood-deposited
silty material near surface; many roots; slightly
acid; abrupt, smooth boundary.
B21-0 to 25 inches, dark-gray (10YR 4/1) silt loam; many,
medium, distinct, dark-brown (10YR 4/3) mottles;
nearly horizontal streaks of black (10YR 2/1)
organic matter, roughly ¥2 inch thick; weak, very
thin, platy structure; very friable; few roots;
neutral; gradual boundary.
16 SOIL SURVEY
B22-25 to 43 inches, dark-gray (5Y 4/1) silt loam; com-
mon, coarse, distinct, dark olive-gray (5Y 3/2)
mottles ; thin sandy lenses and thin organic layers;
weak, thin, platy structure; friable; no roots;
neutral; clear, wavy boundary.
IIC-43 to 76 inches, dark-gray (5Y 4/1) fine sand; single
grain; loose; no roots; neutral; frozen at a depth
of 76 inches.
The soil is dominantly silt loam, but thin lenses of fine
sandy loam and fine sand are in the C horizon. Reaction
ranges from medium acid to mildly alkaline. Permafrost is
at a depth of 2 to 7 feet.
Ta-Tanana silt loam. This is the only Tanana soil
mapped in the Area. Permeability is moderate. Runoff
is slow. The hazard of water erosion is slight. This soil
is on nearly level flood plains together with the Gold-
stream, Lemeta, Minto, Nenana, and Salchaket soils.
Small areas of each of these soils are included with the
Tanana soils.
If the organic mat is removed and artificial drainage
is provided where necessary, this soil can produce
stands of paper birch and white spruce, frost-hardy
vegetables, potatoes, perennial grasses, barley, and
oats. Management group 10 (IIIw-1).
Volkmar Series
The Volkmar series consists of nearly level, moder-
ately well drained soils that formed in silty loess that is
moderately deep over very gravelly coarse sand. The
vegetation is generally a forest of black spruce, but in
places, paper birch and white spruce are dominant.
Elevation ranges from 600 to 900 feet. Average an-
nual air temperature is about 26° F, and average an-
nual precipitation is 11 inches. The frost-free period
ranges from 85 to 100 days.
In a typical profile a thin, black layer of forest litter
overlies a surface layer of mottled, dark grayish-brown
silt loam 2 inches thick. The subsoil is dark grayish-
brown silt loam, 10 inches thick, that is highly mottled.
The substratum is dark grayish-brown and olive-brown
silt loam and gravelly silt loam to a depth of 35 inches.
Below this it is very gravelly coarse sand.
Volkmar soils are near Donnelly and Nenana soils
in the southwestern part of the survey area.
Typical profile of Volkmar silt loam, SW1,4SW%,
sec. 5, T. 8 S., R. 8 W., Fairbanks Meridian:
01-2% inches to 0, black (10YR 2/1) forest litter; admix-
ture of silt; many roots; very strongly acid; abrupt,
smooth boundary.
A1-0 to 2 inches, dark grayish-brown (10YR 4/2) silt
loam; common, medium, distinct, dark yellowish-
brown (10YR 4/4) mottles; weak, thin, platy
structure parting to weak, fine, granular; friable;
many roots; medium acid; abrupt, wavy boundary.
B2-2 to 12 inches, dark grayish-brown (2.5Y 4/2) silt
loam; many, medium, distinct, olive-brown (2.5Y
4/4) mottles; weak, very thin, platy structure;
friable; common roots; many fine vesicles; slightly
acid; gradual boundary. ·
C1-12 to 27 inches, dark grayish-brown (2.5Y 4/2) silt
loam; few irregular, dark-brown (10YR 4/3)
streaks; moderate, thin, platy structure; friable;
common to few roots; few fine pebbles; slightly
acid; gradual boundary.
C2-27 to 35 inches, olive-brown (2.5Y 4/4) gravelly silt
loam; moderate, medium, platy structure; friable;
no roots; neutral; abrupt, wavy boundary.
IIC3-35 to 40 inches, very gravelly coarse sand; color
varies with individual grains; single grain; loose;
no roots; neutral.
The silty loess mantle ranges from 20 to 40 inches in
thickness over the very gravelly material.
Vk-Volkmar silt loam. This is the only Volkmar
soil mapped in the Area. It is on outwash plains and
terraces along the Nenana River. Permeability is mod-
erate in the silty material and rapid in the underlying
gravelly coarse sand. Runoff is slow, and the hazard of
erosion is slight.
Included with this soil in mapping are small areas
of Nenana and Donnelly soils.
Forests on this soil are better suited to wildlife
habitat than to other uses. If cleared, the soil produces
barley, oats, perennial grasses, frost-hardy vegetables,
and potatoes. Management group 9 (IIIs-1).
Use and Management of the Soils
This section discusses land clearing, crops and
pasture, fertilizer, needs, and estimated yields of
principal crops. The system of capability classification
used by the Soil Conservation Service is described,
and suggested management by groups of soils, or
capability units, is given.
Land Clearing
The well drained and moderately well drained soils
can be cleared at any time of the year after the mer-
chantable timber has been harvested, but clearing is
most efficient when the soils are not frozen. Trees,
shrubs, and large roots left after logging can be pushed
over and· windrowed with a bulldozer equipped with a
scarifier blade. In areas of sloping soils, the windrows
should be diagonal to the slope in order to keep runoff
from pQ,nding on the upper sides and, at the same time,
to control runoff from the newly cleared field. Natural
drainageways should not be blocked by the windrows.
When trees, shrubs, and roots in the windrows are dry,
generally about a year after clearing, they should be
burned. Several burnings generally are necessary to
completely destroy the windrows.
When the soil is frozen, the trees can be sheared by
a bulldozer and piled in windrows without disturbing
the soil. Later in spring or in summer, the stumps and
large roots can be moved to the windrows with a
scarifier blade fitted to the bulldozer. When clearing the
land, it is important to leave as much of the forest
litter on the soil as possible so that it can be mixed with
the mineral soil. This organic matter is effective in
maintaining good tilth and promoting rapid infiltration
of water. ·
Small stumps and roots can be disposed of with a
large breaking plow or heavy disk. These materials de-
compose very slowly, however, and larger pieces may
interfere with cultivation for a long time.
The somewhat poorly drained and poorly drained
soils of the Area are often underlain with permafrost
and covered with brush and moss or sedge tussocks.
This material can most easily be removed when the
ground is frozen with a bulldozer equipped with a shear
blade. The depth to permafrost will gradually increase
...
•
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA 17
as a result of disturbance of its insulating moss or
sedge tussocks. In some soils, excess moisture perched
above the permafrost table must be removed by drain-
age ditches before crops can be grown.
In areas where soil blowing is a hazard to cultivated
fields, windbreaks of adequate width and spacing are
essential to help control soil blowing and drifting.
Crops and Pasture
Most soils of the Goldstream-Nenana Area are silt
loams. Cultivated crops can be grown on about 33
percent of the acreage in the survey area, but only a
few areas of small total acreage have ever been used
for this purpose. The principal crops include frost-
hardy vegetables, potatoes, small grains, and legumes
and grasses grown for hay and pasture. Poorly drained
soils and steep soils are extensive in the Area. They
generally are not suited to cultivated crops, but they
can be used for pasture in some places.
Fertilization Requirements
Good growth of crops in the Area depends largely on
whether the soils are adequately fertilized. Large
amounts of fertilizer that contains nitrogen, phos-
phate, and potash are needed on all of the soils. Newly
cleared soils need large quantities of nitrogen, because
much of this element is used by bacteria to decompose
the native organic material.
On the basis of experience and research, the Institute
of Agricultural Sciences (8} periodically publishes
minimum fertilization application rates. These rates,
provided as a guide for determining needs, are general
suggestions and are subject to change.
Under continued cultivation, the structure of the
soils in the survey area tends to break down. Adding
manure or other organic material helps maintain tilth.
Estimated Yields
Estimated average yields per acre of principal crops
grown on soils in the Area are given in table 2. These
estimates are averages expected over several years
under improved management.
Practices and conditions under improved manage-
ment include fertilizer applied at rates determined by
periodic soil tests, barnyard manure and crop residue
used to help maintain sufficient organic matter in the
soil, and conservation practices applied where needed
to control soil blowing and water erosion.
Because farming is practically nonexistent in the
Goldstream-Nenana Area, sufficient data are not avail-
able to establish quantitative differences in the pro-
ductivity of the soils. A few crops have been grown on
nearly level to gently sloping, moderately deep to deep,
moderately well drained and well drained soils. It is
likely that on strongly sloping, very shallow, or poorly
drained soils, some of the crops listed in table 2 can-
not be grown, and yields of most crops will be lower
than those estimated in table 2.
TABLE 2.-Estimated average yields per acre of
principal crops under an improved level
of management
In most years, the moisture level in midsummer in
the well-drained soils generally is lower than the level
Crop
Potatoes ________________________ tons _______ _
Barley _______________________ bushels _______ _
Oats __________________________ bushels _______ _
Brornegrass hay _________________ tons _______ _
Brornegrass for silage ___________ tons _______ _
Oats-pea for silage ______________ tons _______ _
Improved
management
10-12
50-55
60-70
2%-3
7-9
8-10
required for optimum plant growth. Preliminary in-
vestigations indicate that yields can be increased by
using sprinklers for irrigation, but data on the effect
and economic feasibility of extensive irrigation sys-
tems are not available.
Abnormal crop seasons, past management, and the
possible effect of irrigation are not considered in the
yield estimates given in table 2.
Capability Grouping
Capability grouping shows, in a general way, the
suitability of soils for most kinds of field crops. The
soils are grouped according to their limitations when
used for field crops, the risk of damage when they are
used, and the way they respond to treatment. The
grouping does not take into account major and gener-
ally expensive landforming that would change slope,
depth, or other characteristics of the soils; does not
take into consideration possible but unlikely major
reclamation projects; and does not apply to cranber-
ries, horticultural crops, or other crops that require
special management.
Those familiar with the capability classification can
infer from it much about the behavior of soils when
they are used for. other purposes, but this classification
is not a substitute for interpretations designed to show
suitability and limitations of groups of soils for com-
mercial forestry or for engineering.
In the capability system, the kinds of soil are
grouped at three levels: the capability class, the sub-
class, and the unit. These are discussed in the follow-
ing paragraphs.
CAPABILITY CLASSES, the broadest groups, are desig-
nated by Roman numerals I through VIII. The numer-
als indicate progressively greater limitations and nar-
rower choices for practical use, defined as follows :
Class I soils (none in this Area) have few limitations
that restrict their use.
Class II soils have moderate limitations that reduce
the choice of plants or that require moderate con-
servation practices.
Class III soils have severe limitations that reduce the
choice of plants, require special conservation
practices, or both.
18 SOIL SURVEY
Class IV soils have very severe limitations that re-
duce the choice of plants, require very careful
management, or both.
Class V soils (none in this Area) are subject to little
or no erosion but have other limitations, imprac-
tical to remove, that limit their use largely to pas-
ture, range, woodland, or wildlife habitat.
Class VI soils have severe limitations that make
them generally unsuited to cultivation and that
limit their use largely to pasture, range, woodland,
or wildlife habitat.
Class VII soils have very severe limitations that
make them unsuited to cultivation and that re-
strict their use largely to pasture, range, wood-
land, or wildlife habitat.
Class VIII soils and landforms have limitations that
preclude their use for commercial plants and that
restrict their use to recreation, wildlife habitat, or
water supply, or to esthetic purposes.
CAPABILITY SUBCLASSES are soil groups within one
class; they are designated by adding a small letter, e,
w, s, or c, to the class numeral, for example, lie. The
letter e shows that the main limitation is risk of ero-
sion unless close-growing plant cover is maintained;
w shows that water in or on the soil interferes with
plant growth or cultivation (in some soils the wetness
can be partly corrected by artificial drainage) ; s shows
that the soil is limited mainly because it is shallow,
droughty, or stony; and c, used in only some parts of
the United States, shows that the chief limitation is
climate that is too cold or too dry.
CAPABILITY UNITS are soil groups within the sub-
classes. In this survey they are called management
groups. The soils in one capability unit are enough
alike to be suited to the same crops and pasture plants,
to require similar management, and to have similar
productivity and other responses to management. Thus,
the capability unit is a convenient grouping for making
many statements about management of soils. Capabil-
ity units are generally designated by adding an Arabic
numeral to the subclass symbol, for example, Ile-1 or
IIIe-4. Thus, in one symbol, the Roman numeral desig-
nates the capability class, or degree of limitation; the
small letter indicates the subclass, or kind of limitation,
as defined in the preceding paragraph; and the Arabic
numeral specifically identifies the capability unit with-
in each subclass. In this survey the capability unit
numbers are in parentheses following the management
group numbers.
Management Groups
In the pages that follow, management groups of the
Goldstream-Nenana Area are described, and sugges-
tions are given for the use, management, and conserva-
tion of the soils in each group. The management group
in which each soil has been placed can be found in the
"Guide to Mapping Units" at the back of this survey.
No specific recommendations are made as to the
amounts and kinds of fertilizer needed, the most suit-
able crop varieties, cr the best seeding rates, because
these elements change with new developments in farm-
ing. Current information and recommendations are
available from the Extension Service agent in Fair-
banks and from the University of Alaska, Institute of
Agricultural Sciences.
MANAGEMENT GROUP 1 (IIc-1)
This group consists of nearly level to gently sloping,
deep, well-drained silty soils on uplands and stratified
very fine sandy loams and fine sands on flood plains.
Permeability and available water capacity are mod-
erate in the soils of this group. Runoff is slow. The
hazard of water erosion is slight. The hazard of soil
blowing is moderate in areas subject to high winds.
Most areas of these soils are wooded. In cleared
areas the main crops suitable for planting are potatoes,
hardy vegetables, perennial grasses, oats, and barley.
Organic matter is needed to help keep soils of this
group in good tilth and to promote efficient use of mois-
ture and plant nutrients. Return of crop residue to the
soil and regular additions of manure help to maintain
the content of organic matter. Leaving a strip of the
natural vegetation at right angles to the prevailing
wind in areas cleared for cultivation and including
alternate strips of grasses in the cropping system help
to control soil blowing. Most crops on these soils re-
spond well to fertilizer that contains nitrogen, phos-
phorus, and potassium. In most years, yields can be
increased by irrigation.
MANAGEMENT GROUP 2 (IIc-2)
Only Minto silt loam, nearly level, is in this group.
This moderately well drained soil is mainly on low
knolls in broad interior valleys. It is underlain by large,
discontinuous masses of ice that melt in cleared areas.
Permeability and available water capacity are mod-
erate. Runoff is slow, and the hazard of water erosion
is slight.
Most of the acreage of this soil has a natural vege-
tative cover of black spruce, low brush, moss, and
lichens.
This soil is among the most productive in the Area,
mainly because it is not likely to be droughty in dry
. summers. All crops adapted to the Area can be grown.
Most crops respond well to fertilizer when applied
according to needs determined by soil tests. Additions
of organic matter are needed periodically to help main-
tain good tilth ..
After clearing, fields may become badly pitted as a
result of subsidence caused by melting of ice below the
surface. Land leveling is generally practical in restor-
ing fields to a useful condition.
MANAGEMENT GROUP 3 (IIe-1)
This group consists of gently· sloping, medium-
textured, well-drained soils on ridgetops and foot
slopes. These soils formed in deep and moderately deep
loess.
Permeability and available water capacity are mod-
erate. Runoff is medium, and the hazard of water ero-
sion is slight to moderate.
Most areas of these soils are wooded. If the soils are
cleared, all crops adapted to the Area can be grown,
but periodic additions of organic matter are needed to
help keep the soil in good tilth. Contour stripcropping
.,.
•
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA 19
and grassed waterways help to control water erosion.
Crops on these soils respond well to fertilizer that
contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. In most
years crops respond to supplemental irrigation pro-
vided mainly by sprinkler systems.
MANAGEMENT GROUP 4 (lle-2)
Only Minto silt loam, gently sloping, is in this group.
This soil is deep, medium textured, and moderately
well drained. It is underlain by discontinuous masses
of ice that melt when the soil is cleared.
Permeability and available water capacity are mod-
erate. Runoff is slow to medium and the hazard of
erosion is slight to moderate.
Most areas of these soils support either a paper
birch-white spruce forest or a black spruce forest. If
the soil is cleared, all crops common to the Area can
be grown.
The soil is susceptible to uneven settling and pitting-
after clearing as a result of melting ice. Most pitted
areas can be reclaimed by land leveling. Contour culti-
vation and stripcropping reduce water erosion on this
soil. Returning crop residue to the soil and adding
manure help keep the soil in good tilth. Crops respond
well to fertilizer that contains nitrogen, phosphorus,
and potassium. In most years this soil remains moist
throughout the growing season.
MANAGEMENT GROUP 5 (me-l)
This group consists of medium-textured, well-
drained, deep and moderately deep, moderately sloping
soils that formed in loess. They are on uplands.
Permeability and available water capacity are mod-
erate. Runoff is medium, and the hazard of water
erosion is moderate.
Most areas of these soils are wooded. If the soils are
cleared, all crops adapted to the Area can be grown.
Stripcropping on the contour, maintaining diversion
ditches and natural waterways in sod, and including
grasses in the cropping system help control water
erosion. Returning crop residue and adding manure
regularly to these soils helps keep the soil in good tilth.
Crops respond well to fertilizer that contains nitrogen,
phosphorous, and potassium. In most years crops
respond well to irrigation. The best adapted system is
sprinklers.
MANAGEMENT GROUP 6 (lle-2)
Only Minto silt loam, moderately sloping, is in this
group. This deep, moderately well drained soil is un-
derlain by large, discontinuous masses of ice that melt
when the soil is cleared of vegetation.
Permeability and available water capacity are mod-
erate. Runoff is medium, and the hazard of water
erosion is moderate.
Most of the acreage of this soil is wooded. In cleared
areas, potatoes, frost-hardy vegetables, perennial
grasses, oats, and barley can be grown.
Stripcropping on the contour and keeping alternate
strips and waterways in grass help control water
erosion in cultivated areas. In cleared areas, pits and
hummocks may form because of melting ice blocks be-
low the surface. Most pitted areas can be reclaimed by
land leveling.
Returning plant residue and manure to the soil reg-
ularly helps keep the soil in good tilth and promotes
efficient use of moisture and plant nutrients. Crops
respond well to fertilizer that contains nitrogen, phos-
phorus, and potassium. Supplemental irrigation is not
generally needed.
MANAGEMENT GROUP 7 (llle-3)
This group consists of well-drained, medium-textured,
nearly level to gently sloping soils that are shallow to
moderately deep over a fine sand substratum.
Permeability is moderate in the upper part of the
soil and rapid in the substratum. Available water
capacity is low. Runoff is slow to medium, and the
hazard of water erosion is slight to moderate. The
hazard of soil blowing is severe where the vegetation
has been removed.
Most areas are wooded. In cleared areas, crops com-
mon to the Area can be grown. Strips of trees, per-
pendicular to the direction of the prevailing winds and
of adequate width and spacing, should be left to control
soil blowing and drifting. Organic matter is needed to
keep the soil in good tilth. Crops respond well to
fertilizer that contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and
potassium. In most years crops respond to supplement-
al irrigation.
MANAGEMENT GROUP 8 (llle-4)
This group consists of medium-textured, well-drained
soils that are shallow over very gravelly or very
channery material. These soils are gently sloping.
Permeability is moderate in the upper part of the
soil and rapid or very rapid in the substratum. A vail-
able water capacity is low. Runoff is slow to medium,
and the hazards of water erosion and soil blowing are
slight to moderate.
Most areas are wooded. In cleared areas, most crops
adapted to the Area can be grown. Contour cropping
and strips of trees planted at right angles to the pre-
vailing winds help control soil blowing. Organic matter
is needed to keep the soil in good tilth. Crops respond
well to fertilizer that contains nitrogen, phosphorus,
and potassium. In most years crops respond well to
irrigation.
MANAGEMENT GROUP 9 (llls-1)
This group consists of moderately well drained and
well drained, medium-textured soils that are shallow
and moderately deep over very gravelly coarse sand.
These nearly level soils are on broad outwash plains.
Permeability is moderate in the upper part of the
soil and rapid and very rapid in the underlying very
gravelly coarse sand. Available water capacity is low
to moderate. Runoff is slow. The hazard of water
erosion is slight.
Most areas of these soils are wooded. Because of ex-
tensive fires in the past, the soils now support a young
forest. In cleared areas, these soils are suitable for
frost-hardy vegetables, small grains, and grasses.
Organic matter is needed to keep the soil in good
tilth. Crops respond well to fertilizer that contains ni-
trogen, phosphorus, and potassium. In most years crops
respond well to irrigation.
20 SOIL SURVEY
MANAGEMENT GROUP 10 (lllw-1)
Only Tanana silt loam is in this group. This is a
somewhat poorly drained, medium-textured alluvial
soil with permafrost. It is in nearly level areas on flood
plains.
Permeability and available water capacity are mod-
erate above the permafrost. Runoff is slow, and the
hazard of water erosion is slight.
Most areas of the soil are wooded and underlain by
permafrost at a depth of more than 30 inches. In
cleared areas, the permafrost table recedes to a greater
depth, and excess moisture drains downward into the
soil. About a year is needed after clearing before the
soil is dry enough to cultivate. In places shallow drain-
age ditches are needed to remove excess water in
spring. All crops common to the Area can be grown.
Early planting reduces the risk of crop damage by late-
summer frosts. Plants respond well to fertilizer that
contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
MANAGEMENT GROUP 11 (IVe-1)
This group consists of well drained to moderately
well drained, strongly sloping, medium-textured soils
that formed in deep and moderately deep loess. These
soils are on uplands.
Permeability and available water capacity are mod-
erate. Runoff is medium to rapid, and the hazard of
water erosion is severe.
Most areas of these soils are wooded. In cleared
areas, grasses alone or grasses in contour strips with
other crops help to control water erosion and prevent
gullying and excessive soil loss. Crops on these soils
respond well to fertilizer that contains nitrogen, phos-
phorus, and potassium.
MANAGEMENT GROUP 12 (IVe-2)
This group consists of gently sloping, excessively
drained soils that are very shallow to very gravelly
coarse sand, and moderately sloping and strongly
sloping, well-drained soils that are shallow over very
channery silt loam.
Permeability is moderate in the upper part of the
soil and rapid to very rapid in the substratum. Avail-
able water capacity is low to very low. Runoff ranges
from slow to rapid. The hazard of soil blowing and
water erosion is moderate to severe.
In cleared areas, these soils have only limited po-
tential for growing cultivated crops. Perennial grasses
in most years and contour stripcropping when barley
and oats are grown help to control water erosion and
soil blowing. Returning crop residues to the soil, adding
manure regularly, and including grasses in the crop-
ping system help to keep these soils in good tilth and
promote efficient use of moisture. Crops on these soils
respond well to fertilizer that contains nitrogen, phos-
phorus, and potassium. In most years lack of moisture
limits crop growth.
MANAGEMENT GROUP 13 (IVs-1)
Only Donnelly silt loam, nearly level, is in this group.
This excessively drained silty soil is very shallow over
very gravelly coarse sand.
Permeability is moderate in the surface layer and
very rapid in the substratum. Available water capacity
is very low. Runoff is very slow to slow, and the hazard of
water erosion is slight. The hazard of soil blowing is
moderate to severe.
If cleared, these soils are suitable only for grass.
Leaving strips of trees between cleared areas helps
control soil blowing. Returning crop residues to the
soil and regularly adding manure help to keep these
soils in good tilth and to promote efficient use of
moisture and plant nutrients. Crops on these soils
respond well to fertilizer that contains nitrogen, phos-
phorus, and potassium. In most years, lack of moisture
is likely to limit production.
MANAGEMENT GROUP 14 (IVw-1)
This group consists of nearly level, poorly drained
silty soils with permafrost at varying depths. In places
the silty material is underlain by very gravelly sand
or schist at a moderate depth.
Permeability is moderate in the unfrozen surface
layer. Available water capacity is moderate in drained
areas. Runoff is very slow, and the hazard of water
erosion is slight.
Clearing these soils and removing the surface mat of
organic matter lowers the permafrost table. Excess
moisture can then be removed by drainage ditches.
Even after clearing and draining, these soils tend to
dry slowly in spring. This may delay spring planting
and increase the risk of frost damage to crops in late
summer. Grasses, small grains grown for forage, and
vegetables th~t mature early are best suited to the soils.
They respond well to fertilizer that contains nitrogen,
phosphorus, and potassium. In many places, the native
vegetation can be used for limited grazing.
MANAGEMENT GROUP 15 (IVw-2)
This group consists of poorly drained silty soils that
are nearly level to gently sloping. Permafrost is at a
shallow depth.
Permeability and available water capacity are mod-
erate in drained areas. Runoff is very slow to medium,
and the hazard of water erosion is slight to moderate.
Under the native vegetation, these soils are cold and
wet throughout the growing season. In many places,
the soils receive seepage water from surrounding areas.
If these soils are cleared for cultivated crops, the sur-
face mat must be removed to permit the permafrost
table to recede to a greater depth. Drainage ditches
can then be built to remove excess moisture. These
soils are suitable for early-maturing vegetables and
for perennial grasses, oats, and barley grown for for-
age. These crops respond well to fertilizer that contains
nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Avoiding tillage
when the soil is wet, adding manure, and returning
crop residues to the soils regularly help to maintain
soil tilth.
MANAGEMENT GROUP 16 (VIe-1)
This management group consists of well-drained,
moderately sloping silty soils that are very shallow to
very channery silt loam, and well-drained, moderately
steep silty soils that are shallow to deep to very
channery silt loam.
Permeability is moderate in the silty material. A vail-
..
,.
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA 21
able water capacity is low to moderate. Runoff is
medium to rapid, and the hazard of water erosion is
moderate to severe.
The soils in this group are too steep to be cultivated.
If cleared, they are suited only to perennial grasses
for pasture. Topdressing with nitrogen fertilizer helps
maintain a permanent cover of grass.
MANAGEMENT GROUP 17 (VIw-1)
Only Saulich silt loam, strongly sloping, is in this
group. This poorly drained silty soil has permafrost at
a shallow depth.
Permeability is moderate above permafrost. Runoff
is rapid, and the hazard of water erosion is severe.
Removal of the thick moss mat on the surface of this
soil lowers the permafrost table. Drainage ditches are
needed to carry off seepage, which tends to keep the
soil wet and cold, from higher areas. After clearing and
drainage, this soil can be seeded to perennial grasses
and used as pasture.
MANAGEMENT GROUP 18 (Vlle-1)
This group consists of moderately steep and steep,
deep to very shallow, excessively drained to well-
drained silty soils.
Runoff is medium to very rapid, and the hazard of
water erosion is severe to very severe.
These soils are too steep and too susceptible to gully
erosion to be cultivated. They are suitable mainly for
wildlife habitat and watershed protection.
MANAGEMENT GROUP 19 (VIIw-1)
This group consists of poorly drained, medium-
textured, strongly sloping to steep soils with perma-
frost at a shallow depth.
In severely burned or cleared areas, runoff is rapid,
and the hazard of water erosion is severe to very
severe. These soils remain wet and cold throughout the
growing season. They are not suitable for cultivated
crops or pasture. They are suitable mainly for wildlife
habitat and watershed protection.
MANAGEMENT GROUP 20 (VIIw-2)
Only Lemeta peat is in this group. This very poorly
drained soil has permafrost at a shallow depth.
Lemeta peat has no value for farming. It remains
cold and wet throughout the growing season, and
artificial drainage is not feasible. In places the soil
supports vegetation that is suitable for light grazing.
The peat has some commercial value.
MANAGEMENT GROUP 21 (VIlls-1)
Only Mine tailings is in this group. This land type
consists of piles of coarse gravel that may support
stunted stands of alder, willow, and aspen that are
used as wildlife habitat. The tailings are a source of fill
material and may provide building sites. They are a
possible source area of gravel for construction pur-
poses.
Engineering Uses of the Soils
Some soil properties are of special interest to en-
gineers because they affect the construction and
maintenance of roads, airports, and pipelines; the
foundations of buildings; facilities for storing water;
structures for controlling erosion; drainage systems;
and systems for disposing of sewage. Among the prop-
erties most important to the engineer are shear
strength, compaction characteristics, soil ·drainage,
permeability, shrink-swell characteristics, grain size,
plasticity, and reaction. Also important are depth to
seasonal high water table, flooding hazard, and relief.
Such information is available in this section. Engineers
can use it to-
1. Make studies that will aid in selecting and
developing sites for industries, businesses,
residences, and recreational areas.
2. Make estimates of the engineering properties
of soils for use in the planning of systems for
draining cropland and pasture, grassed water-
ways, farm ponds, irrigation systems, terraces
and diversions, and other structures for con-
serving soil and water.
3. Make preliminary evaluations of soil con-
ditions that will aid in selecting locations for
highways, airports, pipelines, cables, and
sewage disposal fields and in planning more
detailed surveys of the soils at the selected
locations. ·
4. Locate probable sources of sand, gravel, and
other materials for use in construction.
5. Correlate the performance of engineering
structures with the soil mapping units to de-
velop information for general planning that
will be useful in designing and maintaining
new structures.
6. Determine the suitability of the soils for cross-
country movement of vehicles and construc-
tion equipment.
7. Supplement information obtained from other
published maps, reports, and aerial photo-
graphs for the purpose of making· maps and
reports that can be readily used by engineers.
8. Develop other preliminary estimates for con-
struction purposes pertinent to the particular
area.
Used with the soil map to identify the soils, the en-
gineering interpretations in this section are useful for
many purposes. It should be emphasized, however, that
these interpretations are not a substitute for the
sampling and testing needed at a site chosen for a
specific engineering work that involves heavy loads
or at a site where excavations are to be deeper than the
depths of the layers here reported. Nevertheless, by
using this survey, an engineer can select and concen-
trate on those soils most important for this proposed
kind of construction. In this manner he can reduce the
number of soil samples taken for laboratory testing
and complete an adequate soil investigation at mini-
mum cost.
The soil mapping units shown on the maps in this
survey may include small areas of a different soil
material. These included soils may be as much as 2
acres in size. They are too small to be mapped sep-
arately and generally are not significant to the farming
22 SOIL SURVEY
Soil name and location Parent Laboratory Depth
material number
Inch.es
Fairbanks silt loam:
NE%NE% sec. 29, T. 2 S., R. 5 W. Loess. 730284 0-3
(Modal) 730285 8-21
730286 21-40
SE%NW% sec. 12, T. 1 N., R. 3 W. Loess. 730305 0-3
730306 7-18
730307 18-40
SW%SW14 sec. 16, T. 3 S., R. 7 W. Loess. 730297 0-3
730298 6-15
730299 15-40
Gilmore silt loam:
NW%SW 14 sec. 1, T. 2 S., R. 4 W. Loess over 730289 0-4
(Modal) schist. 730290 7-14
730291 14-24
NW%NE% sec. 2, T. 4 S., R. 8 W. Loess over 730294 2-10
shattered 730295 10-18
schist. 730296 18-30
SW%NW14 sec. 34, T. 2 S., R. 6 W. Loess over 730300 0-3
shattered 730301 3-16
schist. 730302 16-30
Goldstream silt loam:
NE%SE%, sec. 24, T. 1 N., R. 3 W. Alluvium. 730303 0-10
(Modal) 730304 10-28
NW%SWlf4 sec. 26, T. 2 S., R. 5 W. Alluvium. 730287 0-3
730288 3-12
NE 14SElf4 sec. 2, T. 5 S., R. 8 W. Alluvium. 730292 0-5
730293 5-16
TABLE 3.-Engineering
[Tests performed by Materials Testing Laboratory,
Moisture-density 1 Mechanical analysis 2
Maximum Opti-Percentage passing sieve-
dry mum
density moisture 3-2-1lh-1-
inch inch inch inch
Pounds
per cubic
foot Percent
92 26 ------ ---
---
111 17 --- ---------
111 17 ------------
102 20 -------------115 14 ------ ------
114 15 ------- ---
---
101 20 ------------
115 15 ------ --- ---
107 17 ------------
92 23 ------------
111 17 ---------
117 13 100 94 89 84
100 20 ------------100 20 ---
133 8 100 93 88 76
92 23 --- ---
------108 18 ------
122 8 93 93 91 87
107 18 ------ --- ---
108 17 ------ --- ---
52 62 ------ --- ---102 19 ------------\
77 36 ------------106 17 --- --- --- ---
1 Based on ASTM Specification D-1557-70, Method C.
2 Results by the procedure used may differ somewhat from results obtained by the soil survey procedure of the Soil Conservation
Service. In. the Testing Laboratory procedure, the fine material is determined by the hydrometer method, and the various grain-
sized fractions are calculated on the basis of all the material, including that coarser than 2 millimeters in diameter. In the soil
survey procedure, the fine material is analyzed by the pipette method, and the material coarser than 2 millimeters in diameter is
in the area, but they may be important in engineering
planning.
Information of value in planning engineering work
is given throughout the text, particulary in the sections
"Descriptions of the Soils" and "Formation and Classi-
fication of Soils."
Some of the terms in this publication have a special
meaning to soil scientists and a different meaning to
engineers. The Glossary defines many such terms as
they are used in soil science.
Much of the information in this section is given in
tables. Table 3 gives engineering test data, table 4 gives
estimated soil properties significant to engineering, and
table 5 gives engineering interpretations of the soils.
Engineering Classification Systems
Soil scientists of the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) classify soils according to texture
(13). In some ways this system of naming textural
classes is comparable to the two systems most com-
monly used by engineers to classify soils ; that is, the
Unified system developed by the Department of De-
fense (~) and used by the Soil Conservation Service
and other agencies, and the AASHTO system (1)
adopted by the American Association of State High-
way and Transportation Officials.
The Unified system is used to classify soils according
to those properties that affect use as a construction
material for purposes other than highway construction
and maintenance and as a foundation material.
In the Unified system, soils are classified according
to particle-size distribution, plasticity, liquid limit, and
organic-matter content, and they are grouped in 15
classes. There are eight classes of coarse-grained soils,
identified as GW, GP, GM, GC, SW, SP, SM, and SC;
six classes of fine-grained soils, identified as ML, CL,
OL, MH, CH, and OH; and one class of highly organic
..
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA 23
test data
Soil Conservation Service, Portland, Oregon]
Mechanical analysis •-continued Classification
Percentage passing sieve-continued Percentage smaller than-Liquid Plasticl.ty
limit
No.4 No.lO No.40 No. 200 index AASHTO Unified
3,4-o/s-(4.7 (2.0 (0.42 (0.074 0.05 0.02 0.005 0.002
inch inch mm) mm) mm) mm) mm mm mm mm
Percent
------100 99 91 83 70 39 9 0 ·Nv 'NP A-4 (8) ML ---------100 98 94 76 40 10 3 NV NP A-4 (8) ML
--- ------100 99 97 78 38 7 0 27 2 A-4 (8) ML
--- ---
100 99 96 93 77 43 14 9 NV NP A-4 (8) ML
---------100 99 97 81 46 15 11 31 5 A-4 (8) ML
--- --- ---
100 99 97 78 38 11 6 NV NP A-4 (8) ML
------ ---
100 98 95 76 40 11 6 37 7 A.-4 (8) ML
---------100 99 98 85 55 20 17 34 9 A-4 (8) ML
------ ------100 99 73 23 0 0 NV NP A-4 (8) ML
100 99 93 85 70 39 11 6 42 9 A-5 (8) ML
100 99 99 98 94 91 78 47 12 8 NV NP A-4 (8) ML
81 74 69 65 58 54 48 35 9 2 31 3 A-4 (4) ML
---100 99 99 97 96 78 38 1 0 NV NP A-4 (8) ML
---100 99 96 74 31 0 0 NV NP A-4 (8) ML
70 56 43 31 19 11 10 6 2 0 NV NP A-1-a (0) GP-GM
100 99 98 97 80 70 58 34 8 2 46 12 A-7-5 (9) ML
100 98 90 81 68 40 10 0 NV NP A-4 (8) ML
84 76 67 55 34 17 14 9 3 0 NV NP A-1-b (0) SM
--- ---
---100 99 97 83 51 16 11 NV NP A-4 (8) ML
--- ------100 99 96 79 43 14 10 31 3 A-4 (8) ML
------100 96 88 79 64 33 0 0 102 NP A-5 (12) OH
--- ---
---100 99 97 72 24 0 0 NV NP A-4 (8) ML
------ ---
100 97 93 82 54 20 12 66 17 A-7-5 (15) MH
---------100 99 97 84 54 16 12 36 9 A-4 (8) ML
excluded from calculations of grain-sized fractions. The mechanical analyses used in this table are not suitable for use in naming
textural classes of soil.
"No value.
• Nonplastic.
soils, identified as Pt. Soils on the borderline between
two classes are designated by symbols for both classes;
for example, CL-ML.
The AASHTO system is used to classify soils ac-
cording to those properties that affect use in highway
construction and maintenance. In this system, a soil is
placed in one of seven basic groups ranging from A-1
through A-7 on the basis of grain-size distribution,
liquid limit, and plasticity index. In group A-1 are
gravelly soils of high bearing strength, or the best soils
for subgrade (foundation). At the other extreme, in
group A-7, are clay soils that have low strength when
wet and that are the poorest soils for subgrade. Where
laboratory data are available to justify a further
breakdown, the A-1, A-2, and A-7 groups are divided
as follows: A-1-a, A-1-b, A-2-4, A-2-5, A-2-6, A-2-7,
A-7-5, and A-7-6. As additional refinement, the en-
gineering value of a soil material can be indicated by
a group index number. Group indexes range from 0 for
the best material to·20 or more for the poorest. The
AASHTO classification for tested soils, with group in-
dex numbers in parentheses, is shown in table 3 ; the
estimated classification, without group index numbers,
is given in table 4 for all soils mapped in the survey
area.
USDA texture is determined by the relative propor-
tions of sand, silt, and clay in soil material that is less
than 2.0 millimeters in diameter. "Sand," "silt," "clay,"
and some of the other terms used in the USDA textural
classification are defined in the Glossary.
Engineering Test Data
Table 3 gives test data for samples obtained from
three soil series that are extensive in the Goldstream-
. Nenana Area. Selected layers were tested by standard
procedures in the Materials Testing Laboratory of the
Soil Conservation Service in Portland, Oregon. The
----------------
24
Soil series and
map symbols
Bradvvay: Br __________________ _
Donnelly: DoA, DoB, DoF ________ _
Bedrock
Feet
(')
(')
Ester: EsD, EsE, EsF ---------------1 >3%
Fairbanks: FoA, FoB, FoC, FaD, I (1)
FaE, FaF.
Gilmore: GmB, GmC, GmD, GmE, >3%
GmF, GrB. GrC, GrE, GrF.
Goldstream: GtA, GtB __________ _ (')
Goodpaster: GuA ----------------1 (')
Lemeta: Lp --------------------1 (1)
Mine tailings: Me --------------(')
Minto: MnA, MnB, MnC, MnD______ (')
Nenana: NaA, NaB ______________________ _J (')
NeA, NeB ______________________ _j (')
Salchaket: Sc_ __________________ J (')
Saulich: SuA, SuB, SuC, SuD, j 2%-10
SuE, SuF.
Steese: SvB, SvC, SvD, SvE. SvF____ >3%
Tanana: Ta ____________________ J (')
Volkmar: Vk __________________ _ (')
SOIL SURVEY
Depth to-
Permafrost Seasonal
table in high
uncleared vvater
areas table
Feet Feet
2-4 I
2 0-2
(') (")
<1 I 2 0-1 I
(') (")
(') (")
1-3 I 2 0-lh
>3% I 0-lh
1%-3 0-lh
(') (")
>6 3-5
(') (")
(') (")
(') (")
0-2 I 2 0-1%
(') I (")
2-4 2 1%-2%
(') 3-5
' Bedrock not encountered to depth of observation, vvhich generally is 5 feet.
2 Perched above permafrost.
• Coarse fragments greater than 3 inches not considered in table.
TABLE 4.-Estimated soil properties
[The symbol > means more than;
Depth from
surface of
typical
profile
Inches
0-36
0-4
4-7
7-18
14-0
0-4
4-9
0-3
3-40
0-4
4-14
14-24
10-0
0-36
9-0
0-15
15-25
0-32
0-60
0-3
3-40
0-15
15-20
20-30
0-20
20-30
0-6
6-25
25-42
15-0
0-6
0-3
3-27
27-36
0-43
43-76
0-27
27-35
35-40
Dominant USDA
texture
Very fine sandy loam ____________ _
Silt loam _______________________ _
Gravelly silt loam----------------Very gravelly coarse sand ________ _
Peat----------------------------Silt loam _______________________ _
Very channery silt loam _________ _
Silt loam _______________________ _
Silt ____________________________ _
Silt loam----------------------~-Silt ____________________________ _
Very channery silt loam _________ _
Peat ___________________________ _
Silt loam _______________________ _
Peat ___________________________ _
Silt loam _______________________ _
Very gravelly coarse sand _______ _
Peat ___________________________ _
Gravel _________________________ _
Silt loam _______________________ _
Silt ____________________________ _
Silt loam _______________________ _
Gravelly silt_ ___________________ _
Very gravelly coarse sand _______ _
Silt loam _______________________ _
Fine sand ______________________ _
Very fine sandy loam ____________ _
Very fine sandy loam ____________ _ Fine sand ______________________ _
Peat ___________________________ _
Silt loam _______________________ _
Silt loam _______________________ _
Silt ____________________________ _
Very channery silt loam _________ _
Silt loam _______________________ _
Fine sand ______________________ _
Silt loam _______________________ _
Gravelly silt loam _______________ _
Very gravelly coarse sand ________ _
..
significant to engineering
the symbol < means less than]
Classification
Unified AASHTO
ML A-4
ML A-4
MLorGM A-4
GWorGP A-1
ML A-4
Pt A-8
GM A-2
ML A-4
ML A-4
ML A-4
ML A-4
GMor A-1
GP-GM orA-2
Pt A-8
ML A-4
Pt A-8
ML A-4
GWorGP A-1
Pt A-8
GP A-1
ML A-4
ML A-4
ML A-4
GM A-4
GWorGP A-1
ML A-4
SM, SP-A-2
SM orA-3
ML A-4
ML A-4
SM A-2
Pt A-8
ML A-4
ML A-4
ML A-4
GMor A-1
GM-GP orA-2
ML A-4
SM, SP-A-2
SM orA-3
ML A-4
MLorGM A-4
GW A-1
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA
Percentage passing sieve-
Permeability . Available water
No.4 No.10 No. 200 capacity
(4.7 mm) (2.0 mm) (0.074 mm)
Inches per hour Inches per inch
of soil
"100 100 60-70 0.6-2.0 0.12-0.16
95-100 95-100 80-90 0.6-2.0 0.18-0.23
"60-80 55-70 40-60 2.0-6.0 0.12-0.18
3 30-50 20-40 0-5 >20.0 0.02-0.04
100 100 2.0-6.0 >0.25
--------------85-95 0.6-2.0 0.18-0.23
"40-50 30-40 35-45 0.6-2.0 0.06-0.08
100 100 85-95 0.6-2.0 0.18-0.23
100 100 90-100 0.6-2.0 0.18-0.23
100 100 85-95 0.6-2.0 0.18-0.23
100 100 90-100 0.6-2.0 0.18-0.23
3 25-45 20-40 10-35 6.0-20.0 0.06-0.08
-------2.0-6.0 >0.25
100 95-100 80-95 0.6-2.0 0.18-0.23
2.0-6.0 >0.25
100 95-100 80-95 0.6-2.0 0.18-0.23
3 25-50 20-40 0-5 >20.0 0.02-0.04
--------------------2.0-6.0 >0.25
• 20-40 15-30 0-5 >20.0 0.02-0.04
100 100 85-95 0.6-2.0 0.18-0.23
100 100 90-100 0.6-2.0 0.18-0.23
100 100 85-95 0.6-2.0 0.18-0.23
3 55-65 50-60 40-50 2.0-6.0 0.12-0.18
8 20-40 15-30 0-5 >20.0 0.02-0.04
100 95-100 85-95 0.6-2.0 0.18-0.23
90-100 75-95 5-15 6.0-20.0 0.04-0.08
100 95-100 55-70 0.6-2.0 0.18-0.23
100 95-100 55-70 0.6-2.0 0.14-0.18
100 95-100 10-20 6.0-20.0 0.04-0.08
--------------------2.0-6.0 >0.25
100 100 85-95 0.6-2.0 0.18-0.23
100 100 85-95 0.2-2.0 0.18-0.23
100 100 90-100 0.2-2.0 0.18-0.23
3 25-45 20-40 10-30 6.0-20.0 0.06-0.08
100 100 95-100 0.2-2.0 0.18-0.23
90-100 75-95 5-15 6.0-20.0 0.04-0.08
100 95-100 85-95 0.2-2.0 0.18-0.23
3 60-80 55-70 40-60 2.0-6.0 0.12-0.18
3 20-40 15-30 0-5 6.0-20.0 0.02-0.04
• None. • Water table not observed to depth of observation, which generally is 5 feet, or to bedrock, whichever is less.
25
Reaction
pH
6.1-7.8
5.1-6.0
5.6-6.0
6.1-7.3
3.5-5.5
3.5-5.5
5.1-6.0
5.1-6.5
5.5-7.3
5.1-6.0
5.6-6.0
6.1-7.3
4.0-5.6
4.5-5.5
5.6-6.5
5.1-6.0
5.1-6.0
4.0-5.0
------
5.1-5.5
5.6-7.3
5.6-6.0
5.6-6.0
6.1-7.3
5.6-6.0
6.1-7.8
5.6-7.3
6.6-7.3
6.6-7.8
4.;5--5.5
5.6-7.3
5.1-6.1
5.1-6.0
6.1-7.3
6.1-7.3
6.6-7.8
5.6-6.5
6.1-7.3
6.6-7.3
26
Soil series and
map symbols
Topsoil
SOIL SURVEY
Suitability as a source of-
Sand Gravel
TABLE 5.-:lnterpretatiCYnS of
Road fill
Susceptibility
to frost
action
Bradway: Br ______ I Poor: high water Unsuited ----------1 Unsuited ----------1 Poor: high water
table; permafrost.
High: permafrost_
Donnelly : DoA,
DoB, DoF.
Ester: EsD,
EsE, EsF.
Fairbanks: FaA,
FaB. FoC, FaD,
FoE, FoF.
Gilmore:
GmB, GmC, GmD,
GmE, GmF.
GrB, GrC, GrE,
GrF.
Goldstream : GtA,
GtB.
table; permafrost.
Poor: shallow to
gravel.
Poor: high water
table; permafrost.
Good where slope is
0 to 7 percent,
fair where 7 to 12,
poor where 12 to
45.
I Fair where slope is
3 to 12 percent,
shallow; poor
where 12 to 45.
Poor: very
shallow.
Poor: high water
table; permafrost.
Good: gravelly ---1 Good: some stones! Good--------------1 Low--------------
and cobbles.
Unsuited __________ Unsuited __________ Poor: high water
table; permafrost.
High: permafrost_
Unsuited __________ Unsuited __________ Poor: high frost High: silty _______
action.
Unsuited ___________ Unsuited __________ Fair where slope isl High: silty--------
3 to 20 percent, '
poor where 20 to.
45.
Unsuited ----------1 Unsuited _________ J Fair where slope isl Moderate: silty---
3 to 20 percent,
poor where 20 to
45.
Unsuited ----------1 Unsuited _________ J Poor: high water I High:
table; permafrost.
permafrost_
Goodpaster: GuA __ I Poor: high water
table.
Poor: high water
table.
Poor: high water
table.
Poor: high water j High: high water
table; permafrost table; permafrost.
Lemeta: Lp _______ I Poor: peat, perma-Unsuited ----------Unsuited ----------Unsuited: peat ---1 High: permafrost_
frost.
Mine tailings: Me_ I Unsuited----------Unsuited----------Good ______________ Good ____________ ~J Low----------·----
Minto: MnA, MnB,
MnC, MnD.
Nenana:
Good where slope is I Unsuited ----------1 Unsuited ______ ----1 Poor: high frost
0 to 7 percent, action.
fair where 7 to 12,
poor where 12 to
20.
NaA, NaB _________ I Good where slope is I Good ______________ , Good ______________ , Good: silty over-
0 to 7 percent, fair burden.
where 7 to 12.
NeA, NeB ________ I Good ______________ I Poor to fair; excess-~ Unsuited ----------1 Good: silty over-
ive fines. burden.
High: silty ______ _
Moderate: silty
overburden.
Moderate: silty
overburden.
Salchaket: Sc _____ I Good ______________ I Poor; excessive Unsuited • ________ _! Fair: frost action_! Moderate: silty __ _
Saulich: SuA. SuB,
SuC, SuD, SuE, SuF.
fines!
Poor: high water I Unsuited __________ , Unsuited __________ , Poor: high water I High: permafrost_
table; permafrost. table; permafrost.
..
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA 27
engineering properties of the soils
Soil features affecting-
Local roads Pond reservoir Embankments, dikes,
Drainage of
cropland and Irrigation Grassed
and streets areas and levees pasture waterways
High water table; Moderate permea-Compressible; fair Moderate permea-High water table; Not needed.
permafrost. bility; permafrost. compaction char-bility; permafrost. permafrost.
acteristics; sus-
ceptible to piping.
Favorable _________ Very rapid permea-High compacted Not needed ________ Very low available Shallow to gravel.
bility. permeability. water capacity;
very rapid per-
meability.
Permafrost; Strongly sloping to Susceptible to Strongly sloping to High water table; Highly erodible;
strongly sloping steep. piping. steep. strongly sloping strongly sloping
to steep. to steep. to steep.
High frost action; Moderate permea-Susceptible to Not needed ________ Moderate available Highly erodible;
susc~ptible to bility. piping; com-water capacity; nearly level to
erOSIOn. pressible. moderate permea-steep.
bility; nearly
level to steep.
High frost action; Gently sloping to Susceptible to Not needed ________ Gently sloping to Highly erodible;
susceptible to steep. piping. steep. gently sloping to
erosion; gently steep.
sloping to steep.
Gently sloping to Gently sloping to Susceptible to Not needed ________ Gently sloping to Highly erodible;
steep. steep. piping. steep. gently sloping to
steep.
High water table; Permafrost --------Permafrost; sus-Moderate permea-High water table; Permafrost.
permafrost. ceptible to piping. bility; permafrost permafrost.
High water table; Very rapid permea-High compacted Very rapid permea High water table; Not needed.
permafrost; high bility. permeability in bility in permafrost.
frost action. substratum. substratum.
Peat; permafrost;
high water table.
Permafrost ________ Peat; permafrost__ Not suitable ______ Peat ______________ Not needed.
Most features Very rapid permea-Very high com-Not applicable ____ Not applicable _____ Not apulicable.
favorable. bility. pacted permea-
bility.
High frost action; Moderate permea-Susceptible to Not needed _______ Moderate available Highly erodible;
sporadic ice bility; sporadic piping; compress-water capacity; uneven subsidence
masses and un-ice masses and ible. sporadic ice ~ue to sporadic
even subsidence; uneven subsidence masses and sus-Ice masses.
susceptible to and piping. · ceptible to uneven
erosion. subsidence.
Moderate frost Very rapid permea-High compacted Not needed _______ Low available watei Highly erodible;
action. bility in sub-permeability. capacity; moder-shallow to
stratum. ate permeability. gravel.
Moderate frost Rauid permeability High compacted Not needed _______ Low available water Highly erodible;
action; susceptible in substratum. permeability. capacity; moder-shallow to sand.
to blowing in cuts. ate permeability.
Moderate frost Moderate permea-Fair compaction Not needed _______ Moderate permea-Not needed.
action; occasional bility; sandy characteristics; bility; low
flooding. strata. susceptible available water
to piping. capacity.
High water table; Permafrost; nearly Susceptible to Nearly level to High water table; Highly erodible;
permafrost; level to steep. piping; perma-steep ; permafrost permafrost. permafrost;
nearly level to frost. nearly level to
steep. steep.
28 SOIL SURVEY
TABLE 5.-lnterpretations of
Suitability as a source of-
Soil series and
map symbols
Topsoil Sand
Steese: SvB, SvC, Good where slope is Unsuited ----------
SvD, SvE, SvF. 3 to 7 percent,
fair where 7 to 12,
poor where 12 to
45.
Tanana: To _______ Fair: deep perma-Unsuited _________
frost.
Volkmar: Vk ______ Good ______________ Good _____________
1 Fine sand or sand is at a depth of 2lh to 6 feet.
samples were chosen to represent the range in proper-
ties in the soils of each series. The results of the tests
can be used as a guide in estimating the engineering
properties of the soils in the survey area. Tests were
made for moisture-density relationships, grain-size
distribution, liquid limit, and plasticity index.
In the moisture-density tests, a sample of the soil
material is compacted several times with a constant
compactive effort, each time at a successively higher
moisture content. The moisture content is increased
until the optimum moisture content is reached. After
that, the density decreases with increase in moisture
content. The highest density obtained in the compaction
test is termed "maximum dry density." Moisture-
density data are important in planning earthwork, be-
cause generally the soil is more stable. if it is com-
pacted to about its maximum dry density when it is at
about the optimum moisture content.
Mechanical analyses were made to determine the
percentage of clay and coarser material in the soils.
The analyses were done by the combined sieve and
hydrometer methods. The percentage of clay de-
termined by the hydrometer method should not be used
as a basis for naming textural classes of soils.
The tests for liquid limit and plastic limit measure
the effect of water on the consistence of soil material.
As the moisture content of a clayey soil increases from
a very dry state, the material changes from a semisolid
to a plastic state. As the moisture content is further
increased, the material changes from a plastic to a liquid
state. The plastic lilmit is the moisture content at which
the soil material passes from a semisolid to a plastic
state. The liquid limit is the moisture content at which
the material passes from a plastic to a liquid state. The
plasticity index is the numerical difference between the
liquid limit and the plastic limit. It indicates the range
of moisture content within which a soil material is in
a plastic condition.
Susceptibility
to frost
Gravel Road fill action
Upsuited _________ Poor: high frost
action.
High: silty _______
Unsuited • --------Poor: high frost High: perma-
action. frost.
Good _____________ Poor: high frost High ______________
action in silty
material.
Good in gravelly
substratum.
Estimated Soil Properties Significant to
Engineering
Table 4 lists the soil series in the survey area and
the map symbols for each mapping unit, and it gives
estimates of soil properties significant to engineering.
The estimates are based partly on test data in table 3
and partly on experience with soils within the Area
and experience gained by working with and observing
similar soils in other areas.
In general, the estimates in table 4 apply only to the
soil depths indicated in the table, but these data are
reasonably reliable for soil material to a depth of about
5 feet.
Soil texture is described in table 4 in the standard
terms used by the Department of Agriculture. These
terms take into account relative percentages of sand,
silt, and clay in soil material that is less than 2.0
millimeters in diameter. "Loam," for example, is soil
material that is 7 to 27 percent clay, 28 to 50 percent
silt. and less than 52 percent sand. If the soil contains
gravel or other particles coarser than sand, an ap-
propriate modifier is added, for example, "gravelly
sandy loam." "Sand," "silt," "clay," and some of the
other terms used in USDA textural classifications are
defined in the Glossary of this soil survey.
In table 4, permeability is estimated in inches of
water percolation per hour. The data are based on un-
compacted soils from which free water has been re-
moved. The estimates are based largely on texture,
structure, porosity, and consistence.
Available water capacity, expressed as inches of
water per inch of soil depth, is the capacity of a soil to
hold water available for use by most plants. It is the
estimated amount of water held in a soil between field
capacity and the permanent wilting point of plants.
Available water capacity data in table 4 are based on
30 inches of usable soil for rooting depth. The roots of
..
••
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA 29
engineering properties of the soils-Continued
Soil features affecting-
Drainage of
Local roads Pond reservoir Embankments, dikes, cropland and Irrigation Grassed
and streets areas and levees pasture waterways
High frost action; Gently sloping to Susceptible to Not needed ________ Moderate permea-Highly erodible;
susceptible to steep. piping; com-bility; moderate gently sloping
erosion; gently pressible. available water to steep.
sloping to steep. capacity; gently
sloping to steep.
High frost action; Permafrost; moder Susceptible to Moderate permea-High water table; Not needed.
permafrost; high ate permeability. piping; perma-bility; permafrost moderate permea-
water table. frost; compress-bility; perma-
ible. frost.
High frost action ____ Rapid permeability High compacted Not needed ________ Moderate permea-Not needed.
in substratum. permeability in bility.
substratum .
• Very gravelly sand is at variable depths below a depth of 4 feet.
most crops in the survey area do not penetrate below
this depth.
Reaction is the degree of acidity or alkalinity of a
soil, expressed as pH value. The pH value, and relative
terms used to describe soil reaction, are explained in
the Glossary.
Shrink-swell potential, which indicates the volume
change to be expected of a soil with changes in mois-
ture content, is not rated in table 4, because all soils in
the Goldstream-Nenana Area have low shrhik-swell
potential.
Engineering Interpretations of the Soils
Table 5 gives ratings of the soils according to their
suitability as sources of topsoil, sand, gravel, and road
fill. It gives the susceptibility of each soil to frost
action. It also lists soil features that affect the suit-
ability of the soils for several engineering practices. The
ratings and other interpretations are based on test data
in table 3, on estimated soil properties in table 4, and
on field experience.
Most of the soils in the Goldstream-Nenana Area
formed in silty or very fine sandy material that ranges
from a few inches to many feet in thickness. The soils
on uplands generally are underlain by uncomformable
very channery silt loam. This material is derived from
the overlying silty or very fine sandy materials and
from weathering of the underlying mica schist. Depth
to the very channery material ranges from 40 inches
to many feet in Fairbanks, Minto, and Saulich soils;
from 20 to 40 inches in the Steese soils; and from 5 to
20 inches in the Ester and Gilmore soils. Depth to un-
weathered mica schist ranges from 40 inches to many
feet in these soils. On alluvial plains, low terraces,
moraines, stabilized dunes, and in outwash areas, the
soils generally are underlain by loose sandy or gravelly
deposits. Depth to these deposits ranges from 40 inches
to many feet in Bradway, Goldstream, Salchaket, and
Tanana soils; from 10 to 40 inches in Nenana and
Volkmar soils; and from 5 to 10 inches in Donnelly
soils.
Topsoil refers to soil material, preferably rich in
organic matter, that is used as a topdressing on slopes,
embankments, lawns, gardens, and the like. The suit-
ability ratings are based mainly on texture and
organic-matter content of the soil. Well-drained silty
soils, the best sources of topsoil, are well distributed
throughout the survey area.
The ratings for sand and gravel are based on the
probability that mapped areas of the soils contain
sizable deposits of sand and gravel at a depth of no
more than 6 feet. Layers of sand and gravel in the Area
are at least 3 feet thick. Some soils have little or no
sand or gravel in the uppermost 4 or 5 feet, but based
on observations made in deep cuts and on knowledge of
geology of the Area, some of these are underlain by
sand or gravel. The ratings provided in table 4 do not
reflect the qu;:tlity and extent of the deposits or the
economic feasibility of removing the deposits .
On alluvial plains in the survey area, some of the
soils have a high water table or contain cobblestones or
stones that interfere with excavating sand and gravel.
Many areas of Salchaket soils contain gravel that can
be easily obtained.
On outwash plains, rounded, well-graded gravel
generally can be excavated without difficulty from areas
of Donnelly, Nenana, and Volkmar soils. On moraines
the gravelly material generally contains a higher per-
centage of fines than the gravelly material on alluvial
plains and outwash plains. Upland soils generally are
unsuited as sources of gravel.
Road fill refers to soil material that is used to build
embankments. The suitability ratings are based on the
performance of soil material moved from borrow pits
for this purpose. Factors that affect the suitability of
a soil for road fill are texture, available water capacity,
and depth to permafrost. Organic soils are rated
30 SOIL SURVEY
unsuitable, soils that are shallow to permafrost are
rated poor, and sandy and gravelly soils that lack per-
mafrost are rated good.
Permafrost, or perennially frozen soil, is a major con-
cern in the Goldstream-Nenana Area. On uplands the
subsoil of the Ester and Saulich soils is perennially frozen.
These soils have north-facing slopes. The subsoil of
the sloping Goldstream soils in valleys along secondary
drainageways also has permafrost. On alluvial plains
and low terraces, large areas of Bradway, Goldstream,
and Tanana soils are underlain by permafrost. When
moss or other insulating vegetation is removed from
the surface of these soils, the uppermost part of the
permafrost thaws and commonly causes subsidence of
the overlying soil material. Roads and structures con-
structed on these soils are susceptible to uneven settling
unless special construction methods are used. These
soils are always nearly saturated in the zone above the
permafrost in summer. If the excess water is not re-
moved, especially along roads, even more irregular
settling is likely because the hazard of frost heaving
is severe in these soils in spring. In areas of Minto soils
on foot slopes, irregular subsidence and the formation
of deep, steep-walled pits are likely because of the
melting. of underground masses of ice.
Frost action in soils that have permafrost or that do
not have permafrost is a problem throughout the Area.
Among the soil properties that influence frost action
are texture, porosity, and depth to the water table
during periods of freeze. Although a precise correlation
has not been established, only the soils in the Gold-
stream-Nenana Area that contain less than 3 percent
of material finer than 0.074 millimeter (No. 200 sieve)
are believed to be nonsusceptible to heaving by frost.
None of the soils in the Area fully meet this require-
ment. The well-drained soils on alluvial plains, out-
wash plains, moraines, and stabilized dunes have a
gravelly or sandy substratum, and they generally have
low or moderate potential frost action. Soils formed in
deep silty and very fine sandy material and that have
permafrost and a high water table have high potential
frost action.
The factors that affect pond-reservoir areas are those
features and qualities of undisturbed soils that affect
their suitability for water impoundments. Of im-
portance are soil properties that affect seepage. Ex-
cessive seepage is a major concern in constructing re-
servoirs and farm ponds in the Goldstream-Nenana
Area. Reservoirs and ponds generally must be lined
with impervious material. Throughout most of the
survey area, the soils consist of silty or very fine sandy
material. They generally are not well suited to embank-
ments, because they are highly susceptible to piping
and are compressible. Movement of water through the
silty and very fine sandy material is likely to form
subsurface channels that can rapidly drain a pond.
Artificial drainage for farming is feasible on some of
the somewhat poorly drained and poorly drained
mineral soils. Costs and estimated benefits of drainage
systems, however, should be carefully considered be-
fore construction. It generally is more economical to
clear and improve the better drained soils that are suit-
able for crops than it is to make extensive improve-
ments on wet land. An exception to this is the Tanana
soils, where drainage is improved after clearing and
subsequent recession of the permafrost table. Drain-
age of Lemeta peats for farming is not feasible, be-
cause these soils are low in fertility and have un-
desirable physical characteristics for producing the
crops commonly grown in the Area.
The sloping soils in the Area are susceptible to severe
erosion if the vegetation is removed. Careful planning
and design generally are needed to insure that ditches
and waterways for the removal of runoff water are
safe and adequate. Highway ditches in such soils as
the Fairbanks and Minto soils are especially subject to
washing unless they are kept in sod. Constructing di-·
versions, waterways, and ditches with gentle slopes
helps prevent gullies from forming, though erosion-
control structures may be needed in places. Farming
and stripcropping on the contour and including grasses
in the cropping system help to control erosion in slop-
ing areas. Keeping sod in areas where surface water
concentrates also helps to control erosion.
The well-drained silty soils on uplands, including the
Fairbanks and Steese soils, are not well suited to the
off-road movement of vehicles and heavy equipment,
because much of the terrain is strongly sloping to steep.
In addition, these soils are dusty when dry and slippery
when wet. On uplands and alluvial plains, the soils that
are underlain by permafrost are wet throughout the
summer and can be traversed only by vehicles designed
to operate in wet areas. Well-drained soils on outwash
areas and alluvial plains, including the Salchaket, Don-
nelly, and Nenana soils, generally can be traversed by
vehicles and heavy equipment after the ground has
thawed in spring.
Use of the Soils as Woodland 2
This section contains interpretations of the soils of
the survey area used as woodland. Native tree species,
understory vegetation, site quality, natural competition
from undesirable plants, mortality of tree seedlings,
limitation to the use of heavy equipment, and hazards
of erosion and windthrow are described.
With the discovery of gold in the Tanana Valley and
the subsequent growth in population of the Area, man's
use of the forest increased. In the early days of the gold
rush and settlement, the forest was used mainly for
house logs, rough lumber, and fuel wood. All tree
species were used for fuel, but white spruce was the
main species used for logs and lumber, and this pat-
tern of use has persisted to the present time. The main
difference between logging and timber use in the past
compared to today is the different route of transporta-
tion to the Fairbanks market. In the past, timber was
moved on winter haul trails; today timber is moved
along the new Anchorage-Fairbanks Highway, from
which access roads have been constructed into the
• WILLIAM J. SAUERWEIN, regional forester, Soil Conservation
Service, and RoYAL HANSEN, State forester's office, Division of
Lands, Department of Natural Resources, State of Alaska,
helped prepare this section.
<l>
..
..
t
...
·--~·-~-~ ~~-~-~~~-----~-~--------~----~--~~---~~~-~~~---~---~-----·--------·--··--------~----~----
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA 31
timber. A substantial amount of timber is still moved
by river barge.
Most of the Goldstream-Nenana Area is forested,
but large treeless areas are common. Stands differ in
size, age, and density. Sharp boundaries between stands
of contrasting age and type are frequently the result of
forest fires and abrupt differences in environmental in-
fluences.
Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), paper birch
(Betula papyrifera), and white spruce (Picea glauca)
are dominant on well-drained soils of uplands and
alluvial plains. Quaking aspen is dominant on southerly
slopes, and paper birch is dominant on ridges and on
slopes with east, northeast, anq northwest aspects.
White spruce grows on all but north-facing slopes,
often in association with birch or aspen. Black spruce
(Picea mariana) is common on poorly drained soils,
both on north-facing slopes of uplands and on alluvial
plains. Cottonwood, or balsam poplar (Populus
balsamifera), is common on well-drained soils of alluvi-
al plains along the major streams of the Area, and
tamarack (Larix laricina) grows in a few places where
drainage is poor. American green alder (Alnus crispa),
thinleaf alder (Alnus tenuifolia) and willow (Salix
species) grow along streams, on the edges of muskegs,
and in burned-over areas on uplands. Many poorly
drained soils that have a high permafrost table are
treeless, and they commonly have a thick cover of moss,
sedge tussocks, and low shrubs.
White spruce is the climax species in what can be
considered the commercial forest stands in the Area.
The best stands average around 90 to 100 feet in height,
are between 100 and 200 years old, and average 10,000
to 15,000 board feet per acre. Tree diameters at breast
height range from 8 to about 28 inches. If the forest
is destroyed by fire, the site naturally reseeds to birch,
aspen, or white spruce, or to a mixture of two or all of
these species. Since it is more tolerant, white spruce
will invade as an understory plant in stands of birch
or aspen, and it will eventually become dominant in
the stand. It can be assumed that, if left untouched by
fire or other disturbances and if the site is adequate,
commercial spruce stands will develop on well-drained
soils.
Because of extensive fires before and during the gold
rush period, most of the trees in the Area are young,
but mature stands of paper birch and quaking aspen
are in many places, especially on uplands. Stands of
white spruce as much as 300 years old are on some well-
drained soils of the Tanana River flood plain.
In the course of the soil survey, age and height of
trees were determined in plots on each soil considered
to be suitable for commercial woodland. In all, 52 plots,
each containing 3 to 6 trees, were observed. Largely on
the basis of this information, each soil was rated as to
its ability to produce aspen, paper birch, and white
spruce. Published yield tables are available for these
species ( 4, 5) .
Site Class
The relative measure of a soil's ability to produce
wood can be expressed by site classes. Under this
system, the soil with the greatest productive capacity
is placed in site class 1, and the lowest, in site class 5.
Soils in classes 2, 3, and 4 have intermediate capacities.
The grouping of soils into site classes is based on the
average total height of the dominant trees in the stand
at the age of 100 years for white sprQce and 50 years
for quaking aspen and paper birch. These are the
largest trees ; their crowns form the general level of
the forest canopy and, in a few places, extend above it.
The average annual yield per acre for unmanaged,
well-stocked stands of white spruce at the age of 100
years is shown in table 6, and that for well-stocked
stands of aspen and paper birch at the age of 50 years
is shown in table 7. Data from these tables and from
the average site index shown in the descriptions of
woodland suitability groups can be used to estimate
the productivity of a soil for wood crops.
Although yield tables are not available for cotton-
wood, 19 trees in 5 plots were measured. These trees
had an average age of 92 years and an average height
of 89 feet.
In many wooded areas, inadequate natural regenera-
tion results in an understocked stand. Such stands pro-
duce less wood per acre than is shown in tables 6 and 7.
Under improved management, natural regeneration is
supplemented where needed, or it is replaced by plant-
ing and seeding. The resulting fully stocked stand is
protected from fire, insects, and disease. This level of
management can be expected to produce wood in
quantities greater than shown in tables 6 and 7.
TABLE 6.-Board-foot volume per acre of white spruce
[Trees are larger than 8.5 inches diameter at breast height from
a 1-foot stump to a 6-inch top, inside bark, by age and site
index, Interior Alaska. From Farr (4)]
Site index (feet)
Age
(years) 50 60 70
30 ---------
40 ----·-----
50 ---------
60 ---------
70 ------623
80 -------2,106
90 ------3,590
100 ---1,138 5,073
110 ---2,228 6,556
120 ---3,317 8,039
130 79 4,407 9,522
140 835 5,496 11,005
150 1,592 6,586 12,488
160 2,349 7,675 13,971
170 3,105 8,765 15,454
180 3,862 9,855 16,937
--··-
Volume= 9757.8 +0.030266S"A
where: S = site index
80
---
---
---
1,864
3,801
5,738
7,675
9,612
11,549
13,486
15,424
17,361
19,298
21,235
23,172
25,109
90 100
------
---2,349
2,500 5,375
4,951 8,402
7,403 11,428
9,855 14,455
12,306 17,482
14,758 20,508
17,209 23,535
19,661 26,561
22,112 29,588
24,564 32,615
27,015 35,641
29,467 38,668
31,918 ---
34,370 ---
A = average age of at least six tallest white spruce trees.
R" = 0.854 (Basis, number of plots = 89)
32 SOIL SURVEY
TABLE 7.-Cubic-foot volume per acre of birch and
aspen
[Trees are larger than 6.5 inches diameter at breast height.
From Gregory and Haack (5)]
Birch site index (feet) Aspen site index (feet)
Age
(years) 35 45 55 65 35 45 55 65 75
30 ------ --------------------
35 -----------------------314
40 ---------374 --------198 718
45 ---------578 --------518 1,178
50 ---------782 ----- ---
876 1,690
55 ------249 987 -----454 1,271 2,256
60 ------395 1,191 -----732 1,704 2,877
65 ---110 542 1,395 --131 1,034 2,175 3,552
70 107 208 688 1,600 --312 1,361 2,684 ---
75 166 306. 834 1,804 --508 1,712 3,230 ---
80 225 404 980 2,008 --717 2,086 3,814 ---
85 284 502 1,127 2,212 --940 2,485 ------
90 344 600 1,273 2,417 --1,176 2,908 ------
95 403 698 1,419 2,621 --1,425 3,355 -----·-
100 462 796 1,565 2,825 --1,688 ---------
Birch volume= 1950.64-87.38303 S + 0.00899 s• + 0.00967 S"A
where: S = Site index
A = Average age
R" = .922 (Basis, number of Plots= 70)
Aspen volume = -1007.82-0.00661 SA" + 0.00028S2A"
where: S = Site index
A = Average age
R" = .902 (Basis, number of plots = 45)
Under a high level of management, yields may be
more than double those shown in tables 6 and 7. Under
this level of management, fully stocked stands are not
only protected from fires, insects, and disease, but they
are also thinned, fertilized, and improved through in-
termediate harvest cuttings. The trees may also be
pruned to improve the quality of the wood. Soils suited
to a high level of management generally have slopes of
less than 30 percent. They have moderate to high pro-
duction potential and few serious limitations to use as
woodland. In this category are the soils in woodland
suitability groups 1 w2, 2ol, 2o2, and 3ol.
On soils that slope more than 30 percent or that are
wet or very shallow, the difficulty of applying high
levels of management are increased. In this category
are soils of woodland suitability groups 3w2, 3f2, 3r3,
4d3, and 4f2.
Limitations and Hazards
Five major factors that affect suitability of a site
for wood products are related to the soils. These factors
are equipment limitations, plant competition, seedling
mortality, and the hazards of windthrow and soil
erosion. These factors are discussed for each group of
soils under the heading "Woodland Suitability Groups."
Equipment limitations are based on soil character-
istics that restrict the use of logging equipment for
planting and harvesting wood crops, for constructing
roads ; and for controlling fires. Limitations are given
a rating of slight, moderate, and severe. A rating of
slight means that heavy equipment should not be used
in wet periods. A rating of moderate means that use of
equipment is moderately restricted by slope, wetness,
stoniness, or other physical properties of the soils, and
by risk of injury to the soils or trees. A rating of severe
means that special equipment is needed for managing
or harvesting trees and that the use of this equipment
is severely restricted by slope, wetness, stoniness, or
other physical properties of the soils.
Plant competition is the invasion or growth of un-
desirable plants on different kinds of soil when openings
are made in the canopy. A rating of slight means that
competition does not prevent adequate natural re-
generation and early growth of trees, or it does not in-
terfere with adequate development of planted seedlings.
A rating of moderate means that competition from un-
desirable plants hinders but does not prevent the
growth and establishment of desirable tree seedlings
and the eventual development of fully stocked stands.
A rating of severe means that undesirable plants pre-
vent adequate natural or artificial regeneration without
intensive preparation and maintenance of the site.
Seedling mortality refers to the loss of naturally oc-
curring or planted tree seedlings as influenced by kinds
of soil or topography when plant competition is as-
sumed not to be a limiting factor. A rating of slight
means that the expected seedling mortality is 0 to 25
percent; a rating of moderate means that the expected
seedling mortality is between 25 and 50 percent; and a
rating of severe means that it is more than 50 percent.
Windthrow hazard refers to the danger of trees be-
ing blown over by wind. The rating is slight if trees
are not expected to be blown over by commonly oc-
curing winds. A rating of moderate means that some
trees are expected to be blown over during periods
when wind is excessive and the soils are wet. A rating
of severe means that many trees are expected to be
blown over during periods when the soil is wet and
the velocity of the wind is moderate to high.
Erosion hazard refers to the degree of potential soil
erosion. The rating is slight where problems of erosion
control are not important. A rating of moderate means
that some attention must be given to prevent un-
necessary soil erosion. A rating of severe means that
intensive treatments and specialized equipment must
be used and that methods of operation must be planned
to minimize deterioration of the soils.
Woodland Suitability Groups
Soils in the survey area have been placed in wood-
land suitability groups mainly according to their po-
tential productivity, primarily for white spruce. A
woodland suitability group consists of soils that have
about the same capability for producing a similar kind
of wood crop and that need about the same kind of
management.
Woodland suitability groups are identified by a three-
digit designation, for example, 2ol. The first digit is a
numeral that corresponds to the site class as de-
termined from measurements of tree heights in plot
studies. The second digit in the designation is a lower-
case letter, o, w, d, f, or r. The letter o means that the
11
...
"
•
..
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA 33
soils in the group have no significant limitations to
woodland management; w means that woodland man-
agement is limited by excessive wetness; d means that
woodland management is limited by restricted rooting
depth; f means that woodland management is limited
by the presence of gravel or stones; and r means that
woodland management is limited by steep slopes. The
third digit is a numeral that separates the groups ac-
cording to degrees of difficulty in applying woodland
management. The numeral 1, for example, means that
woodland management is less difficult to apply than if
the numeral were 2 or 3.
In the following paragraphs, the woodland suit-
ability groups of the Area are described. Not all soils
in the survey area have been placed in these groups,
because some of the soils are too shallow, too wet, or
too cold to produce commercial stands of timber. The
soil series in each group are mentioned in the de-
scription of each woodland suitability group. The wood-
land suitability group in which each soil has been
placed can be found in the "Guide to Mapping Units"
at the back of this survey.
WOODLAND SUITABILITY GROUP lw2
This group consists of Minto silt loams that have
slopes of less than 20 percent. These moderately well
drained soils are subject to seepage from higher areas.
Permeability and available water capacity are mod-
erate. Runoff is slow to rapid, and the hazard of erosion
is slight to severe, depending on slopes. The water table
is high in spring.
Paper birch grows in clear stands or is codominant
with white spruce in areas of these soils. Stands of
black spruce are common. The understory includes low
shrubs, mosses and lichens, willows, grasses, and
horsetail.
This soil is in site class 1 for. paper birch. The site
index for paper birch is about 64, but site index has
not been determined for white spruce.
Equipment limitations are moderate. The soil is
generally wet for a few weeks in spring, but in winter
it is frozen and can support logging equipment. In
summer the soil is generally dry enough for vehicular
traffic, but heavy summer showers make trails slippery
and occasionally impassable for 2 or 3 days.
Plant competition is moderate for white spruce. A
thick accumulation of moss on the soil surface under
mature stands of white spruce will likely result in their
replacement by stands of black spruce. Under good
management, however, mature trees are harvested, the
slash is removed, and mossy seedbeds are scarified.
Natural regeneration of white spruce can then occur.
Seedling mortality is slight. Natural or planted seed-
lings generally have ample moisture and other good
growing conditions during most of the growing season.
The hazard of windthrow is slight. Rooting depth is
shallow, but wind gusts are rarely strong enough to
blow down the trees.
The mineral soil should not be disturbed unneces-
sarily. Sheet erosion and pitting as a result of melting
subsurface ice masses may occur if the ground cover is
completely removed. Gully erosion is likely to result if
roads, skid trails, and landings are not carefully
located, constructed, and maintained.
WOODLAND SUITABILITY GROUP 2ol
Salchaket very fine sandy loam is the only soil in this
group. This soil is nearly level and well drained, but it
is subject to periodic flooding. Permeability is moderate,
and available water capacity is low. Runoff is slow, and
the hazard of water erosion is slight except on stream-
banks.
White spruce is the dominant tree growing on this
soil, although patches of cottonwood and paper birch
grow in a number of places. The understory includes
willow, alder, low shrubs, hypnum moss, and horsetail.
This soil is in site class 2 for white spruce. The site
index for white spruce is about 94.
Equipment limitations are moderate. Access to most
areas of this soil is by water. The soil is not easily
damaged by heavy equipment .
Plant competition is low to moderate. As white
spruce matures, hypnum moss covers the soil surface
and reduces the number of naturally occurring seed-
lings.
Seedling mortality is moderate. Frequent deposits of
alluvial material retard natural regeneration, so plant-
ing may be necessary for development of a full stand.
The hazard of windthrow is slight. Rooting depth is
moderately deep, and wind gusts rarely exceed 35 miles
per hour.
Trees should not be harvested immediately adjacent
to streams because of the danger of accelerated stream-
bank erosion. Roads and trails cannot be located near
sloughs and former stream channels. Roads are sub-
ject to damage by floods.
WOODLAND SUITABILITY GROUP 2o2
Volkmar silt loam is the only soil in this group. This
soil is moderately well drained. Permeability is moder-
ate in the silty material and rapid in the underlying
gravelly coarse sand. Available water capacity is
moderate. Runoff is slow, and the hazard of erosion is
slight.
Black spruce is generally the dominant forest tree,
but in places mixed stands of birch and white spruce
dominate. The understory includes willow, low shrubs,
forbs, hypnum moss, and lichens.
This soil is in site class 2 for white spruce. The site
index for white spruce is about 87, and for paper birch
it is about 61.
Equipment limitations are moderate. During the
spring breakup, ungravelled roads and trails become
impassable. Heavy summer showers make these roads
and trails slippery and occasionally impassable for 2
or 3 days. Rooting depth is shallow, and roots are easily
damaged by heavy equipment. Skid trails should be
kept to a minimum.
Plant competition for white spruce is moderate to
severe. As white spruce forests mature and the moss
carpet thickens, black spruce invades. Unless mineral
soil is exposed by scarification, white spruce will not
regenerate. Under good management the -forest is
harvested when it matures, the slash is disposed of, and
34 SOIL SURVEY
the seedbed is scarified. Some planting and thinning
may be required to insure full and vigorous stands.
Seedling mortality is slight. Good moisture condi-
tions generally favor a high survival rate of seedlings.
The windthrow hazard is slight even though rooting
depth is fairly shallow, because wind gusts rarely
exceed 35 miles per hour.
WOODLAND SUITABILITY GROUP 3ol
This group consists of Fairbanks, Gilmore, and
Steese soils with slopes of 0 to 30 percent. These soils
are well drained. Permeability and available water
capacity are moderate. Runoff is slow to rapid, and the
hazard of erosion is slight to severe, depending on
slope.
Some of the better stands of white spruce are on
these soils along with good stands of paper birch and
quaking aspen. Pure stands of each species occur, but
most stands are mixed. The understory includes alder,
low shrubs, grasses, and, in places, hypnum moss and
lichens. Under quaking aspen it may consist primarily
of highbush cranberry, and under birch it may be
mainly grasses.
This soil is in site class 3 for white spruce. The site
index for white spruce ranges from 75 to 90, and for
quaking aspen and paper birch, it ranges from 55 to 70.
Equipment limitations are moderate. During the
spring thaw, ungravelled roads and trails become im-
passable for as long as 2 or 3 days. Rooting depth is
fairly shallow, and roots can be easily damaged by
repeated passes of heavy-tracked vehicles.
Plant competition for white spruce is moderate.
Natural regeneration of this species after harvest can
take place if slash is removed and the seedbed is
scarified to expose mineral soil.
Seedling mortality is moderate. Soil moisture is
generally ample for good growth in spring. Prolonged
dry periods may occur during summer, and this prob-
ably is the period when seedling mortality is highest.
Forest fires are most comrnon during these dry periods.
The windthrow hazard is slight. Winds are rarely
strong enough to damage healthy trees.
The hazard of erosion is slight to severe, increasing
as slope increases. Because the soils are highly erodible
when cleared, road construction and design are critical
on steeper soils. Since most erosion occurs during the
spring thaw, roads should be provided with adequate
cross drainage and should have no sustained steep
grades. To minimize erosion from yarding operations.
the main swing trails should be placed on the tops of
ridges. These trails should be cross ditched when not in
use. Skid trails on side slopes should be laid out in a
herringbone pattern.
WOODLAND SUITABILITY GROUP 3w2
Tanana silt loam is the only soil in this group. This
somewhat poorly drained soil is underlain by perma-
frost. It is subject to periodic flooding. Permeability
and available water capacity are moderate. Runoff is
slow. The water table is high, especially during spring,
but it normally recedes to a moderate depth in
midsummer.
Black spruce is the dominant tree on this soil, but it
is often mixed with paper birch and willows. A few
areas support stands of white spruce. Recently burned
areas have a thick stand of alder. The understory in-
cludes low shrubs, grasses, horsetail, and hypnum
moss.
This soil is in site class 3 for white spruce. The site
index for white spruce is about 79.
Equipment limitations are moderate. The spring
breakup and, in some years, floods keep the soil too wet
for heavy equipment for several weeks. During summer
the soil generally supports heavy-tracked vehicles.
Plant competition is moderate to severe for white
spruce after it has been established. Good stands of
white spruce and birch can be established where fires
or clearing have destroyed the native vegetation and
the mossy mat on the forest floor. In some places
artificial drainage is necessary.
Good management for white spruce requires scari-
fication of seedbeds to aid natural regeneration.
Seedling mortality is moderate, largely because fresh
alluvium is deposited during floods. Some planting
may be required to maintain full stands of white
spruce. Soil moisture conditions generally are adequate
throughout the growing season.
The windthrow hazard is slight. Rooting depth is
fairly shallow, but winds are rarely strong enough to
topple trees.
The hazard of erosion is slight, but areas immedi-
ately adjacent to streams may be subject to streambank
erosion. Trees in such areas help stabilize the banks.
WOODLAND SUITABILITY GROUP 3f2
This group consists of Nenana silt loams and Nenana
silt loams, sandy substratum, with slopes of 0 to 12
percent. These soils are shallow over gravel or sand
and are well drained. Permeability is moderate in the
silty material and rapid or very rapid in the underlying
sand or very fine sand, and available water capacity is
low. Runoff is slow to medium.
Most areas of this soil have been burned, and they
now support a forest of young quaking aspen. The
understory includes white spruce, willow, low shrubs,
forbs, and grasses. White spruce eventually become
dominant in these areas if they are protected from fire
and other disturbances.
This soil is in site class 3 for white spruce. The site
index for white spruce is about 83, for aspen, about 57,
and for paper birch, about 50.
Equipment limitations are moderate. During spring
thaw the soils are wet and generally do not support
heavy equipment without serious damage to tree roots.
Ungravelled roads and trails are generally impassable
during this period. Heavy summer showers may make
the trails impassable for 2 or 3 days.
Plant competition is moderate for white spruce. As
openings occur in the forest canopy, natural regenera-
tion of white spruce should occur. If the aspen is
harvested, slash disposal and scarification help aid
regeneration.
Seedling mortality is moderate. Spring moisture is
normally sufficient for good growth. During summer,
however, soil moisture may be deficient. It is during
this period that seedling mortality increases as a result
of droughty soil .conditions.
...
....
..
•
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA 35
The windthrow hazard is slight. Wind gusts are
rarely strong enough to down healthy trees.
Disturbance of the surface layer should be kept to a
minimum to protect tree roots and reduce soil erosion.
On sloping soils, well-designed, constructed, and main-
tained swing trails, skid trails, and landings protect
the soil from erosion.
WOODLAND SUITABILITY GROUP 3r3
This group consists of Fairbanks, Gilmore, and
Steese soils with slopes ranging from 30 to 45 percent.
These well-drained soils are, for the most part, at
higher elevations on uplands, but some areas are
adjacent to the flood plain of the Tanana River.
Soil properties, site index, and forest characteristics
are essentially the same as in less steep phases of these
soils (see woodland suitability group 3ol). On steep
soils, however, management is very difficult. Equip-
ment limitations are severe, and the hazard of erosion
is very severe. If trees are harvested, great care is
needed in locating, constructing, and maintaining
roads and trails.
WOODAND SUITABILITY GROUP 4f2
This group consists of Donnelly silt loams with
slopes of 0 to 45 percent. These soils are very shallow
and excessively drained. Permeability is moderate in
the silty material and very rapid in the underlying
very gravelly coarse sand. Available water capacity is
very low. Runoff is generally slow, but it ranges from
very slow to rapid.
The forest consists dominantly of paper birch,
quaking aspen, and white spruce. The cover is sparse
in areas of recent fires. The understory includes willow,
low brush, and thin patches of alder.
This soil is in site class 4 for white spruce. The site
index for white spruce is about 70. For aspen and
probably for birch, it is 42.
Equipment limitations are slight. This soil supports
heavy equipment most of the year, except for a short
period during the spring thaw. During this period,
heavy traffic could result in severe damage to tree
roots, which are mostly at shallow depths.
Plant competition is moderate for white spruce.
After fires, quaking aspen and paper birch tend to
regenerate naturally. White spruce usually does not
produce a full stand until after the aspen and birch
have matured. Artificial regeneration of white spruce
greatly reduces competition from other forest species
and reduces the time required to produce marketable
trees.
Seedling mortality is moderate to high. These soils
are droughty during part of the summer growing sea-
son, and seedling mortality is probably highest during
these dry periods.
The windthrow hazard is slight even though the
rooting depth is impeded by gravel at a very shallow
depth.
To prevent damage to tree roots, disturbance of the
surface layer should be kept to a minimum. Design,
construction, and maintenance of roads and trails are
an important part of the timber harvesting operation.
On steep slopes, even moderate erosion destroys the
productive capacity of the soil.
WOODLAND SUITABILITY GROUP 4f3
This group consists of Gilmore silt loams, very
shallow, that have slopes ranging from 3 to 45 percent.
These well-drained soils are principally at higher ele-
vations in the uplands, on ridgetops and the slopes im-
mediately below them. Permeability is moderate, and
available water capacity is low. Runoff is rapid to very
rapid, and the hazard of erosion on cleared soils is
severe to very severe.
The soils support forests of white spruce, paper
birch, and quaking aspen. Pure stands of each species
occur, but in most areas the forest is mixed. Much of
it is regrowth following severe fires within the past 50
years. The understory includes alder, low shrubs, and
grasses.
Soils in this group are in site class 4 for white
spruce. The site index for white spruce is less than 75,
and for birch and aspen it is less than 55.
Equipment limitations are moderate to severe,
mainly because the soils are steep. Rooting depth is
shallow, and roots may be damaged by heavy equip-
ment.
Plant competition for white spruce is moderate.
Birch and aspen tend to overshadow and retard the
early growth of the more commercially valuable white
spruce during regrowth after fires. Eventually, how-
ever, white spruce will become dominant.
Seeding mortality is moderate. Soil moisture is
normally adequate in spring, but the soils tend to be
droughty in midsummer. This is probably the period
of greatest seedling mortality.
The windthrow hazard is slight, even on ridgetops.
There is no evidence of wind damage to healthy trees
in the Area.
The erosion hazard is severe to very severe. The
silty material beneath the forest litter is highly erodible, .
and loss of even a few inches of soil will expose the
very channery silt loam that has limited capacity to
sustain growth. Properly designed and placed roads
and skid trails minimize soil loss during logging
operations.
Formation and Classification of Soils
In this section the factors that have affected the
formation of soils in the Goldstream-Nenana Area are
discussed, and important processes in the differentia-
tion of soil horizons are briefly described. Then, the
current system of soil classification is explained, and
the soil series represented in the survey are placed in
some of the categories of this system. The soil series
of the Goldstream-Nenana Area, including a profile
representative of each series, are described in the
section "Descriptions of the Soils."
Factors of Soil Formation
Soil is produced by the action of soil-forming
processes on materials deposited or accumulated by
geologic forces. The characteristics of the soil at any
36 SOIL SURVEY
given point are determined by the interaction of five
major factors: (1) parent material, (2) climate, (3)
plants and animals, (4) relief, and (5) time. Also
important are the cultural environment and man's use
of the soil ( 6).
Climate and plants and animals are the active factors
of soil formation. They act on the parent material that
has accumulated through the weathering of rocks and,
in places, through subsequent transportation by water
and wind, and they slowly change it into a natural
body with genetically related horizons. The effects of
climate and plants and anima:ls are conditioned by re-
lief. The soils in low-lying areas of the Goldstream-
Nenana Area, for example, are quite different from
those on the well-drained uplands because they have a
permanently high water table. The parent material also
affects the kind of profile that can be formed and, in
extreme cases, determines it almost entirely. Finally,
time is needed to change parent material into soil.
Generally, a long time is needed for distinct horizons to
form.
Parent material
Parent material is the unconsolidated mass from
which a soil forms. It determines the limits of the
chemical and mineral composition of the soil.
The soils in the Goldstream-Nenana Area formed
mainly in alluvial material and loess. These materials
are micaceous because many of the rocks in the Area
and those in the areas of origin of these materials con-
tain significant amounts of mica. Fairbanks, Gilmore,
Nenana, Steese, and Volkmar soils on uplands and out-
wash plains formed in loess derived from glacial out-
wash. Tanana and Salchaket soils on broad alluvial
plains along the major rivers of the Area formed in
water-deposited sand and silt derived principally from
glacial action. Minto soils, on foot slopes, formed
mainly in silty material washed from nearby hillsides.
The peats in the Lemeta series are in depressions on
broad alluvial plains.
Climate
The Area has a continental climate characterized by
long, cold winters and short, warm summers. The total
annual precipitation is only about 12 inches, about half
of which falls as rain in summer. Winds are light in
the northeastern part of the Area, but strong winds
are common in all seasons in the southwestern part.
Uncultivated, well-drained soils generally are moist
throughout the summer, but they are likely to be dry in
years of exceptionally low rainfall. Other soils in the
Area are moist or wet in summer. The soils in most
cleared fields, however, are deficient in moisture part
of each year.
Plants and animals
All of the well-drained soils and most of the moder-
ately well drained soils in the Area formed under vege-
tation that consisted mainly of paper birch, quaking
aspen, and white spruce. The somewhat poorly drained
Tanana soils support stunted stands of these trees
mixed with black spruce, tamarack, and willow. These
soils also have a dense cover of grasses, low shrubs,
and moss. Some areas of the poorly drained Goldstream
and Goodpaster soils and the very poorly drained
Lemeta soils support sparse stands mainly of black
spruce, but other areas are treeless. These soils have a
ground cover of moss, sedge tussocks, and shrubs.
Relief
In this survey area, the influence of relief on soil
formation is strongest in its effect on natural drainage.
Soils on uplands that have north-facing slopes receive
much less sun than soils that have south-facing slopes.
Ester and Saulich soils, for example, have north-facing
slopes. They are underlain by permafrost in most
places, and they are always cold and wet. In contrast,
most of the soils with other aspects lack permafrost,
and are moderately well drained or well drained ( 7) .
Goldstream and Tanana soils on broad, low, alluvial
plains have a perennially frozen substratum. These
soils are somewhat poorly drained or poorly drained.
In the well-drained Salchaket soils, which are in
slightly higher positions on levees along rivers, perma-
frost is deep or is not present.
Tinle
A long time is needed for formation of soils that have
distinct horizons. The length of time that parent ma-
terial has been in place generally is reflected in the
degree of formation of the soil profile.
Only the southwestern part of the Goldstream-
Nenana Area has been glaciated, but all soils in the
Area probably formed since the maximum glacial
advance from the mountains to the south. The well-
drained Fairbanks, Steese, and Gilmore soils of the
uplands and outwash plains, on which loess is no longer
being deposited, are the oldest soils. They have been in
place long enough to develop B horizons that have clay
accumulation in thin bands. The well-drained Nenana
soils and the excessively drained Donnelly soils are
intermediate in age. They have been in place for a
sufficient length of time to develop B horizons, but they
lack clay bands. Soils forming in recent deposits of
l'llluvial plains are young and have not had time for
horizon differentiation. The poorly drained soils on
uplands and alluvial plains show weak horizon
development.
Classification of Soils
Soils are classified so that we can more easily re-
member their significant characteristics. Classification
enables us to assemble knowledge about soils, to see
their relationship to one another and to the whole
environment, and to develop principles that help us to
understand their behavior and response to kinds of
treatment.
Thus, in classification, soils are placed in narrow
categories that are used in detailed surveys so that
knowledge about the soils can be organized and applied
in managing farms, fields, and woodland ; in developing
rural areas ; in engineering work; and in many other
ways. The soils are placed in broad classes to facilitate
study and comparison in large areas, such as countries
and continents.
..
..
..
•
•
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA 37
Two systems of classifying soils have been used in
the United States in recent years. The older system was
adopted in 1938 (3) and later revised (12). The system
currently used was adopted for general use by the
National Cooperative Soil Survey in 1965. It is under
continual study. Therefore, readers interested in this
system should search the latest literature available
(14). The soil series of the Goldstream-Nenana Area
are placed in some categories of the current system in
table 8.
The current system of classification has six cate-
gories. Beginning with the broadest, these categories
are order, suborder, great group, subgroup, family,
and series. In this system the criteria used as a basis
for classification are soil properties that are observable
and measurable. The properties are chosen, however,
so that the soils of similar origin are grouped together.
The placement of some soil series in the current system
of classification, particularly in families, may change
as more precise information becomes available. The
categories of the current system are briefly defined in
the paragraphs that follow.
ORDERS: Ten soil orders are recognized. They are
Entisols, Vertisols, Inceptisols, Aridisols, Mollisols,
Spodosols, Alfisols, Ultisols, Oxisols, and Histosols.
The properties used to differentiate the soil orders are
those that tend to give broad climatic groupings of
soils. Three exceptions, the Entisols, Inceptisols, and
Histosols, are present in many kinds of climate. The
three soil orders represented in the Goldstream-Nenana
Area are Entisols, Histosols, and Inceptisols.
Entisols have few, if any, clearly expressed charac-
teristics. In the Goldstream-Nenana Area, these soils
are represented by Typic Cryoftuvents, which are
well-drained, stratified soils on alluvial plains.
Histosols consist primarily of organic material. They
are represented in the Goldstream-Nenana Area by
Pergelic Cryofibrists, which are perennially frozen
peats that form mainly from fibrous remains of
sphagnum moss and sedges.
Inceptisols are soils in which the present material has
been modified. They have weakly expressed horizons.
In the Goldstream-Nenana Area Cryaquepts and
Cryochrepts are recognized. Aerie Cryaquepts are
brownish in color and are mottled, a characteristic
associated with wetness. Pergelic Cryaquepts are
perennially frozen. They are gray or neutral, and have
brown or olive-gray mottles. Histic Pergelic Cryaquepts
are perennially frozen. They have a fairly thick ac-
cumulation of organic material on the surface, are
neutral or gray, and have brown or olive mottles. Typic
Cryochrepts are well drained, and they are brown. Alfie
Cryochrepts have a slight accumulation of clay in thin
bands in the subsoil. They are well drained, and their
surface layer and subsoil are brown.
SUBORDERS: Each order is divided into suborders,
primarily on the basis of those soil characteristics that
seem to produce classes having the greatest genetic
TABLE B.-Classification of soil series
Series Current classification 1938 classification
Family Subgroup Order Great group
Bradway__________ Loamy, mixed, nonacid______ Pergelic Cryaquepts:_______ Inceptisols ------Low-Humic Gley soils.
Donnelly----------· Sandy-skeletal, mixed______ Typic Cryochrepts_________ Inceptisols ______ Subarctic Brown forest soils.
Ester _____________ Loamy-skeletal, mixed, acid_ Histic Pergelic Cryaquepts_ Inceptisols ______ Humic Gley soils.
Fairbanks_________ Coarse-silty, mixed________ Alfie Cryochrepts _________ Inceptisols ______ Subarctic Brown forest soils.
Gilmore ___________ Loamy-skeletal, mixed_____ Alfie Cryochrepts _________ Inceptisols ______ Subarctic Brown forest soils.
Goldstream ________ Loamy, mixed, acid________ Histic Pergelic Cryaquepts__ Inceptisols ______ Humic Gley soils .
Goodpaster_ _______ Loamy over sandy or sandy Histic Pergelic Cryaquepts_ Inceptisols _______ Humic Gley soils.
skeletal, mixed, nonacid.
Lemeta ____________ , Dysic -------------------_ Pergelic Cryofibrists _______ j Histosols -------~ Bog soils.
Minto _____________ Coarse-silty, mixed, nonacid_ Aerie Cryochrepts_________ Inceptisols ______ Subarctic Brown forest soils
intergrading with Low-
Humic Gley soils.
Nenana -----------1 Coarse-silty over sandy or I Typic Croyochrepts ________ j Inceptisols _____ _/ Subarctic Brown forest soils.
sandy-skeletal, mixed.
Salchaket _________ Coarse-loamy, mixed, nonacidJ Typic Cryofluvents ________ J Entisols _______ J Alluvial soils.
Saulich ____________ Loamy, mixed, nonacid ______ Histic Pergelic Cryaquepts_ Inceptisols ______ Humic Gley soils.
Steese _____________ C~arse-sil~y, mixed_~------Alfie ~ryochrepts__________ Incept~sols _______ Subarctic .Brown f~rest soils.
Tanana ___________ Loamy, mixed, nonacid ______ Pergehc Cryaquepts________ Inceptisols ______ Low-Humic Gley soils.
Volkmar----------I Coarse-silty over sandy or
sandy-skeletal, mixed,
nonacid.
Aerie Cryaquepts ----------1 Inceptisols------1 Subarctic Brown forest soils
intergrading with Low-
Humic Gley soils.
38 SOIL SURVEY
similarity. The soil properties used to distinguish sub-
orders are mainly those that reflect the presence or
absence of waterlogging or soil differences that result
from the effects of climate or vegetation.
GREAT GROUPS: The suborders are divided into great
groups on the basis of uniformity in the kinds and
sequence of major soil horizons and features. Some
horizons used for distinguishing between great groups
are those in which (1) clay, iron, or humus have
accumulated; (2) a pan has formed that interferes
with growth of roots; movement of water, or both; or
(3) a thick, dark-colored surface horizon has formed.
Other features commonly used are soil temperature,
major differences in chemical composition (mainly
calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium), or the
dark-red or dark-brown colors associated with soils
that formed in material weathered from basic rock.
SUBGROUPS: Great soil groups are divided into sub-
groups. One of these represents the central, or typic,
segment of the group. Other subgroups, called inter-
grades, have properties of the group, but have one or
more properties of another great group, suborder, or
order. Subgroups may also be made for soils that have
properties that intergrade outside the range of any
other great group, suborder, or order.
FAMILIES: Families are separated within a subgroup
primarily on the basis of properties important to the
growth of plants or to the behavior of soils when used
for engineering. Among the properties considered are
texture, mineralogy, reaction, soil temperature, per-
meability, thickness of horizons, and consistence. A
family name consists of a series of adjectives preceding
the subgroup name. The adjectives are the class names
for texture, mineralogy, temperature, and so on.
SERIES: The series is a group of soils that formed
from a particular kind of parent material and have
major horizons that, except for texture of the surface
layer, are similar in important characteristics and in
arrangement in the profile. The soils are given the
name of a geographic location near the place where
that series was first observed and mapped.
General Nature of the Area
This section is provided mainly for those who are
unfamiliar with the survey area. Factors discussed are
physiography and drainage, geology, climate, vegeta-
tion, settlement and development, and wildlife.
Physiography and Drainage
Most of the Area lies north of the Tanana River. It
consists of rounded hills and ridges dissected by many
drainageways. Elevations mostly range from 400 to
1,800 feet, but the highest peak is 2,364 feet above sea
level.
Goldstream Creek and Little Goldstream Creek re-
ceive much of the runoff water from the hills. These
creeks drain in a westerly direction through the Area.
Their nearly level valley bottoms and adjoining foot
slopes range from 350 to 600 feet above sea level. The
Tanana River, the principal drainage channel in the
region, receives runoff both from the unglaciated
Yukon-Tanana Upland to the north and the glaciated
Alaska Range to the south. Its elevation in the survey
area ranges from 350 to 400 feet. The southwestern
part of the Area, along the Nenana River, includes
nearly level flood plains, high terraces or outwash
plains, and low moraines. Elevations range from 350
to 1,300 feet.
Permafrost in the Area is discontinuous (9). It gener-
ally is at a depth of less than 30 inches in the thick
silty sediment on alluvial bottoms, in upland drainage-
ways, in areas where slopes face north, and in de-
pressions filled with organic material. In these places,
the high permafrost table is preserved by a thick sur-
face layer of moss or other vegetation that serves as
insulation. If this material is removed, burned, or
disturbed, the permafrost table recedes to a greater
depth.
Soils on uplands that have south-facing slopes do not
have permafrost, but on colluvial foet slopes, large ice
masses are buried in redeposited loess (10). If the
vegetation is removed, these ice masses melt, and
thermokarst topography, characterized by steep-walled
pits, sinkholes, and extremely hummocky microrelief,
may result.
Geology
The rounded hills and ridges in the northeastern
part of the Area, north of the Tanana River, are part
of the unglaciated Yukon-Tanana Uplands. The bed-
rock is chiefly Precambrian Birch Creek schist. Except
for a few steep bluffs, most areas of the uplands are
covered by a silty micaceous loess derived chiefly from
outwash plains south of the Tanana River (.11). This
mantle of loess ranges from a few inches to many
feet in thickness on most of the hills and ridges. It is
generally thinner in places farther away from and at
elevations above the Tanana River and Goldstream
Creek. Much of the original loess washed away from
steeper soils and accumulated on foot slopes and in
upland valleys.
The geology of the southwestern part of the Area,
south of the Tanana River, contrasts sharply with the
unglaciated northeastern part. Glaciers from the
Alaska Range extended into this part of the Area
during the Pleistocene era. As they retreated, deposits
of sandy and gravelly material were laid down by
glacial melt water, and broad outwash plains were
formed.
Although moraines and high outwash plains make
up much of the Nenana Valley south of the survey area,
only a small acreage near Clear Air Force Base is
included in the Area. The map area between the base
and the Tanana River is part of the combined flood
plain of the Nenana and Tanana Rivers. Much of this
flood plain is underlain by gravel deposits. Most soils
formed in alluvial deposits, but a few low, stabilized
sand dunes capped by loessial silt are on the flood plain.
Climate 3
• By ANTON S. PRECHTEL, assistant regional climatologist for
Alaska, National Weather Service. U.S. Department of
Commerce.
:0
-
..
_ ..
•
•
"'
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA 39
A strong continental climate characteristic of all
central and eastern interior sections of Alaska domi-
nates the entire Goldstream-Nenana Area. Tempera-
ture extremes, both annual and diurnal, are pro-
nounced. The change from cold to warm seasons is
very rapid and marked. This is primarily due to the
presence of the Alaska Range to the south, which
effectively blocks any maritime influence from pene-
trating northward into this region.
Annual precipitation totals are light, but so is the
evaporation rate. This tends to keep soil moisture
adequate most of the time. Furthermore, over half of
the annual precipitation falls during the summer
growing season.
Temperature and precipitation data for Fairbanks
and Nenana, two stations which have climates repre-
sentative of this Area, are shown in table .9.
Temperatures in the Area warm swiftly in late
spring, and similarly, cool rapidly in early fall. Maxi-
mum temperatures rise to 70° For higher on 45 to 55
days of the short summer season. In addition, the
almost continuous daylight effectively reduces the
number of days required for crops to mature. The sun
is above the horizon from 18 to 21 hours daily during
the peak growing season. The Goldstream-Nenana
Area, in fact, lies within the interior portion of Alaska
that has one of the highest cumulative growing degree
day totals within the State. The average cumulative
growing degree day total at the Fairbanks Weather
Service Office is 1,968 using a growing degree base of
40°. Specific growing degree day figures for Nenana
are not available, but they are estimated to average
around 1,900 to 1,930 a season. These figures compare
favorably with the average of 1,939 growing degree
days at the Matanuska Experiment Station near
Palmer, currently within Alaska's largest and most
developed farming district.
The actual growing season length, however, can vary
considerably over short distances, due to the .effects of
local cold air drainage. Cold air drainage can sig-
nificantly shorten growing seasons at these high lati-
tudes. A good example of this can be found by
compari11g the average 107-day freeze-free period at
the Fairbanks Weather Bureau Airport Station and
the noticeably lower 88-day average freeze-free period
at the University Experiment Station at College, only
4 miles away. Nenana has an average freeze-free
period of 82 days. Local cold air drainage, therefore,
becomes a critical factor in determining the length of
the growing season for a specific location.
Table 10 gives beginning and ending dates of proba-
bilities for given freezing temperatures at Nenana and
Fairbanks. This table shows that for Nenana, the
average date of last occurrence in spring of freezing
temperatures is May 30, and that the average first
occurrence in fall is August 22; while for Fairbanks,
the corresponding dates are May 19 and September 2.
Most of the Goldstream-Nenana Area, however,
probably experiences an average growing season closer
in length to that of Nenana rather than the longer
season at Fairbanks. This is particularly true along
Goldstream Creek, which is rimmed by high ridges that
are conducive to pronounced cold air drainage. Al-
though specific data are not available for Goldstream
Creek, it appears likely that occasional light summer
frosts do occur in certain isolated spots that are
especially prone to excessive cold air drainage. Even
Nenana during the period 1931-70 has reported ex-
treme minimum temperatures below freezing at some
time during each of the summer months (table 9).
Fairbanks airport, however, has never recorded a
temperature below freezing during July; and very
likely a few other locations not subject to cold air
drainage in the Goldstream-Nenana Area have had
similarly frost-free Julys to date.
Table 11 shows the probabilities of receiving a given
absolute minimum temperature during each of the
normal growing season months. For example, an
absolute minimum temperature of 31 o or lower can be
expected at Nenana during July about once every 20
years. This can also be interpolated as 32° once every
15 years by using the stated 33 o value that can be
expected once every 10 years. Likewise at Fairbanks,
only one year in 20 will have an absolute July minimum
of 35 o. Occasional midsummer minimums dropping
into the high thirties are not uncommon, even in areas
not subject to cold air drainage. In general, discounting
the local effects of cold air drainage, summertime
minimum temperatures are lower nearer the Alaska
Range, south of Nenana.
It should also be noted that there is a marked de-
crease in warm-season temperatures with an increase
in altitude, especially along northerly slopes. Since the
hardiest grain, barley, needs 1,500 growing degree
days to mature, it appears unlikely that temperatures
are sufficiently warm for crop production above an
elevation of 1,200 feet.
Precipitation in the Goldstream-Nenana Area is light
when compared with the main farming areas in the
United States. Only about 12 inches fall annually
(table 9) , but the high s·on moisture content and the
relatively low evaporation rates found here greatly
compensate for the light precipitation. Also, half of
this annual 12-inch total falls during the main growing
season months of June, July, and August. The precipi-
tation during these months falls mostly in showers,
and therefore, it can be variable over short distances.
Excessively heavy short-duration precipitation is rare.
Only once in a hundred years can any location expect to
receive more than 1 inch in 1 hour. The maximum
24-hour amounts ever recorded for Fairbanks and
Nenana are shown in table 9. On the average, about
100 days annually receive some measurable precipita-
tion, but of this number, about 30 days receive 0.1
inch or more.
At these high latitudes, it is imperative that crops
have sufficient moisture to grow rapidly throughout the
growing season if they are to mature in time. Experi-
ence in the Fairbanks areas has shown that, for the
first four or five years after clearing, there is sufficient
moisture remaining in the soil from spring snowmelt
and thawing frost in the subsoil for the crop·s to grow
rapidly. After this initial period, however, there may
be a pronounced shortage of moisture available for
plants during the first half of the season if less than
40 SOIL SURVEY
TABLE 9.-Temperature
[Data from Fairbanks, elevation 436 feet, and Nenana,
Temperature (•F)
Average Average Extreme Extreme Month daily daily
maximum minimum maximum minimum
Fairbanks Nenana Fairbanks Nenana Fairbanks Nenana Fairbanks Nenana
January -------------------2.2 1.7 -20.7 -17.3 47 45 -66 -66
February -----------------8.0 7.0 -14.7 -15.1 50 54 -58 -63
March -------------------22.8 20.7 ~5.1 -6.8 55 55 -49 -59
April ---------------------41.1 37.1 18.2 14.6 74 71 -32 -33
nlay _____________________ 58.3 56.7 35.7 33.5 90 88 -1 -2
June --------------------70.3 68.4 47.0 44.7 96 98 30 27
July ----------------------71.3 70.4 49.4 47.5 '99 94 34 29
August -------------------65.2 64.5 44.5 43.3 87 90 23 23
September ----------------54.0 52.6 34.5 32.9 84 79 12 3
October -------------------33.7 31.4 18.0 15.8 65 64 -28 -28
November ----------------11.2 11.7 -5.4 -4.8 54 54 -43 -49
December -----------------1.4 -0.6 -18.1 -18.0 58 61 -61 -69
Year ------------------36.0 35.1
1 July 1919 at University Experiment Station.
average precipitation fell before freeze-up during the
previous fall.
Part of the showery precipitation during summer
falls in thunderstorms. Five to 10 thunderstorms occur
annually at any one location, but they are normally
quite mild in intensity. Hail is infrequent. When it does
fall, hail is usually not larger than pea size, and it does
not pose significant danger to crops. Unlike thunder-
storms over the lower 48 states, any wind gusts accom-
panying · thundershowers over interior Alaska are
seldom strong, rarely exceeding 35 mph.
After the first hard freeze, occurring normally
during September, temperatures continue to fall
rapidly. Winter arrives early, with a permanent snow
cover blanketing the landscape from October until
April. This snow cover protects dormant vegetation
underneath from the extremely low midwinter tem-
peratures that sometimes dip to -60° F. (table 9).
More than 3 days in 4 from November through March
have temperatures below zero. Total annual snowfall
ranges from an average of 70 inches to less than 50
inches. Snow depths generally average less than 20
inches.
Correlating with the rapid plunge in autumn tem-
peratures, a corresponding rapid rise occurs during
April and May. April is the driest month of the year,
averaging :1,4 inch of precipitation or less. This, com-
bined with bright sunshine, quickly melts the snow
cover by the end of the month. The transition time
15.3 14.2 1 99 98 -66 -69
from winter to summer is short, and by June, daily
maximum temperatures average almost 70°.
Settlement and Development
Nenana is the largest town in the Area. It is on the
east bank of the Nenana River at the confluence of the
Tanana River. It was originally an Indian village
named after the nearby stream. In 1907 the St. Marks
Indian Mission was established nearby. In 1916 a base
was built for construction of the Alaska Railroad, and
this was the beginning of the modern town. Here trains
connected with freight and passenger steamers that
operated on the Yukon River system. Nenana was and
still is a major distribution point for a large part of
central Alaska bordering the Yukon River and its
principal tributaries.
In 1970 Nenana had a population of about 362
people. The railroad and barge line are still important
businesses in the town. Two small lumber mills are
located nearby. Clear Air Force Base provides a major
source of income. Hunting, fishing, and trapping re-
main important parts of the total economy.
The Area also includes the village of Anderson and
the State Bonanza Creek Experimental Forest. A few
homesteads are scattered throughout the Area, and
small home gardens are common, but there are no
large commercial farms.
•
·<It
....
.. ~
..
,.
..
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA 41
and precipitation data
elevation 356 feet. Period of record (both stations), 1931-70]
Precipitation (Inches)
Average Maximum One year in 10 will have-Average
total in 24 hours Less than-
Fairbanks Nenana Fairbanks Nenana Fairbanks Nenana
0.79 0.65 1.84 1.00 0.08 0.10
.51 .53 0.97 0.67 0.07 0.08
.46 .48 0.92 0.77 0.05 0.03
.29 .33 0.66 1.06 0.01 0.01
.66 .66 0.88 0.76 0.15 0.20
1.39 1.44 1.52 1.75 0.30 0.45
1.88 2.06 2.16 2.16 0.75 0.75
2.41 2.50 3.42 3.04 0.80 1.00
1.03 1.26 1.21 1.57 0.20 0.40
.82 .65 1.17 0.68 0.15 0.20
.70 .51 0.94 0.55 0.15 0.15
.62 .49 1.25 0.84 0.06 0.03
11.56 11.56 3.42 3.04 ------
Wildlife
A variety of wildlife species inhabit the Goldstream-
Nenana Area. The different soils provide the necessary
variation in vegetation for food and shelter. The num-
ber of animals in the Area fluctuates with such en-
vironmental conditions as hunting and trapping
pressures, weather, predators, feeding conditions, and
other factors.
Moose is the most important big game mammal in
the Area. It is principally a browser, feeding on willow,
birch, and aspen brush in winter and grass, acquatic
plants, and other succulent plants in spring and sum-
mer. In winter, moose stay at low elevations where
browse and snow conditions are more favorable. In
spring and summer, the bulls migrate to higher eleva-
tions, but the cows remain in thickets at lower
elevations where their calves are born.
There are some black bears and a few grizzly bears
in the Area. These are omnivorous animals that have a
diet that includes large and small mammals, carrion,
fish, grass, horsetail, berries, and roots of many plants.
Among the other furbearing animals and predatory
birds are fox, lynx, wolf, land otter, mink, eagle, hawk,
owl, and raven. Other animals in the Area include
snowshoe hare, red squirrel, porcupine, weasel,
muskrat, beaver, shrew, and mice.
The most important fish are the grayling, northern
pike, and salmon. Northern pike are plentiful in some
Snowfall end-of-month
More than-snow depth
Fairbanks Nenana Fairbanks Nenana Fairbanks Nenana
1.90 1.75 12.4 9.1 19.4 17.3
1.35 1.45 9.3 6.9 22.2 20.9
1.20 1.40 7.5 6.6 16.5 16.8
0.75 1.00 3.6 3.4 2.1 2.8
1.32 1.55 .7 .4 0 0
2.60 2.85 0 0 0 0
3.35 3.50 0 0 0 0
3.95 4.40 0 0 0 0
2.00 2.55 .6 .6 0.2 0.4
1.85 2.10 9.3 6.9 3.6 3.8
1.95 1.30 11.3 7.5 10.4 9.4
1.80 1.45 10.2 6.7 16.2 13.9
------64.9 48.1 ------
lakes and slow-moving streams. The Tanana River is
the primary channel for sea-run salmon to the spawn-
ing grounds in the upstream tributaries.
Mosquitoes, flies, ants, bees, and other insects are
fairly numerous in the Area. They are an important
part of the diet for some of the larger forms of
wildlife.
The distribution of wildlife in relation to the differ-
ent soil associations in the Goldstream-Nenana Area is
explained in the following paragraphs. The soil as-
sociations are described in the section "General Soil
Map,'' and they are delineated on the General Soil Map
that is bound in the back of this survey.
Fairbanks-Steese-Gilmore association.-Wildlife in
this soil association is limited to species adapted to
upland forest habitat. The Fairbanks, Steese, and
Gilmore soils are mostly forested and provide only
sparse food for moose except in areas that have been
burned fairly recently. These soils provide cover and
food for summer songbirds, grouse, marten, red squir-
rel, weasel, and porcupine. The Ester and Saulich soils
that are included in this association produce berries,
brush, and thick patches of black spruce used by bear,
fox, rabbit, spruce grouse, and summer songbirds.
Thick brush also grows along the small streams that
cut through steep slopes. Water levels in these streams
flunduate rapidly. These streams have no fish population.
Minto-Goldstream association.-Nearly all wildlife
species common to the Area can be found in areas of
42 SOIL SURVEY
TABLE 10.-Probabilities of last freezing temperatures in spring and first in fall
Dates for given probability and temperature
Probability Location 32° For 28° For 24° For 20° For 16° For
lower lower lower lower lower
Spring:
1 year in 10
later than: At Nenana ________ June 11 May30 May18 May6 May4
At Fairbanks ______ May28 May14 May6 May3 May2
2 years in 10
later than: At Nenana _________ June 7 May25 May14 May3 May2
At Fairbanks ______ May24 Mayll May3 May1 April28
5 years in 10
later than: At Nenana _________ May30 May17 May6 April28 April25 At Fairbanks _______ May19 May6 April28 April25 April21
Fall:
1 year in 10
earlier than: At Nenana ________ July 30 August24 August31 September 14 September 16
At Fairbanks ______ August21 September 8 September 13 September 17 September 27
2 years in 10
earlier than : At Nenana ________ August 7 August29 September 5 September 19 September 22
At Fairbanks ______ August26 September 12 September 18 September 23 October 2
5 years in 10
earlier than: At Nenana ________ August22 SeptemberS September 14 September 26 October 3
At Fairbanks ______ September 2 September 19 September 26 October 2 October 10
-
this soil association, which is on foot slopes and alluvial
plains. The Minto soils have dense stands of either
paper birch and willow or black spruce and brush.
This cover provides habitat for bear, wolf, fox, and
lynx. The Goldstream soils produce berries, sedges, and
willow brush used by moose, small mammals, song-
birds, and other birds. At the borders of small ponds
and streams, brush and succulent water-tolerant plants
are used by waterfowl, furbearing animals, and moose.
Northern pike and grayling inhabit some ponds and
streams.
Goldstream-Tanana association.-Wildlife in this
soil association is quite similar to that in the Minto-
Goldstream association. The Goldstream soils provide a
dense cover of black spruce and shrubs or open areas
of shrubs, sedge, and moss. Summer songbirds, small
mammals, and eagle, falcon, hawk, owl, raven, and
ptarmigan are common in these areas. The Tanana
soils support vegetation that includes paper birch,
willow, and alder brush. Migratory ducks, geese, and
other waterfowl use the small ponds and streams for
stopover and nesting areas. Furbearing animals and
moose feed on the brush and succulent water-tolerant
plants in this soil association. Among the fish in these
streams are grayling, northern pipe, and salmon.
Nenana-Tanana-Donnelly association.-Wildlife in
TABLE 11.-Monthly minimum temperature probability during the growing season
[Data from Fairbanks and Nenana]
An absolute minimum temperature equal to or
lower than value shown will occur on an
average of once every-
Month 2 years at-5 years at--10 years at--20 years at-
Fairbanks Nenana Fairbanks Nenana Fairbanks Nenana Fairbanks Nenana
May ______________________ 24° F 20° F 18° F 14° F 15° F no F 12° F go F
June ---------------------36° F 33° F 34° F 30° F 33° F 28° F 32° F 27° F
July-----------------------41° F 36° F 38° F 34° F 36° F 33° F 35° F 31 oF
August-------------------34° F 30° F 30° F 26° F 28° F 24° F 26° F 23° F
September ----------------22° F 17° F 17° F 12° F 15° F 9° F 13° F 7° F
------
•
""
J'
..
..
'
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA 43
this soil association is somewhat similar to that in the
Fairbanks-Steese-Gilmore association. Nenana and
Donnelly soils are well drained, and in areas of fairly
recent fires, they support young stands of aspen, paper
birth, and willow as well as grasses and low-growing
shrubs that provide moderate amounts of feed for
moose, bear, grouse, rabbit, other mammals, and a
variety of songbirds. The Tanana soils in the associa-
tion support a dense cover of brush, grass, and patches
of spruce, paper birch, and alder brush. This soil as-
sociation is not favorable for waterfowl and furbearing
animals that live along lakes and streams. There are no
fishing streams.
Literature Cited
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
(12)
(13)
(14)
American Association of State Highway [and Transporta-
tion] Officials. 1961. Standard specifications for highway
materials and methods of sampling and testing. Ed. 8, 2
vol., illus.
American Society for Testing and Materials. 1974. Method
for classification of soils for engineering purposes. ASTM
Stand. D 2487-69. In 1974 Annual Book of ASTM Stand-
ards, Part 19, 464 pp., illus.
Baldwin, Mark, Kellogg, Charles E., and Thorp, James.
1938. Soil classification. Soils and Men, U.S. Dep. Agric.
Yearb., .pp. 979-1001, illus.
Farr, Wilbur A. 1967. Growth and yield of well-stocked
white spruce stands in Alaska. U.S. Forest Serv. Resour.
Pap. PNW~53, 30 pp., illus.
Gregory, Robert A., and Haack, Paul M. 1965. Growth and
yield of well-stocked aspen and birch stands in Alaska.
U.S. Forest Serv. Resour. Pap. Nor-2, 1965, 28 pp., illus.
Kellogg, Charles E., and Nygard, Iver J. 1951. Exploratory
study of the principal soil groups of Alaska. U.S. Dep.
Agric. Monogr. No.7, 138 pp., illus.
Krause, H. H., Rieger, S., and Wilde, S. S. 1959. Soils and
forest growth on different aspects in the Tanana watershed
of interior Alaska. Ecology 40: pp. 492-95, ill us.
Laughlin, W. M., Taylor, R. L., Klebesadel, L. J., and
others. 1964. General recommendations-fertilizers for
Alaska. Alaska Agric. Exp. Stn. Circ. No. 13, Revised.
Pewe, T. L., and others. 1953. Multiple glaciation in
Alaska. U.S. Geol. Surv. Circ. 289, 13 pp., illus.
Pewe, T. L. 1954. Effects of permafrost on cultivated
fields, Fairbanks, Alaska. In Mineral Resources of Alaska
1951-53, U.S. Geol. Surv. Bull. 989: pp. 315-51, illus.
_____ 1955. Origin of the upland silt near Fair-
banks, Alaska. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 66: pp. 699-724, illus.
Thorp, James and Smith, Guy D. 1949. Higher categories
of soil classification: order, suborder, and great groups.
Soil Sci. 67: 117-126, ill us .
United States Department of Agriculture. 1951. Soil sur-
vey manual. U.S. Dep. Agric. Handb. 18, 503 pp., illus.
______ In press. Soil taxonomy. U.S. Dep. Agric.
Handb. 436.
Glossary
Alluvium. Soil material, such as sand, silt, or clay, that has been
deposited on land by streams.
Available water capacity. The capacity of soils to hold water for
use by most plants. It is commonly defined as the difference
between the amount of soil water at field capacity and the
amount at wilting point. It is commonly expressed as inches
per inch of soil. Ratings for available water capacity are:
high, >3. 75 inches for the 30-inch soil profile; moderate,
2.5-3.75 inches; low, 1.25-2.5 inches; and very low, <1.25
inches.
Clay. As a soil separate, the mineral soil particles less than
0.002 millimeter in diameter. As a soil textural class, soil
material that is 40 percent or more clay, less than 45 per-
cent sand, and less than 40 percent silt.
Consistence, soil. The feel of the soil and the ease with which a
lump can be crushed by the fingers. Terms commonly used
to describe consistence are-
Loos~.-Noncoherent when dry or moist; does not-hold together
m a mass.
Friable.-When moist, crushes easily under gentle pressure
between thumb and forefinger and can be pressed
together into a lump.
Firm.-When moist, crushes under moderate pressure between
thumb and forefinger, but resistance is distinctly notice-
able.
Plastic.-When wet, readly deformed by moderate pressure but
can be pressed into a lump; will form a "wire" when
rolled between thumb and forefinger.
Sticky.-When wet, adheres to other material, and tends to
stretch somewhat and pull apart, rather than to pull free
from other material.
Hard.-When dry, moderately resistant to pressure; can be
broken with difficulty between thumb and forefinger.
Soft.-When dry, breaks into powder or individual grains
under very slight pressure.
Cemented.-Hard and brittle; little affected by moistening.
Drainage class (natural). Refers to the conditions of frequency
and duration of periods of saturation or partial saturation
that existed during the development of the soil, as opposed
to altered drainage, which is commonly the result of artifi-
cial drainage or irrigation but may be caused by the sudden
deepening of channels or the blocking of drainage outlets.
Seven different classes of natural soil drainage are
recognized.
Excessively drained soils are commonly very porous and
rapidly permeable and have a -low available water
capacity.
Somewhat excessively drained soils are also very permeable
and are free from mottling throughout their profile.
Well-drained soils are nearly free from mottling and ar.e
commonly of intermediate texture.
Moderately well drained soils commonly have a slowly per-
meable layer in or immediately beneath the solum. They
have uniform color in the A and upper B horizons and
mottling in the lower B and the C horizons.
Somewhat poorly drained soils are wet for significant periods
but not all the time, and some soils commonly have
mottling at a depth below 6 to 16 inches.
Poorly drained soils are wet for long periods and are light
gray and generally mottled from the surface downward,
although mottling may be absent or nearly so in some
soils.
Very poorly drained soils are wet nearly all the time. They
have a dark-gray or black surface layer and are gray or
light gray, with or without mottling, in the deeper parts
of the profile.
Flood plain. Nearly level land, consisting of stream sediments,
that borders a stream and is subject to flooding unless pro-
tected artificially.
Glacial till (geology). Unassorted, nonstratified glacial drift con-
sisting of clay, silt, sand, and boulders transported and
deposited by glacial ice.
Horizon, soil. A layer of soil, approximately parallel to rthe
surface, that has distinct characteristics produced by soil-
forming processes. These are the major horizons:
0 horizon.-The layer of organic matter on the surface of a
mineral soil. This layer consists of decaying plant residues.
A horizon.-The mineral horizon at the surface or just below
an 0 horizon. This horizon is the one in which living
organisms are most active and therefore is marked by the
accumulation of humus. The horizon may have lost one
or more of soluble salts, clay, and sesquioxides (iron and
aluminum oxides).
B horizon . ...:::,_The mineral horizon below an A horizon. The B
horizon is in part a layer of change from the overlying A
to the underlying C horizon. The B horizon also has
distinctive characteristics caused (1) by accumulation of
clay, sesquioxides, humus, or some combination of these;
(2) by prismatic or blocky structure; (3) by redder or
stronger colors than the A horizon ; or ( 4) by some
combination of these. Combined A and B horizons are
usually called the solum, or true soil. If a soil lacks a
B horizon, the A horizon alone is the solum.
44 SOIL SURVEY
C horizon.-The weathered rock material immediately beneath
the solum. In most soils this material is presumed to be
like that from which the overlying horizons were formed.
If the material is known to be different from that in the
solum, a Roman numeral precedes the letter C.
R layer.-Consolidated rock beneath the soil. The rock usually
underlies a C horizon but may be immediately beneath an
A or B horizon.
Loess. Fine-grained material, dominantly of silt-sized particles,
that has been deposited by wind.
Mottling, soil. Irregularly marked with spots of different colors
that vary in number and size. Mottling in soils usually
indicates poor aeration and lack of drainage. Descriptive
terms are as follows: abundance-few, common, and many;
size-fine, medium, and coarse; and contrast-faint, distinct,
and prominent. The size measurements are these: fine, less
than 5 millimeters (about 0.2 inch) in diameter along the
greatest dimension; medium, ranging from 5 millimeters to
15 millimeters (about 0.2 to 0.6 inch) in diameter along the
greatest dimension; and coarse, more than 15 millimeters
(about 0.6 inch) in diameter along the greatest dimension.
Munsell notation. A system for designating color by degrees of
the three simple variables-hue, value, and chroma. For
example, a notation of 10YR 6/4 is a color with a hue of
10YR, a value of 6, and a chroma of 4.
Nutrient, plant. Any element taken in by a plant, essential to its
growth and used by it in the production of food and tissue.
Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sul-
fur, iron, manganese, copper, boron, zinc, and perhaps other
elements obtained from the soil, and carbon, hydrogen, and
oxygen, obtained largely from the air and water, are plant
nutrients. ·
Parent materiaL Disintegrated and partly weathered rock from
which soil has formed.
Permafrost. Layers of soil in which the temperatures are
perennially at or below o• C, whether the consistence is very
hard or loose (dry permafrost) .
Permeability. The quality that enables the soil to transmit water
or air. Terms used to describe permeability are as follows:
very slow, slow, moderately slow, moderate, moderately
rapid, rapid, and very rapid.
Reaction, soil. The degree of acidity or alkalinity of a soil,
expressed in pH values. A soil that tests to pH 7.0 is
precisely neutral in reaction because it is neither acid nor
alkaline. An acid, or "sour," soil is one that gives an acid
reaction; an alkaline soil is one that is alkaline in reaction.
In words, the degrees of acidity or alkalinity are expressed
thus:
pH pH
Extremely acid ____ Below 4.5 NeutraL ___________ 6.6 to 7.3
Very strongly acid __ 4.5 to 5.0
Strongly acid _______ 5.1 to 5.5
Medium acid _______ 5.6 to 6.0
Mildly alkaline _____ 7.4 to 7.8
Moderately alkaline_7.9 to 8.4
Strongly alkaline ___ 8.5 to 9.0
Slightly acid _______ 6.1 to 6.5 Very strongly
alkaline _____ 9.1 and higher
Relief. The elevations or inequalities of a land surface, con-
sidered collectively.
Sand. Individual rock or mineral fragments in a soil that range
in diameter from 0.05 to 2.0 millimeters. Most sand grains
consist of quartz, but they may be of any mineral composi-
tion. The textural class name of any soil that contains 85
percent or more :;;and and not more than 10 percent clay.
Silt. Individual mineral particles in a soil that range in diameter
from the upper limit of clay (0.002 millimeter) to the lower
limit of very fine sand (0.05 millimeter). Soil of the silt
textural class is 80 percent or more silt and less than 12
percent clay.
Soil. A natural, three-dimensional body on the earth's surface
that supports plants and that has properties resulting from
the integrated effect of climate and living matter acting on
earthy parent material, as conditioned by relief over periods
of time.
Soil separates. Mineral particles less than 2 millimeters in
equivalent diameter and ranging between specified size
limits. The names and sizes of separates recognized in the
United States are as follows: Very coarse sand (2.0 to 1.0
millimeter); coarse sand (1.0 to 0.5 millimeter); medium
sand (0.5 to 0.25 millimeter); fine sand (0.25 to 0.10 milli-
meter) ; very fine sand (0.10 to 0.0.5 millimeter) ; silt (0.05
to 0.002 millimeter) ; and clay (less than 0.002 millimeter).
The separates recognized by the International Society of
Soil Science are as follows: I (2.0 to 0.2 millimeter); II
(0.2 to 0.02 millimeter); III (0.02. to 0.002 millimeter); IV
(less than 0.002 millimeter).
Structure, soil. The arrangement of primary soil particles into
compound particles or clusters that are separated from
adjoining aggregates and have properties unlike those of
an equal mass of unaggregated primary soil particles. The
principal forms of soil structure are-platy (laminated),
prismatic (vertical axis of aggregates .longer than hori-
zontal), columnar (prisms with rounded tops), blocky
(angular or subangular), and granular. Structureless soils
are either single grain (each grain by itself, as in dune
sand) or massive (the particles adhering together. without
any regular cleavage, as in many claypans and hardpans).
Subsoil. Technically, the B horizon; roughly, the part of the
solum below plow depth.
Substratum. Technically, the part of the soil below the solum.
Surface soil. The soil ordinarily moved in tillage, or its equival-
ent in uncultivated soil, about 5 to 8 inches in thickness.
The plowed layer.
Terrace (geological). An old alluvial plain, ordinarily flat or
undulating, bordering a river, lake, or the sea. Stream
terraces are frequently called second bottoms, as contrasted
to flood plains, and are seldom subject to overflow. Marine
terraces were deposited by the sea and are generally wide.
Texture, soil. The relative proportions of sand, silt, and clay
particles in a mass of soil. The basic textural classes, in
order of increasing proportion of fine particles, are sand,
loamy sand, sandy loam, loam, silt loam, s~"tt, sandy clay
loam, clay loam, silty clay loam, sandy clay, silty clay, and
clay. The sand,.loamy sand. and sandy loam classes may be
further divided by specifying "coarse," "fine," or "very
fine."
Tilth, soil. The condition of the soil in relation to the growth of
plants, especially soil structure. Good tilth refers to the
friable state and is associated with high noncapillary
porosity and stable, granular structure. A soil in poor tilth
is nonfriable, hard, nonaggregated, and difficult to till.
Water table. The highest part of the soil or underlying rock
material that is wholly saturated with water. In some
places an upper, or perched, water table may be separated
from a lower one by a ·dry zone.
•
..
'
~
..
"
...
GUIDE TO MAPPING UNITS
For a full description of a mapping unit, read both the description of the mapping unit and that of the series
to which the mapping unit belongs. To learn about the management of a capability unit or a woodland suita-
bility group, read the description of that unit or group and also the introduction to the section in which it
is described.
Management group
(Capability
unit)
Map
symbol Mapping unit Page I Number Page
Br Bradway very fine sandy loam---------------------------------6
DoA Donnelly silt loam, nearly level-----------------------------6
DoB Donnelly silt loam, gently sloping---------------------------6
DoF Donnelly silt loam, steep------------------------------------7
EsD Ester silt loam, strongly sloping----------------------------7
EsE Ester silt loam, moderately steep----------------------------7
EsF Ester silt loam, steep---------------------------------------7
FaA Fairbanks silt loam, nearly level----------------------------8
FaB Fairbanks silt loam, gently sloping--------------------------8
FaC Fairbanks silt loam, moderately sloping----------------------8
FaD Fairbanks silt loam, strongly sloping------------------------8
FaE Fairbanks silt loam, moderately steep------------------------8
FaF Fairbanks silt loam, ·steep-----------------------------------8
GmB Gilmore silt loam, gently sloping----------------------------9
GmC Gilmore silt loam, moderately sloping------------------------9
GmD Gilmore silt loam, strongly sloping--------------------------9
GmE Gilmore silt loam, moderately steep--------------------------9
GmF Gilmore silt loam, steep-------------------------------------9
GrB Gilmore silt loam, very shallow, gently sloping--------------9
GrC Gilmore silt loam, very shallow, moderately sloping----------9
GrE Gilmore silt loam, very shallow, moderately steep------------9
GrF Gilmore silt loam, very shallow, steep-----------------------10
GtA Goldstream silt loam, nearly level---------------------------10
GtB Goldstream silt loam, gently sloping-------------------------10
GuA Goodpaster silt loam-----------------------------------------11
Lp Lemeta peat--------------------------------------------------11
Me Mine tailings------------------------------------------------11
MnA Minto silt loam, nearly level--------------------------------12
MnB Minto silt loam, gently sloping------------------------------12
MnC Minto silt loam, moderately sloping--------------------------12
MnD Minto silt loam, strongly sloping----------------------------12
NaA Nenana silt loam, nearly level-------------------------------13
NaB Nenana silt loam, gently sloping-----------------------------13
NeA Nenana silt loam, sandy substratum, nearly level-------------13
NeB Nenana silt loam, sandy substratum, gently sloping-----------13
Sc Salchaket very fine sandy loam-------------------------------13
SuA Saulich silt loam, nearly level------------------------------14
SuB Saulich silt loam, gently sloping----------------------------14
Sue Saulich silt loam, moderately sloping------------------------14
SuD Saulich silt loam, strongly sloping--------------------------14
SuE Saulich silt loam, moderately steep--------------------------14
SuP Saulich silt loam, steep-------------------------------------14
SvB Steese silt loam, gently sloping-----------------------------15
SvC Steese silt loam, moderately sloping-------------------------15
SvD Steese silt loam, strongly sloping---------------------------15
SvE Steese silt loam, moderately steep---------------------------15
SvF Steese silt loam, steep--------------------------------------15
Ta Tanana silt loam---------------------------------------------16
Vk Volkmar silt loam--------------------------------------------16
14 (IVw-1) 20
13 (IVs-1) 20
12 (IVe-2) 20
18 (VIIe-1) 21
19 (VIIw-1) 21
19 (VIIw-1) 21
19 (VIIw-1) 21
1 (IIc-1) 18
3 (IIe-1) 18
5 (IIIe-1) 19
11 (IVe-1) 20
16 (VIe-1) 20
18 (VIIe-1) 21
8 (IIIe-4) 19
12 (IVe-2) 20
12 (IVe-2) 20
16 (VIe-1) 20
18 (VIIe-1) 21
12 (IVe-2) 20
16 (VIe-1) 20
18 (VIIe-1) 21
18 (VIIe-1) 21
14 (IVw-1) 20
15 (IVw-2) 20
14 (IVw-1) 20
20 (VIIw-2) 21
21 (VIIIs-1) 21
2 (IIc-2) 18
4 (IIe-2) 19
6 (IIIe-2) 19
11 (IVe-1) 20
9 (IIIs-1) 19
8 (IIIe-4) 19
7 (II Ie-3) 19
7 (II Ie-3) 19
1 (IIc-1) 18
14 (IVw-1) 20
15 (IVw-2) 20
15 (IVw-2) 20
17 (VIw-1) 21
19 (VIIw-1) 21
19 (VIIw-1) 21
3 (IIe-1) 18
5 (IIIe-1) 19
11 (IVe-1) 20
16 (VIe-1) 20
18 (VIIe-1) 21
10 (IIIw-1) 20
9 (IIIs-1) 19
Woodland
suitability
group
Number Page
4f2
4f2
4f2
3ol
3ol
3ol
3ol
3ol
3r3
3ol
3ol
3ol
3ol
3r3
4f3
4f3
4£3
4f3
lw2
lw2
lw2
lw2
3f2
3f2
.3f2
3f2
2ol
3ol
3ol
3ol
3ol
3r3
3w2
2o2
35
35
35
34
34
34
34
34
35
34
34
34
34
35
35
35
35
35
33
33
33
33
34
34
34
34
33
34
34
34
34
35
34
33
-1< U.S. GOVERNMEIIT PRINTING OffiCe, 19n-ZOO-59Z /1
•
N
1
R. 9 W.
CLE A R AIR FORCE BASE
(SOIL S NOT SURVEYED )
I
14 9 '00'
I
149 ' 10'
\\'\ I I -64 '10'
Each area outlined on this map consists of
more than one kind of soil. Th e map is thus
meant for general planning rathe r than a basis
for decisions on the use of spe cific tracts.
R. 6W.
148'40'
-64 '30'
T. 7 S .
R. 3W.
R. 4W.I ~-------r~--~
148 '30' T. 3 S.
U. S . DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE
148 '10'
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA, INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
CD
-
0
GENERAL SOIL MAP
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA
Scale 1: 253,440
1 0 1 2 3 4 Miles
IIIII I I I I
SOIL ASSOCIATIONS
Fairbanks-Steese-Gilmore association : Deep , nearly level to steep, well-
drained silty soils, on upland hills and ridges
Minto-Goldstream association: Deep , nearly level to strongly sloping,
moderately well drained silty soils, on foot slopes; and deep , nearly
level to gently sloping , poorly drained silty soils with perm a frost. on
flood plains
Goldstream-Tanana association : Deep, nearly level to gently sloping,
poorly drained and somewhat poorly drained silty soils with permafro st ,
on flood plains
Nenana-Tanana-Donnelly association: Very shallow to moderately deep ,
nearly level to steep, well-drained and excessi v ely drained silty soils
over gravel or sand, on outwash plains and moraines ; and deep, nearly
level, somewhat poorly dr a ined silty soi Is w ith permafrost , on flood
plains
Campi led 1976
R. 2 W.
-64'50'
148 '00'
T. 2 S.
~
N
1
I
:'!W. R . ?W
R. 4W. I ~--~---.-T--~
Inset, sheet I ~.. J
[ I P~/0
~
3 -G.
Y/ I t:.<:>IOCM ~ DOME
St,.,. ~91.it
64 '50'
R.5(~ 11/P
Creek
I
/1 1 • r:::;~ n![,
j ~( T .2S.
Inset, sheet J 5
12 ;;; 8 '10 '
Inset, sheet 6 I (~~":'
D ~64 '40 ' (7,--.-.
~ rl I --
[ 14 . ~~ . ~"'"'
-~II
_, --Y 64 '30'
. 5 s.
_fi
C)
!;] ~ j {2
'1'1-64 ° 20' I
i
!I
!J. T. 7 S.
I
21 I
..
0f .. s .. .,J-IDY.. . ·r ·-·-·-·-·-·-·,.J ; r { 149 '00'
..... ···" -
~rr ~
T. 8 S.
~~ I r-1 Inset, sheet 3
1 14~' 10'
-____L__j -64 '10'
/~ ~(1 \r---
( . ·-~~-· ~ ~-+~ I I '17----.: < 48 '<0' nset, sheet 17
INDEX TO MAP SHEETS
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA
Scale 1: 253,440
1 0 1 2 3 4 Miles
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
SO IL CONSERVATION SER VICE
SOIL LE GEND
The first letter , al ways a cap i ta l , is the initia l l etter of the soi l name. A second cap i ta l l ette r , A , B, C, D, E, or F ,
shows th e slope. Symbols without a slope letter are for those of nea rly level soils.
SYMBO L
Br
Do A
DoB
DoF
EsD
EsE
Es F
FaA
FaB
FaC
FaD
FaE
FaF
GmB
GmC
GmD
GmE
Gm F
GrB
GrC
GrE
Gr F
GtA
Gt B
GuA
L p
Me
MnA
MnB
MnC
MnD
NaA
NaB
NeA
NeB
Sc
SuA
SuB
Su C
Su D
Su E
SuF
SvB
Sv C
SvD
SvE
SvF
T a
V k
NAME
Bradway very fin e sandy loam
Donnel l y silt loam, nearly level
Donnelly s il t loam, gent ly s lo pi ng
Donnelly s il t l oam, steep
Ester si lt lo am, strongly s lo pin g
Ester si lt loam , mode rate ly steep
Ester si It loam, steep
Fairbanks silt loam , nearly level
Fai rbanks silt loam , ge ntly s l op i ng
Fairbanks s i It l oam, moderate l y s l oping
Fairbanks si lt l oam, st ron gl y s lop i ng
Fa ir banks s ilt loam , moderate ly steep
Fairba nks sil t loam , steep
Gilmore silt loam, ge ntly s lop i ng
Gi I more s i It lo am, mo derately sloping
Gilmore si lt loam, strong ly slop ing
Gi I mo re s i It loam, moderate ly steep
Gilmore silt loam, steep
Gi l more silt loam, very sha ll ow, gent ly s lop ing
Gi l more sil t loam, very shal lo w, moderately slo pin g
Gilmore silt lo am, very shallow, moderate ly steep
Gi lmore sil t lo am, very sha llow, steep
Goldstream s il t loa m, nearly l eve l
Go ld stream si It loam, gent l y s lopi ng
Goodpaster si It loam
L emeta peat
Min e tailings
Min to sil t loam, nearly leve l
Mi nto si l t loam , gent l y s l op i ng
Minto sil t loam, moderate ly sloping
Minto si lt lo am, strong ly sloping
Nenana si lt loam, nearly leve l
Nenana sil t lo am, ge ntly s lop in g
Nenan a si It lo am, sandy substratum, nea rl y level
Nenana silt lo am, sandy substratum , gent ly slo ping
Saic haket very fine sa nd y loam
Sau li ch si l t lo am, nea rl y le ve l
Sau lich s il t loam, ge nt l y sloping
Saulich s il t loam , mode rate ly s lopi ng
Sau lich sil t loam, strong ly slop in g
Sau lich s il t loam, moderately steep
Saulich silt loam, steep
Steese s ilt lo am, ge ntly sloping
Steese silt loam, mo derate ly slop in g
Steese silt loam, strong l y s loping
Steese silt loam, mode rate ly steep
Steese si It lo am, steep
T an ana si It loam
Vo lkm ar sil t loam
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALAS KA UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA, IN STITUTE O F AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
CONVENTIONAL AND SPECIAL
SYMBOLS LEGEND
CULTURAL FEATURES
BOUNDARIES
National , state or province
Coun ty or parish
Minor civ il division
Re se r vation (national forest or park,
state forest or park,
and large airport)
Land grant
Limit of soil survey (label)
Field sheet matchline & ne atli ne
AD HOC BOUNDAR Y (label)
Small airport, airfield, park, oilfield ,
ce metery, or fl ood poo l
STATE COORDINATE TICK
LAND DIVISION CORNERS
(sections and land grants)
ROADS
D ivided (median shown
if sca le permits )
Other roads
Trail
ROAD EMBLE MS & DES IGNATI ONS
Interstate
Federal
State
County, farm or r anc h
RAILROAD
PO WER TRANSM ISSION LINE
(normally not sho wn)
PIPE LINE
(normally not sho wn)
FENCE
(no r mal ly not sho wn)
LE VEE S
Without road
With road
With rail road
DAMS
Large (to scale )
Med ium or small
PITS
Gravel pit
Mine or quarry
.-------.r---., :Dav is Ai rst ri p::+-:
'-------~L---.J
r ~O...Q':_, !;f.N_.!
'":..oo ... t..,
L_L++
®
1111 1111 111 1 11 111 1111111
1111111111111111111111 11 11
< >
~ 8
MISCE LL ANEOUS CULTURAL FEATURES
Farmstead , house
(o mit in urban areas )
Church
School
Indian mound (label)
Located ob ject (labe l )
Tank (lab el )
We ll s, oil or gas
Wi ndmill
Kitchen midden
In d ian
Mound
A
Tower
0
GAS
•
WATER FEATURES
DRAINAGE ---Peren ni al , double line -
Perennial , single lin e
!nterm ittent
Drainage end
Canals or ditches
Double-line (label)
Dra inage and /or irrigation ---
LAKES , PONDS AND RESERVOIRS
Pere nn ial
Intermittent
MISCELLANEOUS WATER FEATURES
Marsh or swamp
Spring
Well , artesian
We ll , irrigation
Wet spot
SPECIAL SYMBOLS FOR
SOIL SURVEY
SOI L D ELINEATI ONS AND SYMBOLS
ESCARPMENTS
Bedrock
(points down slope)
Other than bedrock
(points down slope)
SHORT STEEP SLO PE
GULLY
DEPRESSION OR SINK
SOIL SAMPLE SITE
(norma lly not shown )
MISCELLANEOUS
Blowout
Clay spot
Gra vel ly spot
Gumbo, sl ick or scabby spot (sod ic)
Dumps and othe r similar
non soil areas
Prominent hill or peak
Rock outcrop
(includes sa nd stone and shale )
Saline spot
San dy spot
Severely eroded spot
Slide or slip (tips point upslope)
Sto ny spot, very stony spot 0
<>
0
00
¢
+
m
..
..
~
-~ ...
:;;
t . ]; 0
-~..,; z
~ ~
i! ~ j1 j
:>!_ ~ <l:
~ ; <1:-
-~ ~ w
~-;; 0::: n: i!l z
v; :~ <l:
~'C z
,1,!1l w
.l;''g z
H~ ~~ w
H~
"' 8 t/) ~u 0
~
-~
s
~
_j
0
(')
750 000 FEET
l itw.~ ! . ...=:~-~ ·,1-..:--... '~-~~~~~~ .. -;: .. ~ :; ~~:~--~;J;. u-.:1~-~ ; .. :-;-.~~~"";-~·-__ ·~..,. ..-..r. --J
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA SHEET NUMBER 1
SOIL
I I "-.....,_,...,... \ / I '\. 9~ \ I " ~
(Joins sheet 4)
If'"' \ ( I 1Q ~ .. -""'-'\.. "'--1" ?0 ,~Y
GtA /7 / ·"'5;~/i::'Y
/ \. 211
G)
N
1
"' ~
::;:
(Y') rT'1. QJ
N
sue
"' "-
0
0
0
"' ~
0
0
0
0
g
1.0
0 .... oM a·· .., ....
~
Ill u en
0~0
0
0
0
~~~-
0
0
0
N
~~t
0
0
"'
~~8 A / FaD /GrC I :
GmE o 0
"'
0 GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA SHEET NUMBER 2
N
1
"' .,
~
M ~
"-
0
0
0
"' ~
..
0 0
0
0
0
~ ~
0
0
0
N
::>:
0
0
0
M
0 ~ ~ 0 [;' 0 ... 0
0 0
~ 0
0 "' 0
"'
(Joins inset, sheet 5)
...
-~ ~ ::
(")~
.8 og
z~ -~ ~
<1:-''~ ~n _1:5 c
<t] ~
~~~
0::~
<(-;;
<(]
zii-
<(:
z~
w ~ zi-•-:::!~
<(~
w11 0::~ ~--~ (/)::.
0~
_j5
0~
<.9il-
3
~
+ Ta
0
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA
17
Ta
~ c:;e;J
),.
OoF ,~
Q: ::;, ..
..1
0 .. ',, . ..., ~
" 1 ' \ 'l_ ~..,
·\ 1&.
0 ~ ~I j
I' ~ ---.. ,... ·" i '-.. ::; .·-,
I
1&.
0
,...
i ::;
vi
00
t-=
I~
~
1:"
SHEET NUMBER 3
·--~ . ,_
I
... IIi.:·~·~ ~
...l ~ ,v .: .
"""' ...... '-"'". -~'I ·-
:. . ., : ' -.,
't!' -~<_·-;~~. 't. ,..__ ....
.:~ .. _J-J -·. _:. :. ~."/
... ---
~ 1 r "--·-·-<·-. 1~~ ltS 1~
. --------~ MnA "-i
~vE~~ ... II &i.· ~A~ i
0
N
1
V>
~
~
Mrn Q)
N
.,
"-
0
0
0
tn
~
0
0
0
0
0
ffi
0 ....
ofl'l
0'"
Ln ....
~
«l u
(/)
oi!Wo
. ···a
0
0 ... '
~
~~
~ 0
0
0
"'
~flUg 0 ....
0
0
0
tn
0 GOLDSTREAM -NENANA AREA, ALASKA SHEET NUMBER 4
N
1
"' ~
::E
"" ;:;
"' u.
0
0
0
~
...
~
N
·~
:;'
0 ~
0
0
0 ~ ~ 8
0 ~ z h
< "'~
:>:::: ~l
VJ I! < _j ~l < .;~
<' .a <o a i.
w H a::: 0~ < c ~
0
< ~ ~
00
~-~
\0
z
....
< .n·i!
OM
z ::::i'i:i
8 ··
w n
"''""'
~ ~~
~
::2' H «l
<
u en
w
0::: ~~
f-l't'§
VJ ~8 0 ~ _j :!! 0 -~
(9 8
E
~
0 0
0
0
0
~ ~
0
0
0
N
::;:
0
0
0
"'
0 ~ 0
0 ..,.
0
0
0
"'
,.
""
~
-~
::1
i Ul
! c::i :: z
u~
~; V) H~
{ ;. ~-
~~ 0:: H: Hz ~~ ~
;!li w ;;-:;; z
~:: ~ ~11 ::!
~~ w Hg:
~ ~ (j
g _j
~ 0 ! <.9
g
?5.
GOLDSTREAM -NENANA AREA, ALASKA SHEET NUMBER 5
R. 9w_.l~W.
CLEAR EARLY WARNING SITE
(Joins in set, sheet 3)
"' -.. ..
-5i
~ c:
~
~
8
0
N
1
V>
~
~
M rn OJ ..
lL
0
0
0
on
~
N
0
0
0
0
0
ffi ...... om 0 ,, ~ ......
2 ro
()
(/)
O uj
~,..._
~~
en
co
~o m a
0
0
0
~~ 1-
0
0
0
N
~~110
0
0
"'
0 ~f!Wg ..,.
0
0 0
I{)
N
1
N
0
~
::f::
~
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0 -
0
0
0
N
0
0
0
"'
0
0
0
"'
NA AREA, GOLDSTREAM-NENA
GtA
18
680 000 FEET
ALASKA SHEET NUMBER 6
R. 6W.
I
I
/MnB
I
-it
/
I
I
..
\
..
•
~
·~
:;'
~ " § .
.. 0
ji;
~~ 4 ~ -~ _j
i! ~
.'!'.,; (X H: :;,. z ~ ·~ <( ~i dS
~ .. z i~ ~
j;; <(
u~
~8 8
g _j
~ 0 ~ 0
~
~
:0
a: -s ., ·= 0
~
710 000 FEET
GOLDSTREAM -NENANA AREA, ALASKA -SHEET NUMBER
~ ~
33 MnB
~-
MnB .. ' ..... v-
"li!7 1 ...........
0
N
I '~· --~P.-\J l =r -.. ..·.j
. ,......
"' ~
'::E
I ) ) -.. ~.::; // 'WI "'m ~
"-
0
0
0
U1
~
36 GtA
+ \ +
MnB
0
"' ~
::E
"'
N
0
~
:1:
~
N
1
a;
"' "-
0
0
0
~
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
N
0
0
0
"'
0
0
0 ....
0
0
0
Ll'>
31
\
""' MnB
GOLDSTREAM -NENANA AREA, ALASKA SHEE T NUMBER 8
...
~ . ., • ::
:§ ,
ro K
8
0 . z B 1 ·;;;
<( .il
~ ·~ ~ g_
U) ~ :.; <( ~ ~ _j ·~
<( Ji i
.;~ -.§:.; <( if w
0:::
<( o:=
" ~-.§
<( jj_ 8 z ~ 8
<(
_·;:;;
....,.:;;
z ::)'0
w .s§
z ~g ' ~J:! ::;;:
<( H w
0::: ~~
f-~] U)
0
_j g
0 :!!
<.9 -~
8
~
~
.,.
~ ·c;
l't
~ o-il . ~ 0 : z n!
"'l! <(
f! ~ ~ ~ <(
~ ·~ _j :q <(
~ ~-<(-
u~ n:
ll-~ z ~~ ~
~g w
];''g z
~~ ~ !! ~
-~~ 1-
~~ (j
g _j
:!l 0 ~ (')
8
E
~
~ .. -
~
]
I r-...._____ ~ \ ~ I I , ----""' ' I ,
n ~
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA , SHEET NUMBER 9
"J (.,
I /'< ;'\ /1/ r:-' um r-/ -------•. 1 ·
®
N
1
"' ~
::;:
"'~ "'
N
"' u.
0
0
0
"' ~
0
0
0
0
~
-<Xl ~ 0
~ 8~
a ·· .,-, ......
~
«<
(.)
(/)
I o~o
0
0
0
~MI~
0
0
0
N
~UJt
0
0
"'
~f!Wg
0
~
0
0
0
"'
@) GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA
R. 7 W.\ R. 6
SHEET NUMBER 10
N
l ~
"' ~
~
"" a;
<1> u._
0
0
0
I!) -
•
""
~
·~
N go
0
0 .E
0
0
0 l
c:i §
z ~
<1: 11
~ .gl
ll) If <1:
_j u ·;:;;
<1: ~i
~-~
<1: "~ :; .: w ·~ ~
0:: .'l"~
<1: c==
"E ~-
<1: ~ ~
0 ~.~ co
z
10
<1: ..... ·:;
...... z ::)'6
§c:! w ~~ z ~~
1!) ...... ~
~ il «<
<1:
u
w
en 0::
1-~'§
ll) ~8 0
_j
:!! 0
0 ·~
8
~
~
"
0 0
0
0
0
~ -
0
0
0
N
;:,: MnB
0
0
0
"'
~ 0
0
0
<t
0
0
0
I()
"
•
~
" ~ r
! 0
g z
j 1 <1: . ~ ~
H4 g § _j
'::';; <1: ~~
.; <t' .§
@ w
~ IX
<1:
E <1: ll. z ~
.,; <1:
=' z w
~ z
~ ~
§> <1:
" w -a ., IX
~ f-
f/)
0 • _j
:!! 0
~ l9
8
~
!=
SvE
. I ~~ ,.; 0
--AJ I z ~\· ;.!:. -~ svo
~-... '-r ,. .. r . \
\ I // \
\ \_7 \
"\ MnB
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA SHEET NUMBER 11
~~-~ .... -~ ,,c-j ; •· .i-,,
-··-~ \ ~~ 35
2 \ :'\ M~~ FaD
~ I "---./ / _I '----__./ / I / /""\ I / " .. ( ~-.......... A7 1 \ (i"'-' MOl' '--I
~~-I -~ \ \ ( ~~~~ll ' .'
-. _ ~ -,., (\__/) ~ \._/. ~ ~, • _ MnB
.
\ GtA .. \~t •:..
~
FaB
\FaB;-
. -· ,}, ~ { r I 11,f~·'qJ !!? __; MnB
FaF
@
"' ~
::;:
N
N
1
w
"' u._
0
0
0
U")
~
0
0
0
0
-~g ~ .,., .....
~ ro u
rJ)
oi-Lh-lo
~~~
0
0
0
N
:;:~1 10
0 0
M
;:,:(f'-Ug
0 ....
0
0
0
~-U")
@
N
1
M V
N
0
~
::t::
~
"' "-
0
0
0 ::;
0
0
0
0 -
0
00
\0 a;:;; g ..
"''""' ~ ro u
(/)
0
0
0
0 -
0
0
0
N
0
0
0
"'
0
0
0
'<t
0
0
0
"'
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA SHEET NUMBER 12
Faf
ALFOREST
N
c::i . z B
~ <( -~ ~ " (/) ~~ <( 0 E
_j u -~
<( :;; ~
!:-~
<(' -".
w if rr o:-=
<( g ~f
<( ~ ~
z ~.g
<( ...... ·;;;
;::;:.o z ~" w ;:.§
z .li'~
:::k j~
<( ~~
w .g_·~
rr ~~
I-~] (/)
0 • _j ~ 0 -~
0 8
~
~ ..
..
...
GOLDSTREAM -N ENANA AREA , ALASKA SHEET NUMBER 13 @
N
1
"' ~
:i:
a;
"' u.
0
0
0
~
~ ~-·· l!~_.~l:."-'i,~1,'7!N }:~!l-.i:t'>1.··_.r..~j;~-(_'ft~ ~--,.,-.~..,.~F·-t .... .,~ ........ ·• ~~-\'-'(~' ' r)~ ~ /'0 · ~~ ~ ~-~.,.-~-)~vu!:J \-\" // /{( I N '\t" "~-ll_CI-• ~~f. ~ • -~ .-' ~-~ ~; ' ,· f.' Itt~.~-.. , ' ~ \_} ''-J -' ~ ~ .. , ·. ~ -~ ~ t g ~ ~ ~' ,ffi· · 'f.~,'-~ 1~ _!t;%ft1 "Qfc, 'l. • f ~~~y{~~·:'{0it ! . ;\ ~~ '' · AI ~ ~ (\ ~'. t _ ~' · , '-~ /-·.. SvE _ FaE I M 2i
.g c:i hz
"'~ <( H. ~ i ~ :1
(J -~ _j :q <(
I: ~-
~" n:: ~ ~ <(
~~;2 I ~v ~ 0
:;: ~ ;2 EsF ~ ffi
~c W ~ i~ z GmF -8 cYJ
~~ ~ ~~
o.¥ <( SvD !~ ~ ~ ~ .3 1-?Q ?.R en
"'g (/)
2!(.) 0
g _j
i 8
E
~
» 1 r ~ ~ir-<.f:.-1:''-~fo~':J;'\\~~~\t\ ~> 'i ~;'rllN -. ~-~~v· /: · ~~ / _.I / YGtA;::::? I '711 '1 Y \ Fat.; 1 I Y "'-. ) __ / _, \'"-:~---..{.r·r / /It:! ~ auf
0
0
~~~~
0
0
0
N
~~1 10
0
0 ,..,
0
0
0 ..
0
0
0
<!)
@
"' ~
:i
"'
0
~
~
~
N
1
-.;
"' ,_._
0
0
0
L.O
8
0
0
0
<Xl
\0 a;;:;
8·· "' .....
0
0
0
0 -
~
ta
(.)
C/)
'o
0
0
N
0
0
0
"'
0
0
0 ...
0
0
0
L.O
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA
.IR. 6W.
SHEET NUMBER 14
~Ta
33
~a lA)
~ GtA
~
4
@
+
J;J
34
( _.)
+ ~;::
/
MnC
....
..
35
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA SHEET NUMBER 15
~ ·o
~
~ L()
~ ..---
~ ci
" z ~!! "'~ <( § ~ y: " :::: (/) ~ ;\i <(
~ ~ _I :q <(
~ ~ <(-
e i w Ho::
~ ~ <(
H<( ~~ z ~] ~
~~ w
.l;ji z
~E ~ §>~ <(
H~
~~ ~ ~8 0
§ _j INSET B
~ 0 -~ (.')
8
E
~ ..
t
\ ~ i 't-/ f, 'f';.t~ .sr ;.__~~.r~~f~'Bl ".\..~ -,, ... .._. ., .~....)-~·-GtA
5000 AND WOOO-FOOT GR ID TICKS
3000 AND 5000-FOOT GRID TICKS
~ ~..w~~ 'J1.:.?""~::1.'""· 4.:1 JJJ.3 t::-. ' t. I
~
~
:E
N
I
@
N
1
-.; ..
LL
0
0
0
';'::
0
0
0
0
0 co
ID
.--<
acYl o ..
o.--.
U"l
Cl)
iii u
(f)
orne
0
0
0 ....
~
•••o
0
0
N
:c<:~t
0
0
'""
~flU§ ...
0
0
0
U"l
@ GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA SHEET NUMBER 16
N
1
"' ~
~
M a;
"' lL
0
0
0
~
~
ri ·~
N ~
0 ~ 0 '>() 0
0 § ~
0 ~ z ·~ ~
~~ <( :2 "~ ~
(/) ~~ <( 8 ·~ _j ~ i <(
~· ~
<(
3 ~
B ri-w H 0:: '0::::
<( Ji <( H 0 z co <( V>';;:
:;;:o \0 z ~~ ..... w §~ z 1;'-g
:i i_; L{) ..... ~~ ~ <( i"~ co w ~~ u 0:: en f--%'§
(/) ~8
0 g
_j :!! 0 -~
(_') 8
~
~
"
0 0
0
0
0
~
0
0
0
N
~ 0
0
0
"'
0 ~ 0
0 ....
0
0
0
L{)
• I .... _ .;;;..-~ ~r-:..;:_,..-,.,.~~ -·~·..-.•• ' "'-...... ........ -sc
<\
~ ·u • r~Ar~!~,~-'-~ ~ r 1'--
! 6 ./£. "' ,!.' -?Y.., . \,,
" z ~i .'!~ <l:
5 ~ ~
H~ ~~::{
~ ~-<l:-
~ ~ w
Jl!'.,_ IX
-o~. <l:
;;: !':! n«
!~ z ~i ~
!!!'l w
~:;; z H ~ H~
;! 8
5 _j
<: 0 l (.')
i1
~ ..
,
1 -: -..-;-~-r . ..,...:,1-~,., ~ ..._•w·-~ •-, ..,,,. ... ~._ ....... 1-~~-1 --&~ 1.:-..,....'IL-__ .. ~ .;.,.. .. ~-.~·-a---'~-
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA , ALASKA SHEET NUMBER 17
0 --r,
f-
Ta 9
·~~~~~~-n --· ~-~--,~ "'-~~··7:-:;~· '~·~t .. :"·1~*;.~~:"r~ ~-/i/~ 'i • ...---~~ ~·,1 . ., .:-;/·~·,._-;__'~"~ rj_'··:·l ~ ;' l-~~~ ·.~.=~ --.c~··. '~·" , ... :~.'-·\_,·: ~ -;:-,-:&i ,. ~ \
. -~-· -:~,:.~·~ ~ .. ~· . .l.~.t~·~!~-~~~----~_..,..,_:-·:~~~ ·. ·-'> ··:·'' ~--.-~ ~~ .. -~~'->~!-~ I' . ' .
fl ~>" . ' ·or:"''~--~ X _,....-IJ!'" /'' r f ~-' · • ~"' ' -· ''\<-'~-· -----~-'-· ~ , t -~"' _ ..... -J.,.,., '(-'\-I_:. -..~ _' if ... l " ;.;-: .. -.:.~ :~ ·} / ,.,;--4-~ ~~~: ~'"'·;:)~ .. ···J ·, ' It"""" ~ .,_<. ;.~ ~ .. J~ " •e::; ">/p, I ~o--l • -{ -' ·~ -'-'c"-.;(~ ;., '<;'' •1-'· : ~ • • X• • ><"</o Y ~ : '-' ,: ~~ . ,, ' .. ,, -~ •, --i o" j • ' • tt,. ;.II' \ 4 • ..... r f' I ' .._ """"" 4 l1 ~I.-.~ 'i' , ru • ~· j ,..-~ ~-.,-~· .._. r-..... , ·~-l£' ·\!'.~-. -,~_(/...,.. -"':;/ .:--,~?.<:;.,';'\') '~"' ·''G.l;:· ~-;.., •.• -"1, .... -~ ~· . -' (, ~. ·-• .r, ~ l'i'· ,,, . 6,? ~ 4 -~. -'1·~·-~ . .-!...'C. <:·.. . ..... :..'' 'y·,';\ ~--,,··:,.,,..; -. • "• -· .· . : iJ '"":~'"i.'---. __ ''~"\.. ~'\ . ~.-:-.;"-;. ,\ __ ... --},-~ ~ ....
' . ; ;-., ~. .. t -~ _,. ~ I. • ... ..1 =---... ~~ l ~ I .,,. •-, '"'!. -..,... • ~ • • -.... .,.. _,. t· ~--J~r.~;~'-. ~~ ,. -·~~ Z~·· ['tr-~ ~1~_:s;.~~ ~:..: v_ -. -s.'fy.}"!-..)J"-r---~-:~..'!k.,::-,. .... ~~~
· -~,; -"' J ~ --w~ ~ , ~';;] .~>: ~ ~ ,.., ~-· , s... ----.... • -',~ • -~ !!f-.~1 ~· ...... ~~-.-~~~A\\·_:.>-~,_ l'~!,. ,' , -AJ' .. f ' • ~
-·. . . .... .. ·-· ~...._.. .... .. _.-,._ ,,_-,;:.-. • ....-..,. .;...e:• ... -~.._ ....... '!" • .,_-.:: • ~-'•l:"t"~-..:-.-.a..a.--~. ~ .. c -~----.-....--~ .'\."1......_r.-..•~ •:a.:.·.r.-'!11 :-:I ~ ~--_..,, ,... ~ '~ .......
3000 AND 5000-FOOT GRID TICKS
' . , ... -_..-... .
700 000 FEET
~
t:'
0
0
0
R .,
"'
"' ~
::;: ,..,
N
\ ~
IM ~
-~§~ <0-
2 ro
()
(/)
oll-Uo
~
~
~
0
0
0
0
0
0
N
0
0
0
"'
0
0
0 ....
0
0
0
U)
\
0
~
~
~
.,
Q)
"-
0
0
0
I{)
0
0
0
0 -
0
0
0
0 -
0
0
0
N
0
0
0
"'
0
0
0 ....
0
0
0
I{)
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA SHEET NUMBER 18
If
~
·~
it"
ro ~ e
0 I
~ z h
<l J!~
::.::: ~l
(/) If <l
_j u ·;::c
<l ~i
<r' ~-~
3 ~
w B~
0:: H
<l 0~
<l jf
z ~.i <l V> ·;;:: z =:)'0
w ,$~ z $'-g
~ ~E
<l ~~ w
0:: 1~ 1-
(/) ~8 0
_j
0 ]:
(.') I
~
~
"(
...
~
..
l
a-
~ -I o : z
H.ct
~ § y:
~~ :1
H::i S!~ I; ~-
.['~ et: ii:
!~ z ;;;~ ~
,1:~ w
~~ ~ ~!Q ::2:
H~ H~ ~~ ~
• _j
:!! 0 i l'.l
~
~
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA , ALASKA -SHEET NUMBER 19
+
GuA .J
r/j
J
4 ::<-) Qo/ "
\
~.j
,.,---· .
,, <
,f. . " ()( l ~ .. :· ,!
.--../ . ~
f /(cl
-~-I\.~
j I ~~ . / .?\
GuA/) . ( . + \
. {\ ) I ; _j
; 16 ./ (\
~-( ~ 4 -• ' l \ : _.· _)~.
·. ' , I \ + /__)) . ;+ r
I J • '. ~ /. f GuA
. /, . .
I . · . 21 (_ l
9
3
GuA
10
I
(
\ 1(.
j
I
J
( + . .
I
\
)
)
3
(Joins sheet 20)
\
;r /,...-~..., ,..~/ '
I '--/// \\
I \ • ' l I ("' .... · .. , ·/ ' . \ ~ > .. ~$i-b'<.~ '-....:• r . ... ''Jf .---' .,._ . \ .... ~: :.,t~ I .•• · t'~~ ..... I
. . ( -\ ,.,.,,., .. , \.
' '
12
\
' ' \
\
' \
' \
\
(' ___ _)
I
I
I
@
N
l
~
~
::;:
('t")~ (L;
N
"' LL
0
0
0
':::!
0
0
0
0
0
t()
\!) .... ...-t!TI I I o("'")
o .. ~-
0 f!hlO
~ ....
~
0
0
0
0
0
0
"'
0
0
0 ,...,
~flU§ ....
0
0
0
~~"'
Ql
iii u
(f)
@
N
l
"' ~
:E
M
N
'" "' lL
0
0
0
~
0
0
0
0
0
00
\0 ..... §~
"' .....
~ ro
(J en
0 0
~
0
0
0
0
0
0
N
0
0
0
M
0
0
0 ...
0
0
0
"'
21
creej( _/
-~-~
+ \ : r) e-28 ~ GuA
_,--) )
+
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA
~-J 22 .\
~ d r· -v rJ l}rs .
(
27
GuA
34
AREA, ALASKA SHEET
(Joins sheet 1 9)
23
GtA
35
NUMBER 20
~
0
0
0
0
0J
t
41
t
..,
•
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA SHEET NUMBER 21 ®
N
!
~
~
::E ..,
"' w..
0
0
0
<{)
~
N
N 1 .:!'~1'~-.,r•.~.~J·~m.·='~M\.~Jlf:~~-.!\~"'/f · r:F?7""'J.--.. .-;, :;·~rrt -~..J:... __________ ~~~~ , •. l•·l . _ _,.~ .... : ·J,; .. _ -, ~,.· ,1 ~~ .,., "i;.'::.,.,:;. "11" -~ ......... _,.,. ··~'j; ... t"··· ·...: 1 IM~
c:i z -c
~ <t
~ :::.::: :::tl)
~ <t ~~
~ <t-
! ~
~ <t
~ <t
w z ·' '. ,'"' ..... , ··:. ~.. . ;• •! i ;•"{;' ,. ' ·~; • . . • -.. ~ ,. -' .• ·,,-:, #-,.,..,. ·~-~ ... ~.J:t,""-.-1'4. ~ ~ 0
_;;; <{ -·' ' 1 u.~ '~'II , " ~ .lo/ .~ •, ~ .:, ~ .,.-"' j <t,·' I . ·\ L ','4~ ~. :l-"Ji.. ,. -·'~!-··-': , ·. -· "-''IY.' \1,. ~ •· . ·'1'.·,, >i! "-'.·-t..-i• ~ , . CO -~ z II') ' .. L ' ' . • • .,_, (. T v, . ,.:_ . -.... ~ I. ~,_,.,. ...... . • '~-' . . . .-·· -IJ.."'t'':'r' ::l. --, 1..0
:;; _ l -1 ·' • . 1, : ~-L a 1. ' ,,l, ~ • , • , . ''t , I· · • ,... • !:' -•.-, ... ;\i,:.'ii .... ·~-• • , •' w ~ w G,) ".:iil l '-.(. r , f 1:; 11 I ~.:0 / 'i._ft . ~) :JT'I •·' ·~• ~-.,, !t., •• ...... ' • r"" tT,,.,_•r ~ ·-'1~-''i ·-~e~.\1:1. •' •, • 7 ..-< Q~ ~ 1 'J'· _o"'J't ·""'· l l• ~·-:Y.·_I._,r f -• .. , .~ .. .,._r 1~,-i ~-~ ".t'-,..:··· •• "'~,r;,",__~.r:.~ .. ~~-'11 ... ·'·V ¢.· . . -~--~-~ :_~-~ ~-'~.)~~:;.~~~~" o~
::;:;;: ":. > ~· .•,· ,. 1 ~ -·~ 't ' . /' [:·\.. • ·.., • '" .. .,..,.._, :A 1 1 · r~ '(i. ' '·~ ;r-t...., .,.. ·., · {'l \t~ 0 ..-<
-j .. • / ~ ' l I ·. J ~ ~[I f.; • -'\, I , ~ • • ~-• ..... i "• . I< .tt. .e ' t,.i~L-...Jil -/;' rt, ~ '! .t.:..... .., 1,() <t "' · " · '.1 r I 1 • "-• 1 .,.... • ,.-"1. , · \' !tJ . . .J • r ..._ ~ 1 ,. ~1 J ; ..__ ;._ · 1 .. , "'
-VI \• I • ''l 1 y lo < '' •, f"-..;,• •· r"' ~ .,. --~~'" • ~ '" --Cl' • 1 ! -· ..:!::
""W .!; 1 iJ kJ it. •• -~~ ) /-'' ) , ,•i(·,j • ;· , I (. \\ < t~~ , !'>•-t, -, .,, "'" -,-,__, '-'\.''''' -, '".".}~ .. ··,.,~-a0' -1:...~_111)\, 1 co l ~ .E •• • -:"(~4·~~-·\t,~f. I , • ! ..J/ ,.,':"· -·· '. / •. • j t I -~jL 1 -~,-~.: --~ ,1' \..l: .-" ·-\-~·..il:~:.:::. .. -.... J;.. •. ;_/ ... 1 •. •.' c7l
0 t/) 0
8 0 ::::!..
_J
0
(.')
-r-
I
..... -.... •·-t,...,_ .. J
I' l ~; I •"/'·'
(Joins inset, sheet 3)
,. . -,.
~----·
·' ·/ I
._ ....... .. ..!r " ·.;:";;-' ,-!;. .. ~~:..•:' _; I,
. ,
.• l '.• .... u..,.._..... •.• • ~-~~( --~.~ ··Jo _q 1 r• ( -..! ,..
f ....... ;£,.' ;.l>-,, 1 I I' r··~i~;-, . j\ ·--~ . . ' ·a .I '!"l'o .~=-.
U)
co
l { ~-~{ .f:· •• 1,11r. -~~ . ~l;~. -~--:~~. ~E-.. f ~-~ ~ ,, -i~ \ ··; ·'1*4f~~-l=~~----"1 . I ~ ,. . ... ~ ~· orno
0
0
0
~~~~
0
0
0
N
~llll l
0
0
0 ,...,
~flU§
..;-
0
0
0
<{)
«
I
~
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA
CONVENTIONAL AND SPECIAL
SYMBOLS LEGEND
CULTURAL FEATURES
BOUNDARIES
National, state or province
County or parish
Minor civil division
Reservation (national forest or park,
state forest or park,
and large airport)
Land grant
Limit of soil survey (label)
Field sheet matchline & neatline
AD HOC BOUNDARY (label)
Small airport, airfield, park, oilfield ,
C€metery, cir flood pool
STATE COORDINATE TICK
LAND DIVISION CORNERS
(sections and land grants)
ROADS
Divided (median shown
if scale permits)
Other roads
Trail
ROAD EMBLEMS & DESIGNATIONS
Interstate
Federal
State
County, farm or ranch
RAILROAD
POWER TRANSMISSION LINE
(normally not shown)
PIPE LINE
(normally not shown)
FENCE
(normally not shown)
LEVEES
Without road
With road
With railroad
DAMS
Large (to scale)
Medium or small
PITS
Gravel pit
Mine or quarry
r--~--:--_-j,---l ~ Dav1s Alr!ltnp II -+--1
'--------"L---..1
r ~O..£>~ !::!.N..!_
'~~/
L_L+-+
vv
8
®
m!l
1111111111111111 1 1111111
11111111111111111111111111
X
~
MISCELLANEOUS CULTURAL FEATURES
Farmstead , house
(omit in urban areas)
Church
School
Indian mound (label)
Located object (label)
Tank (label)
Wells, oil or gas
Windmill
Kitchen midden
• Indian
Mound
"
Tower
0
GAS
•
AA
~
WATER FEATURES
DRAINAGE ----------Perennial , double line -
Perennial, single line .~·-----
----.
Intermittent ··......___-···
Drainage end /~
Canals or ditches
Double-line (label )
Drainage and/or irrigat ion -·-
LAKES , PONDS AND RESERVOIRS
Perennial ~Q)
Intermittent
mt r i '1
MISCELLANEOUS WATER FEATURES
Marsh or swamp ~
Spring Or'
Well, artesian ..
Well, irrigation -o-
Wet spot "'
SPECIAL SYMBOLS FOR
SOIL SURVEY
SOIL DELINEATIONS AND SYMBOLS
ESCARPMENTS
Bedrock
(points down slope)
Other than bedrock
(points down slope)
SHORT STEEP SLOPE
GULLY
DEPRESSION OR SINK
SOIL SAMPLE SITE
(normally not shown)
MISCELLANEOUS
Blowout
Clay spot
Gravelly spot
Gumbo, slick or scabby spot (so dic )
Dumps and other simi iar
non soil areas
Prominent hill or peak
Rock outcrop
(includes sandstone and shale)
Saline spot
Sandy spot
Severely eroded spot
Slide or slip (tips point upslope)
Stony spot, very stony spot
~
0
®
v
*
0
00
¢
,.,
'•'
+
))
)
o m
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA, INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES
SOIL LEGEND
The first lette r, always a capital, is the initial letter of the so il name. A second capital letter, A, B, C, D, E, or F ,
shows the slope. Symbols without a slope letter are for those of nearly level soils.
SYMBOL
Br
Do A
DoB
DoF
EsD
EsE
EsF
FaA
FaB
FaC
FaD
FaE
Fa F
GmB
GmC
GmD
GmE
GmF
GrB
GrC
GrE
GrF
GtA
GtB
GuA
Lp
Me
MnA
MnB
MnC
MnD
NaA
NaB
NeA
NeB
Sc
SuA
SuB
SuC
SuD
SuE
SuF
SvB
SvC
SvD
SvE
SvF
Ta
NAME
Bradway very fi ne sandy lo am
Donnelly silt loam, nearly level
Donnelly silt lo am, gently sloping
Donn elly silt lo am , steep
Ester silt loam , strongly sloping
Ester silt loam, moderately steep
Ester silt lo am , steep
Fairbanks silt loam , nearly level
Fairbanks silt lo am, ge ntly sloping
Fairbanks silt loam, moderately sloping
Fairbanks s ilt loam , strongly sloping
Fa irbanks silt loam, moderately steep
Fairbanks silt loam , steep
Gilmore silt loam, gently sloping
Gi I more silt loam, moderately sloping
Gilmore silt loam , strongly sloping
Gi I more si It lo am, moderately steep
Gilmore silt loam, steep
Gilmore s ilt loam, very shallow, gently sloping
Gilmore silt loam, very shallow, moderately sloping
Gilmore silt lo am, very shallow, moderately steep
Gilmore silt lo am, very shallow, steep
Goldstream silt loa m, nearly level
Goldstream silt loam, ge ntly sloping
Goodpaster silt lo am
Lemeta peat
Mine tailings
Minto silt loam, nearly level
Minto silt loam, gent ly sloping
Minto silt loam, moderately sloping
Minto silt loam , strongly sloping
Nenana silt lo am, nearly level
Nenana silt loam , gent ly sloping
Nen ana silt loam , sandy substratum, nearly level
Nenana silt loam, sandy substratum, gently sloping
Salchaket ve ry fine sandy lo am
Saulich s ilt lo am, nearly level
Saulich silt loam , gen tly sloping
Saulich silt loam , moderately sloping
Saulich silt loam, strongly sloping
Saulich silt lo am, moderately steep
Saulich silt loam, steep
Steese silt lo am, gently sloping
Steese si It loam, moderately s loping
Steese s il t loam, strong ly s loping
Steese si It loam, moderate ly steep
Steese si It loam, steep
T anana silt lo am
Vk Vo lkmar si It loam
~~ W R ?
N
1
I
R. 4W. I ~----...----'
Inset, sheet f ~ J. [ l p~=~JQ
~
3 _ ,q,
R.5~ 11/P
£
St,,.
~94t
rl-~-~~ Creek
i ~
t:.:~rr::-~
DOME
64 °50'
i ~( T .2S.
Inset, sheet 15
1 \
'1-8 °10'
••••• , ..... 6 12 '( <'
(7 ,-----!Cw4o'
~ IJ d ~ 14 ~r !'~~ '8/148 °20'
~~1 ~/ I ~~(~-~r---~l> I Inset, sheet 17
(/ 1 1·-~~-· ~ ~ . 48 °40' '3)~\'-/1\ r "s 7
-£_,-If
I -11 64 °30'
~ff \~~ . 5 s .
a
t;j ~ /T~ u ll /\1~1 0 6S
R. 9 w. t~-r--rlJ rf (:)
Inset,:,., Anderson
sheet 2 b} M ·-· . ·fr"·-·-· jlt-W 20'
i
LEAR AI R FORCE B AS E j
ij===~P=================~··
(SOILS NOT SURVEYED)' ~I T. 7 S. I
21 I
I
·-·-·-·-·-·-·-·-~
T. 8 S.
I r-T Inset, sheet 3
1 14~0 10'
'1'\---..J...--' -64 ° 10'
I
149 °00'
'"" ..
INDEX TO MAP SHEETS
GOLDSTREAM-NENANA AREA, ALASKA
Scale 1 : 253,440
1 0 1 2 3 4 Miles
·~ ..,