Happy Valley Permanent Vegetation Plots

Walker, D.A., Auerbach, N.A., Nettleton, T.K., Gallant, A., Murphy, S.M. 1997. Happy Valley Permanent Vegetation Plots: Site factors, physical and chemical soil properties, plant species cover, photographs, soil descriptions, and ordination. Arctic System Science Flux Study, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.

Home // Preliminary vegetation classification // Vegetation communities and sites // Legend for environmental variables // Environmental data // Relevé size, percent cover // Soils data // Relevé species data //
Appendices: Field descriptions of soils // Plot and soil photos // Plot location map

Field Description of Soil, Plot HV-5

Plot Number:	HV-5
Location:	Floodplain on creek, very shrubby, 200 m west of runway, at bottom of hill below road.
Description by:	A. Gallant and N. Auerbach
Sample Date:	7/21/94
Sample Time:	15:30
Classification:
Parent Material:	Stabilized alluvial sands and gravels
Geomorphic Surface:	irregular microrelief
Elevation:	900 ft
Slope:	0°
Aspect:	Flat
Vegetation:	Moist Alnus viridis, Salix lanata, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, low shrubland (riparian)
Horizon:	Description:
Oi	0-4 cm | Sample S-78
	Very dark grayish brown (10 YR 3/2) fibric material composed of litter (dead leaves) and roots (Alnus viridens, Betula nana); many fine and very fine roots, common medium roots; abrupt, smooth boundary.
Oe	4-15 cm | Sample S-79
	Black (10 YR 2/1) hemic material. 0% gravel, many fine and very roots, common medium roots; abrupt, smooth boundary.
permafrost	15 cm |
A	15-20 cm | Sample S-86
	Black (10 YR 2/1) silt. Undetermined structure (frozen soil). 0% gravel; nonsticky and nonplastic consistence (wet); common medium and coarse roots, undetermined concentration of very fine and fine roots because of frozen consistence, possibly many very fine roots; abrupt, smooth boundary.
B	20-28+ cm | Sample S-81
	Dark gray (10 YR 4/1) loam. Weak, fine, subangular blocky breaking to moderate, fine, granular structure. 0% gravel; slightly sticky and slightly plastic consistence (wet); undetermined concentration of roots because of frozen consistence; common, fine yellowish red (5 YR 5/8) mottles