Open File Report 1984-23

Author(s) Date 1983-12-31

The mapped area comprises about 385 ha, and is located about 13 km south and 18 km west of Breton; which in turn is located about 75 km southwest of Edmonton. Most of the study area is covered by moderately fine textured till, and a thin veneer of very coarse textured glaciolacustrine sediments (sand) overlies the till along a narrow band bordering most of the lakeshore. Several organic soil deposits occur in depressional locations.

This region has a cold snow-forest climate with humid winters, characterized by frozen ground and a snow cover of several months duration. Summers are cool and short with less than four months where the average temperature is above 10°C, and the average temperature of the coldest month is below 3°C. The mapped area is situated in the lower foothills section of the boreal forest region, where the distinctive tree species are trembling aspen, balsam poplar, and lodgepole pine.

Seven map units were recognized in the study area. The key profile types are Orthic Gray Luvisols, Gleyed Gray Luvisols, Gleyed Dark Gray Luvisols, Orthic Humic Gleysols, Orthic Gleysols, Terric Humisols, Terric Mesisols, and Gleyed Eutric Brunisols. These are distributed over the landscape in relation to landform, parent material, and drainage. The map units consist of soil series, complexes, and in one case a catena; and their distribution is shown on the soil map.

Soil interpretations of each map unit are made for fully serviced campgrounds, picnic areas, paths, lawns and landscaping, buildings, septic tank absorption fields, trench type sanitary landfills, road location, source of roadfill, and source of sand or gravel.

Soils of Map Units 1, 4, and 5 have moderate limitations for recreational development, and collectively they cover most of the study area. Other soils have moderate to severe limitations. Soils of all map units have severe limitations for road construction. Map Units 1 and 2 constitute poor and very poor sources of sand, respectively; however a source of gravel was not found in the study area. Careful study of the soil map and Tables 6 to 16 inclusive (soil limitation and suitability tables) will reveal areas suitable for particular uses.

A soil survey properly interpreted can be one of the most useful tools management has in making a proper design for a recreational area. However, all soil differences which occur in the field cannot be shown on the soil map. Thus for design and construction of specific recreational facilities, an on-site investigation is usually required.

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Greenlee, G.M. (1984): Soil Survey of Buck Lake Study Area and Interpretation for Recreational Use; Alberta Research Council, ARC/AGS Open File Report 1984-23, 46 p.