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Soils of the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys

by U. Wittneben; co-published with Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Government of BC

229 pages; black coil; catalogue #98-0020; ISBN 0-7718-8503-2; US$19.00, C$24.00, EUR15.60, £10.90

MOE Technical Report 18
Report No.52, British Columbia Soil Survey
first published March, 1986

Does NOT contain printed map. To order the soil map(s), please e-mail your request to soilterrain@victoria1.gov.bc.ca

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introduction How to use the soils maps and report  table of contents catalogue info

Introduction

This publication describes the characteristics of the soils identified by a detailed (1:20 000) soil survey of the central and southern portions of the Okanagan Valley and the Lower Similkameen Valley. Included are the valley bottoms and lower valley slopes from Ellison Lake to the U.S.A. border in the Okanagan Valley, and from the Ashnola River to Nighthawk in the Similkameen Valley.

The initial soil survey for the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys was published by Kelly and SpiIsbury in 1949 at a scale of 1 inch = 1.33 miles. This small scale survey was not designed to provide the detailed soil information needed for solving the complex present day land use problems. To meet these requirements, a resurvey at a larger scale (1:20 000) was initiated in 1971 and completed in 1981. It is Intended to guide planners and land users in making decisions at the level of Individual land parcels and farm units. For site-specific decisions more intensive investigations may be needed.

Fieldwork was conducted during the summers of 1971 to 1974 and 1979 to 1980. Soil mapping was carried out in accordance with the Canadian System of Soil Classification. A total of 24 soil maps at a sca I e of 1: 20 000 were prepared and form an integral part of this report. These maps are available from MAPS-B.C., British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Parliament Buildings, Victoria. Soil profile and laboratory data is stored in the British Columbia Soil Information System and is available from Surveys and Resource Mapping Branch, British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Victoria.

How to use the soils maps and report

Soil descriptions including general comments, landscape cross-sectional diagrams, landscape characteristics, photographs, typical profiles, and soil characteristics form the major part of this report. The map legend relates these soils to the maps which are published separately. Refer to Figure 2 for index of soil maps.

General information about the study area and its environmental characteristics Is provided in Chapter One, while Chapter Two explains the procedures used in collecting the information used to conpile the report and maps.

Chapter Three provides guidelines for soil descriptions and characteristics In Chapter Four while Chapter Four describes characteristics of all the soils identified In the map area.

Detailed soil profile descriptions for the map area are stored in the British Columbia Soil Information System (BCSIS) and are available at the following address: Data Management Unit, Surveys and Resource Mapping Branch, British Columbia Ministry of Environment.

Copies of the maps and report are available from: MAPS-B.C., British Columbia Ministry of Environment.

Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEGEMENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF FIGURES
LIST OF TABLES
INTRODUCTION
HOW TO USE THE SOIL REPORT

I. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE MAP AREA
1.1 Location and Areal Extent
1.2 Physiography and Drainage
1.3 Bedrock
1.4 Climate
1.5 Vegetation
1.6 Surficial Geologic Deposits
     1.6.1 Morainal Deposits
     1.6.2 Colluvial Deposits
     1.6.3 Fluvioglacial Deposits
     1.6.4 Fluvlal Deposits
     1.6.5 Glaciolacustrine Deposits
     1.6.6 Eolian Deposits
     1.6.7 Organic Deposits

2. SOIL GENESIS, CLASSIFICATION, FIELD METHODS AND MAP COMPILATION
     2.1 Soil Genesis
     2.2 Soil Classification
     2.3 Field Methods and Map Compilation

3. PARAMETERS USED FOR DESCRIBING THE SOILS
     3.1 Landscape Photo and General Comments
     3.2 Generalized Soil Profile
     3.3 Soil Landscape Cross Section
     3.4 Soil Characteristics
     3.5 Physical Soil Properties
     3.6 Chemical Soil Properties

4.DESCRIPTION OF THE SOILS
     Acland Creek (AC) Soils
     Agar Lake (AA) Soils
     Armstrong (A) Soils
     Boucherie (BE) Soils
     Bullock (BK) Soils
     Burnell Lake (BL) Soils
     Cameron Lake (CNI Soils
     Canyonview (CY) Soils
     Cawston (CA) Soils
     Chapman (CH) Soils
     Chopaka (CK) Soils
     Corporation (CP) Soils
     Coulthard (CO) Soils
     Darke Lake (DL) Soils
     Dartmouth (DH) Soils
     Debeck (DE) Soils
     Dub Lake DU) Soils
     Eaneas (ES) Soils
     Ellison (EN) Soils
     Faulder (FR) Soils
     Gammil (GM) Soils
     Gartrell (GR) Soils
     Gellatly (GY) Soils
     Giants Head (GH) Soils
     Gillanders (GS) Soils
     Glenfir (GF) Soils
     Glenmore (GL) Soils
     Greata (GT) Soils
     Guisachan (GN) Soils
     Harrland (HD) Soils
     Hayman (HN) Soils
     Haynes (HA) Soils
     Higgin (HG) Soils
     lltcoola (IL) Soils
     Inkaneep (IK) Soils
     Kalamoir (KR) Soils
     Kaleden (KA) Soils
     Kelowna (KE) Soils
     Kendall (KD) Soils
     Keremeos (K) Soils
     Kinney (KY) Soils
     Kloag Pass (KG) Soils
     Knox Mountain (KN) Soils
     Lambly (LY) Soils
     Manery (MY) Soils
     Maynard (MD) Soils
     McDougall (ML) Soils
     McKinley (W) Soils
     Mission Creek (W) Soils
     Munson (MU) Soils
     Naramata (NM) Soils
     Nighthawk (NG) Soils
     Nkwala (NK) Soils
     Olalia (OL) Soils
     Olhausen (OH) Soils
     Osoyoos (0) Soils
     Oyama (OY) Soils
     Pandozy (PY) Soils
     Paradise (PE) Soils
     Parkill (PR) Soils
     Peachland (PA) Soils
     Penticton (P) Soils
     Ponderosa (PO) Soils
     Postill (PL) Soils
     Priest Creek (PT) Soils
     Ratnip (RN) Soils
     Roy Creek (RY) Soils
     Rumohr (RH) Soils
     Rutland (R) Soils
     Shannon (SA) Soils
     Similkameen (SM) Soils
     Skaha (SK) Soils
     Snehumpton  (SN) Soils
     Solly (SO)  Soils
     Stemwinder  (SW) Soils
     Strutt (ST) Soils
     Summeriand (SR) Soils
     Susap (SU) Soils
     Tanaka (TA) Soils
     Tomlin (TM) Soils
     Trepanler (TR) Soils
     Trout Creek (TC) Soils
     Twin Lakes (TL) Soils
     Valley Creek (VW) Soils
     Westbank (WK) Soils
     Winslow (WW) Soils
        Miscellaneous Land Types
        Gravel and Sand Pits (MLA)
        Landfill, Cut and Fill (MLB)
        Bedrock Outcrops (MLO)
        Dykes (MLD)
        Dry River Channels (MLE)

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

GLOSSARY
APPENDIX I AVERAGE ANNUAL FROST-FREE PERIOD, AVERAGE DATES OF LAST SPRING AND FIRST FALL FROST, AND AVERAGE ANNUAL GROWING DEGREE DAYS (>5°C) FOR STATIONS IN OR NEAR THE OKANAGAN - SIMILKAMEEN MAP AREA

APPENDIX 2 MEAN MONTHLY AND TOTAL ANNUAL PRECIPITATION, AND ANNUAL SNOWFALL FOR SEVERAL STATIONS IN OR NEAR THE OKANAGAN - SIMILKAMEEN MAP AREA

APPENDIX 3 AVERAGE MONTHLY, MEAN ANNUAL AND MEAN ANNUAL EXTREME TEMPERATURES FOR SEVERAL STATIONS IN OR NEAR THE OKANAGAN - SIMILKAMEEN MAP AREA

Catalogue Information