General: Pelham Range is a ± 22,500-acre facility located within Calhoun County, AL. Calhoun County is located within the northeast portion of Alabama near the Georgia state line. The county lies within the Ridge and Valley Province of the Appalachian Highlands and the Blue Ridge Province. A Soil Survey for Calhoun County was published in September 1961 (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service 1961). The area of Pelham Range receives approximately 53.4 in. average annual precipitation. Precipitation is scattered throughout the year with the average monthly precipitation totals highest in winter (15.5 in.) and the lowest in the fall (9.5 in.). The Soil Survey reports the average date of the last killing frost to be late March and the average date of the first killing frost to be early November. The annual growing season as determined by soil temperature above 41^° F at 20 in. in the soils probably occurs throughout the year.

Pelham Range is located entirely within Calhoun County. Three Soil Associations are listed from the general soil map for the area within the Range. General Soil Area 2 is dominated by Anniston, Allen, Decatur, and Cumberland Series and is described as well-drained and moderately well-drained soils on level to moderately steep terraces and foot slopes. General Soil Area 3 is dominated by Clarksville and Fullerton Series and is described as well-drained to moderately well-drained, stony or cherty soils on ridgetops and steep slopes and in local alluvium on foot slopes or in draws. General Soil Area 4 is dominated by Rarden, Montevallo, and Lehew and is described as moderately deep or shallow soils on ridgetops or steep slopes and in local alluvium in draws.

The major mapped soil series, units, and undifferentiated soils within the boundary of Pelham Range include Anniston, Anniston and Allen, Atkins and Stendal, Clarksville-Fullerton, Clarksville, Decatur and Cumberland, Dewey, Etowah, Fullerton, Huntington, Lee, Lindside, Linker, Lobellville, Locust, Melvin, Monongahela, Montevallo, Philo and Stendal, Robertsville, Rarden, Sequatchie, Stony Rough Land Limestone, Stony Rough Land Sandstone, and Tyler. Soil units mapped within the boundary of the property that are listed on the county hydric soil list as having hydric soil components include Atkins and Stendal, Lee, Melvin, and Robertsville. Soil units mapped within the boundary of the property that are listed on the county hydric soil list as having no hydric soil components or no hydric soil inclusions include Decatur and Cumberland, Dewey, and Huntington. Soil units mapped within the boundary of the property that are listed on the county hydric soil list as having hydric soil inclusions include Anniston, Anniston and Allen, Clarksville-Fullerton, Clarksville, Etowah, Fullerton, Lindside, Linker, Lobellville, Locust, Monongahela, Montevallo, Philo-Stendal, Rarden, Sequatchie, Stony Rough Land/Limestone, Stony Rough Land/Sandstone, and Tyler.

Field methods for determining hydric or nonhydric soils include three methods authorized by "The 1987 Manual" and subsequent guidance from the Office of the Chief of Engineers (1992, 1997). These methods include field indicators of hydric soils listed in: 1) paragraphs 44 and 45 of "The 1987 Manual," 2) "Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the United States" (USDA, NRCS 1998), and 3) "Hydric Soils of the United States" (Federal Register 1995). Additionally, the Pelham County Hydric Soils List was consulted. The Pelham County Hydric Soils List is a planning level document intended for in-office determinations.

"The 1987 Manual": Indicators of hydric soils listed in "The1987 Manual" found at the sample point locations included gleyed or low-chroma soil colors, aquic moisture regime, organic streaking in sand, and possible histic epipedon at one sample point location. A number of sample points had recently accumulated sediments from upslope erosion. Typically, these areas were identified as having hydric soil conditions in normal circumstances by having long to very long duration ponding and/or subsurface saturation during the growing season. These areas meet the concept of an aquic moisture regime. Sample point areas where there were no recently deposited sediments typically possessed a gleyed and/or low chroma soil matrix with common to many redoximorphic concentrations.

"Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the United States": The NRCS field indicators are a guide to help identify hydric soils in the field and are not intended to replace or relieve the requirements for hydric soils found in the definition of hydric soils (Federal Register 1994). Pelham Range is located in Land Resource Region P- South Atlantic and Gulf Slope Cash Crop, Forest and Livestock (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service 1981). At 11 of the Pelham Range sample points, Field Indicator F-3, Depleted Matrix, was found. One sample point met the standards for Field Indicator F-1, Loamy Mucky Mineral. Seven wetland sample points did not exhibit any of the field indicator criteria. Typically, these sample points had surface horizons composed of recently deposited sediments from upslope erosion. The eroded material represents upland B horizons that have not developed typical hydric soil characteristics. These areas represent an atypical situation and determinations were based on long to very long ponding and/or saturation.

"Hydric Soils of the United States": Included in the criteria for hydric soils are standards that describe limits for the duration and frequency of occurrence of ponding, flooding, and sub-surface saturation. Based on field observations made onsite, all sample points met criteria 3, 4, and/or 2b3. Hydric soil criteria 3 and 4 require frequent ponding or flooding for long or very long duration during the growing season. Hydric soil criterion 2b3 requires a water table less than or equal to 1.0 ft from the surface during the growing season where the permeability is less than 6.0 in./hr in any layer within 20 in.

Summary: Hydric soils were determined to be present at 19 sample point locations within the boundary of Pelham Range. The sample points are representative of areas determined to be wetlands. Typically, hydric soils are characterized by surface horizons with a high value/ low chroma matrix and common to many redoximorphic concentrations. A number of sample points that were determined to be wetlands were atypical situations. These sites are the result of recently deposited sediments that do not possess the typical morphology of hydric soils but are ponded, flooded, and/or saturated for long to very long duration during the growing season. There are numerous areas within Pelham Range with significant erosion problems.