Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Major Land Resource Area 062X
Major Land Resource Area
Accessed: 04/20/2026
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Ecological sites
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Precipitation
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Parent material origin
Parent material kind
Soil texture
RANGELAND (Soils usually have a mollic epipedon, lack an O horizon and do not have an E horizon. Rangelands may have conifer encroachment but are not Forest Sites).
FOREST [Soils typically have an E horizon and translocated clays (argillic horizon). They may have an O horizon but very seldom a mollic epipedon].
RUN-OFF LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Upland, normally convex short slopes > 6 percent, Shoulder).
NORMAL LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Upland, slopes normally linear, 1 to 6 percent except sandy/sands sites can have complex slopes, Back slope, Summit, Foot slope)
RUN-IN LANDSCAPE POSITIONS [Valley Bottomlands, Drainageways (not depressions), Toe slopes].
Dig hole to a depth of 20 inches minimum. Is there root restrictive layer within 10 inches of the soil surface?
Yes. Very Shallow
R062XY016SD – Very Shallow
R062XY016SD – Very Shallow
No. Is there a root restricting layer within 10-20 inches of the surface?
Yes. Determine the soil texture.
No. Is the soil > 20 inches in depth but have a thin surface layer (typically less than 3”) and effervesce at or near the surface (within 6 inches)?
Clayey - Shallow Clayey - North (R062XA17SD)
R062XA017SD – Shallow Clayey - North
R062XA017SD – Shallow Clayey - North
Loamy
North LRU - Shallow Loamy - North (R062XA024SD),
R062XA024SD – Shallow Loamy - North
R062XA024SD – Shallow Loamy - North
High Central LRU: SwLy - High Central (R062XB024SD),
R062XB024SD – Shallow Loamy - High Central
R062XB024SD – Shallow Loamy - High Central
South LRU: SwLy - South (R062XC024SD)
R062XC024SD – Shallow Loamy - South
R062XC024SD – Shallow Loamy - South
Yes. Thin Upland (R062XY012SD)
No. See "Normal Landscape Positions"
Are soils mod. deep or deep and have many (> 35%) coarse fragments (rocks) at or near the surface and throughout the soil profile?
Yes. Is the soil derived from flat fragmented metamorphic rock?
No. Are soils loamy with a thick dark colored surface layer (> 16” thick) and not adjacent to a stream? Typically, in upland “U-” or “V”-shaped valleys.
Yes. Channery Loam - North (R062XA032SD).
R062XA032SD – Channery Loam - North
R062XA032SD – Channery Loam - North
No. Stony Hills - (R062XY029SD).
R062XY029SD – Stony Hills
R062XY029SD – Stony Hills
Yes. Valley Loam - (R062XY043SD).
R062XY043SD – Valley Loam
R062XY043SD – Valley Loam
No. Clay or Silty clay (40 to 55% clay) Surface (>1.75” ribbon) with Clayey Subsoil?
Yes.
No. Loam, Silt loam, Silty, Clay loam, Sandy clay loam, or Very fine sandy loam (0.5 to 1.75” ribbon)?
North LRU - Clayey - North (R062XA011SD)
R062XA011SD – Clayey - North
R062XA011SD – Clayey - North
South LRU - Clayey - South (R062XC011SD).
R062XC011SD – Clayey - South
R062XC011SD – Clayey - South
Yes. Is the site an old stream terrace?
No. Sandy loam, Fine sandy loam, or Loamy very fine sand (0.25 to 0.5” ribbon)?
Yes. Loamy Terrace. FUTURE PROJECT
No.
North LRU - Loamy - North (R062XA010SD)
R062XA010SD – Loamy - North
R062XA010SD – Loamy - North
High Central LRU - Ly - Central (R062XB010SD),
R062XB010SD – Loamy - High Central
R062XB010SD – Loamy - High Central
South LRU - Ly - South (R062XC010SD).
R062XC010SD – Loamy - South
R062XC010SD – Loamy - South
Yes. Sandy - North (R062XA009SD).
R062XA009SD – Sandy - North
R062XA009SD – Sandy - North
No. See “ Run-in Landscape Position"
Observe the soil to a depth of 60 inches. Is there evidence of a permanent water table within 0 to 1 foot of the surface and the site is dominated by hydrophytes?
Yes. Wet Land (R062XY002SD).
R062XY002SD – Wet Land
R062XY002SD – Wet Land
No. Is there evidence of a permanent water table within 1 to 2 feet of the surface?
Yes. Wet Subirrigated (R062XY005SD).
R062XY005SD – Wet Subirrigated
R062XY005SD – Wet Subirrigated
No. Is there evidence of a permanent water table within 2 to 5 feet of the surface?
Yes, 2-5ft permanent water table.
R062XY003SD – Subirrigated
R062XY003SD – Subirrigated
No. Is the site adjacent to a stream or a low stream terrace that occasionally floods and is located below 6,200’ in elevation? There may also be a seasonal water table present (>5 feet of the surface).
Yes. Dryer than lowland ES,
Yes, located below/wetter than loamy overflow, precip zone between 17-22 inch.
R062XC042SD – Lowland 17-22 PZ
R062XC042SD – Lowland 17-22 PZ
Yes, located below/wetter than loamy overflow, precip zone between 22-30 inches.
R062XA042SD – Lowland 22-30 PZ
R062XA042SD – Lowland 22-30 PZ
No. Is the site very stony, occasionally flood, and located at or above 6,200’ in elevation?
North LRU - Loamy Overflow - North (R062XA020SD),
R062XA020SD – Loamy Overflow - North
R062XA020SD – Loamy Overflow - North
South LRU - LyOv - South (R062XC020SD).
R062XC020SD – Loamy Overflow - South
R062XC020SD – Loamy Overflow - South
Yes. Stony Overflow - Central (R062XB039SD).
R062XB039SD – Stony Overflow - High Central
R062XB039SD – Stony Overflow - High Central
No. See “Run-off and Normal Landscape Positions”
ELEVATION LESS THAN 6,200 FEET? (Low Elevation) Soils are Frigid.
ELEVATION GREATER THAN 6,200 FEET? LRU B (High Elevation) Soils are Cryic.
Are you in LRU A/ Northern Low Elevation Hills?
Are you in LRU C/ Southern Dry Low Elevation Hills?
Cool fringe forest or pockets of increased moisture
F062XY057SD – Cool Fringe Mixed Hardwood Forest
F062XY057SD – Cool Fringe Mixed Hardwood Forest
Slope 0-15%
F062XA051SD – Low Elevation Northern Hills Pine Forest(0-15% Slope)
F062XA051SD – Low Elevation Northern Hills Pine Forest(0-15% Slope)
Slope 15+%
F062XA054SD – Low Elevation Northern Hills Pine Forest(15+% Slope)
F062XA054SD – Low Elevation Northern Hills Pine Forest(15+% Slope)
Slope 0-45+%
F062XC053SD – Low Elevation Dry Southern Hills Pine Forest
F062XC053SD – Low Elevation Dry Southern Hills Pine Forest
Depressions/Cool Moist Slopes and Valleys, moss often present in great quantities
F062XB056SD – Highland Cool Valley Slopes and Depressions
F062XB056SD – Highland Cool Valley Slopes and Depressions
Cool fringe hardwood forest between pine dominated hills and valley loam or rangelands.
F062XY057SD – Cool Fringe Mixed Hardwood Forest
F062XY057SD – Cool Fringe Mixed Hardwood Forest
All other.
Slopes 0-15%
F062XB052SD – Highland Hills Pine Forest(0-15% Slope)
F062XB052SD – Highland Hills Pine Forest(0-15% Slope)
Slopes 15-60%
F062XB058SD – Highland Hills Pine Forest (15-60% Slope)
F062XB058SD – Highland Hills Pine Forest (15-60% Slope)
Slopes 60+%
F062XB059SD – Highland Hills Pine Forest (60+% Slope)
F062XB059SD – Highland Hills Pine Forest (60+% Slope)
Long term average mean annual precipitation
- No filter
- 40 – 50cm (16 – 20in)
- 50 – 60cm (20 – 24in)
- 60 – 80cm (24 – 31in)
—
cm
Long term average frost free days
- No filter
- 0 – 30days
- 30 – 50days
- 50 – 70days
- 70 – 90days
- 90 – 110days
—
days
- No filter
- 800 – 1000m (2600 – 3300ft)
- 1000 – 1200m (3300 – 3900ft)
- 1200 – 1400m (3900 – 4600ft)
- 1400 – 1600m (4600 – 5200ft)
- 1600 – 1800m (5200 – 5900ft)
- 1800 – 2000m (5900 – 6600ft)
- 2000 – 2200m (6600 – 7200ft)
—
m
- No filter
- 0 – 3%
- 3 – 5%
- 5 – 10%
- 10 – 15%
- 15 – 20%
- 20 – 25%
- 25 – 30%
- 30 – 35%
- 35 – 40%
- 40 – 45%
- 45 – 50%
- 50 – 60%
- 60 – 70%
- 70 – 80%
- 80 – 90%
—
%
- No filter
- Alluvial fan
- Depression
- Drainageway
- Fan
- Flood plain
- Hill
- Hillside
- Hillslope
- Intermittent stream
- Mountain slope
- Mountain valley
- Oxbow
- Plain
- Ridge
- Slough
- Stream terrace
- Structural bench
- Terrace
- Valley side
- No filter
- Claystone
- Granite
- Igneous and metamorphic
- Igneous and sedimentary
- Igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary
- Limestone and sandstone
- Limestone and shale
- Limestone and siltstone
- Limestone, unspecified
- Rhyolite
- Sandstone, unspecified
- Schist, unspecified
- Shale and siltstone
- Shale, clayey
- Shale, unspecified
- No filter
- Alluvium
- Colluvium
- Eolian deposits
- Residuum
- Slope alluvium
Soil surface texture
- No filter
- Clay
- Clay loam
- Fine sandy loam
- Loam
- Loamy coarse sand
- Loamy fine sand
- Silty clay
- Silty clay loam
- Silt loam
- Sandy loam
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Ecological site keys
MLRA 062X - Black Hills - Rangeland (LRU's A-North, B-High Central, C-South, and Y-Common), and Black Hills - Forest Land (Low Elevation < 6,200' and High Elevation > 6,200').
I.
RANGELAND (Soils usually have a mollic epipedon, lack an O horizon and do not have an E horizon. Rangelands may have conifer encroachment but are not Forest Sites).
A.
RUN-OFF LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Upland, normally convex short slopes > 6 percent, Shoulder).
1
Dig hole to a depth of 20 inches minimum. Is there root restrictive layer within 10 inches of the soil surface?
ii.
No. Is there a root restricting layer within 10-20 inches of the surface?
a.
Yes. Determine the soil texture.
2)
Loamy
b)
High Central LRU: SwLy - High Central (R062XB024SD),
... R062XB024SD – Shallow Loamy - High Central
b.
No. Is the soil > 20 inches in depth but have a thin surface layer (typically less than 3”) and effervesce at or near the surface (within 6 inches)?
1)
Yes. Thin Upland (R062XY012SD)
2)
No. See "Normal Landscape Positions"
B.
NORMAL LANDSCAPE POSITIONS (Upland, slopes normally linear, 1 to 6 percent except sandy/sands sites can have complex slopes, Back slope, Summit, Foot slope)
1
Are soils mod. deep or deep and have many (> 35%) coarse fragments (rocks) at or near the surface and throughout the soil profile?
i.
Yes. Is the soil derived from flat fragmented metamorphic rock?
ii.
No. Are soils loamy with a thick dark colored surface layer (> 16” thick) and not adjacent to a stream? Typically, in upland “U-” or “V”-shaped valleys.
b.
No. Clay or Silty clay (40 to 55% clay) Surface (>1.75” ribbon) with Clayey Subsoil?
1)
Yes.
2)
No. Loam, Silt loam, Silty, Clay loam, Sandy clay loam, or Very fine sandy loam (0.5 to 1.75” ribbon)?
a)
Yes. Is the site an old stream terrace?
(1)
Yes. Loamy Terrace. FUTURE PROJECT
(2)
No.
b)
No. Sandy loam, Fine sandy loam, or Loamy very fine sand (0.25 to 0.5” ribbon)?
(2)
No. See “ Run-in Landscape Position"
C.
RUN-IN LANDSCAPE POSITIONS [Valley Bottomlands, Drainageways (not depressions), Toe slopes].
1
Observe the soil to a depth of 60 inches. Is there evidence of a permanent water table within 0 to 1 foot of the surface and the site is dominated by hydrophytes?
ii.
No. Is there evidence of a permanent water table within 1 to 2 feet of the surface?
b.
No. Is there evidence of a permanent water table within 2 to 5 feet of the surface?
2)
No. Is the site adjacent to a stream or a low stream terrace that occasionally floods and is located below 6,200’ in elevation? There may also be a seasonal water table present (>5 feet of the surface).
a)
Yes. Dryer than lowland ES,
c)
Yes, located below/wetter than loamy overflow, precip zone between 17-22 inch.
... R062XC042SD – Lowland 17-22 PZ
d)
Yes, located below/wetter than loamy overflow, precip zone between 22-30 inches.
... R062XA042SD – Lowland 22-30 PZ
b)
No. Is the site very stony, occasionally flood, and located at or above 6,200’ in elevation?
(2)
No. See “Run-off and Normal Landscape Positions”
II.
FOREST [Soils typically have an E horizon and translocated clays (argillic horizon). They may have an O horizon but very seldom a mollic epipedon].
A.
ELEVATION LESS THAN 6,200 FEET? (Low Elevation) Soils are Frigid.
1
Are you in LRU A/ Northern Low Elevation Hills?
i.
Cool fringe forest or pockets of increased moisture
... F062XY057SD – Cool Fringe Mixed Hardwood Forest
2
Are you in LRU C/ Southern Dry Low Elevation Hills?
B.
ELEVATION GREATER THAN 6,200 FEET? LRU B (High Elevation) Soils are Cryic.
1
Depressions/Cool Moist Slopes and Valleys, moss often present in great quantities
... F062XB056SD – Highland Cool Valley Slopes and Depressions
2
Cool fringe hardwood forest between pine dominated hills and valley loam or rangelands.
... F062XY057SD – Cool Fringe Mixed Hardwood Forest
3
All other.
The Ecosystem Dynamics Interpretive Tool is an information system framework developed by the USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and New Mexico State University.
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