Andisol Formation in the Western Oregon Cascades Mountains.

In the western Cascade mountain range, andisols are an important soil resource for multi-use land management. Currently there are several million-plus acre National Forests which lack initial soil surveys. As a result, little is known about the development and distribution of andisols in these areas. This study sampled and mapped andisols throughout the entire Willamette National Forest to understand the environmental factors which promote the genesis and stability of andisols. By understanding how these soils form, we can improve land management and help predict the distribution of andisols in other unmapped terrain along the Cascade mountain range.