National Park Service LogoU.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park ServiceNational Park Service
National Park Service:  U.S. Department of the InteriorNational Park Service Arrowhead
Bent's Old Fort National Historic Siteground flower
view map
text size:largestlargernormal
printer friendly
Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
Soils
The soils in the park are identified as being in the Rocky Ford-Numa-Dorman Association along the Arkansas River. As recent alluvial deposits of the river, the soils consist of deep, nearly level, well drained clay loam soils mainly on upper terraces, or silty- clay, sandy soils on river bottom lower plains. The mature upper terraces exhibit a soil of thick, silty clay loam over silt loam subsoil.
The lower river terraces consist of nearly level, somewhat poorly drained, slightly saline, clayey to sandy soils. The parent layer is about 12 inches thick and is generally high in organic matter. These soils are subject to occasional flooding. The subsoil is slowly permeable and poorly aerated. Salt-tolerant plants such as saltgrass and alkali sacaton grow well on these soils.






def. alluvium  clay, silt, sand, gravel or similar detrital material deposited by running water.
Santa Fe Traveling Trunk  

Did You Know?
Bent's Fort's Santa Fe Traveling Trunk is a mini-museum of 1840s clothing, games, and trade goods for use in the classroom. Ten lesson plains are based on Colorado State teaching standards.
more...

Last Updated: July 25, 2006 at 00:23 EST