Subsection 342Bd
Cottonwood - Skedaddle Mountains

Lithology and Stratigraphy.   The bedrock is predominantly Pliocene and Quaternary basalt and lesser amounts of older Tertiary pyroclastic rocks and sediments.  Quaternary alluvial deposits are inextensive and Tertiary and Quaternary lacustrine deposits are moderately extensive.

Geomorphology.   There are many volcanic peaks with steep sideslopes and gently to moderately sloping lava flow surfaces between peaks.  There has been enough fluvial erosion to form locally integrated drainage systems, but not enough to drain all basins nor to severely dissect lacustrine sediments in basins that have been drained naturally.  A few drainages remain closed, but most streams drain to closed basins outside of this subsection.  The elevation range is from about 4200 feet up to 7552 feet in the Skedaddle Mountains.  There are many peaks between 6000 to 7000 feet elevation.  Fluvial erosion and freeze-thaw are the main geomorphic processes.  Volcanism is no longer an active process.

Soils.  Soils in volcanic terrain are mostly Lithic and Aridic Argixerolls and lesser amounts of Cryoborolls, Camborthids, Haplargids, and Haploxererts.  Those on alluvial and lacustrine plains are Cumulic, Fluvaquentic, and Aridic Duric Haploxerolls;  Aridic Argixerolls; Xerollic and Durixerollic Haplargids; and Chromic Haploxererts.  Most of the soils are well drained; some are somewhat poorly drained.  Soil temperature regimes are mostly mesic and frigid, with some cryic on north-facing slopes at higher elevations.  Soil moisture regimes are mostly aridic, but some are xeric on alluvial and lacustrine plains.

Vegetation.   The predominant natural plant communities are Big sagebrush series on the west and Shadscale series on the east side of the subsection.  Also, there is some Low sagebrush series on shallow soils and Western juniper series in the western part of the subsection.

Characteristic series by lifeform include:
Grasslands: Ashy ryegrass series, Breaked sedge series, Bluebunch wheatgrass series, Creeping ryegrass series,  Indian ricegrass series, One-sided bluegrass series.
Shrublands: Big sagebrush series, Bitterbrush series, Fourwing saltbush series,  Low sagebrush series, Rubber rabbitbrush series, Shadscale series.
Forests and woodlands: Curlleaf mountain-mahogany series, Western juniper series.

Surface Water.  Runoff is rapid from uplands and slow on alluvial and lacustrine plains. Most of the drainage is to Honey Lake Valley on the south, Smoke Creek Valley on the east, or Surprise Valley on the north; little is to closed basins within the subsection.  Most of the streams are dry during summer.