Subsection M261Am
Shoemaker Bally

Lithology and Stratigraphy.  This subsection is dominated by a early Cretaceous granitic pluton.  The granitic rocks are generally quartz diorite to slightly more silicic rocks.

Geomorphology.  This is a subsection of mountains with rounded summits, steep sides, and narrow canyons.  It is between the Hoadley fault on the northeast and the Bully Choop fault on the west-southwest, although there are narrow strips of metamorphic rocks between the batholith and the faults.  The elevation range is from about 1000 feet up to 6198 feet on Shasta Bally.  Mass wasting and fluvial erosion are the main geomorphic processes.

Soils.  The soils are mostly Typic and shallow Xerochrepts, and Ultic Haploxeralfs.  Soils at higher elevations are mostly Xerumbrepts.  Ultic Palexeralfs occur on older land surfaces.  The soils are well drained.  Soil temperature regimes are predominantly mesic, with some frigid at higher elevations and thermic adjacent to the Central Valley.  Soil moisture regimes are xeric.

Vegetation.   The predominant natural plant communities are Ponderosa pine series, Douglas-fir - ponderosa pine series, and Mixed conifer series, and, at higher elevations, White fir series.

Characteristic series by lifeform include:
Grasslands: California annual grassland series, Montane meadow habitat.
Shrublands: Brewer oak series, Bush chinquapin series, Chamise series, Greenleaf manzanita series, Huckleberry oak series, Tobacco brush series, Wedgeleaf ceanothus series, Whiteleaf manzanita series.
Forests and woodlands: Black oak series, Canyon live oak series, Douglas-fir series, Douglas-fir - ponderosa pine series, Foothill pine series, Interior live oak series, Knobcone pine series, Mixed conifer series, Oregon white oak series, Ponderosa pine series, Red fir series, White alder series, White fir series.

Surface Water.  Runoff is rapid.  It drains to the Trinity River on the west and to the Sacramento River and its tributaries on the east.  All except the larger streams are dry through most of summer at lower elevations and part of summer at higher elevations.  There no are natural lakes in the subsection.