Slopes are 0 to 10 percent. They formed in sandy alluvium outwash or eolian deposits. The climate is characterized by cold winters, moist springs, moist falls, and dry warm summers. Mean annual precipitation is 355 to 510 mm, most of which falls as snow or as rain in the late fall or early spring. The growing season is 105 to 125 days.
Gird soils are coarse-silty.
McCollum soils are coarse-loamy. Gird and McCollum soils also have thick dark surface layers. These soils are used for woodland. Some areas have been cleared and used for irrigated and dryland crops. Potential native vegetation is ponderosa pine in the overstory.