NSSH Part 608

Soil Survey Area Names and Symbols (608.03)

1. Application of names.
   
   Soil survey areas receive a unique name and identification number that is used in the National Soil Information System (NASIS), in cooperative agreements, memoranda of understanding, all survey area publications, correlation documents, and other official reports and correspondence.
    
2. Registration.
   
   The state soil scientist and MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office Leader coordinate the soil survey area names and symbols with the National Soil Survey Center for registration in the National Soil Information System. The name is not to exceed 135 characters.
    
3. Identifying Soil Survey Areas in the Schedule.
    
   1. Soil survey areas use established conventions to identify soil survey areas in the Soil Survey Schedule. Each soil survey area receives a unique alpha-numeric identification code or “Area Symbol” that identifies the soil survey area data set in NASIS, as well as in the Soil Data Warehouse and Soil Data Marts.
      1. Soil survey areas that corresponds to a single county, parish, or independent city boundary: The symbol consists of the state abbreviation followed by the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) code for the county, parish, or independent city.
      2. For all other soil survey areas: Use the state abbreviation and assign a unique 600, 700, or 800 number in lieu of the FIPS code. The FIPS codes are in the Federal Information Processing Standards Publication Series of the National Bureau of Standards, U.S. Department of Commerce.
          
   2. Below are examples of names and symbols for soil survey areas that have differing boundary designations:
      1. MLRA Soil Survey Area corresponds to a single Major Land Resource Area. MLRA soil survey areas are identified by up to 7 characters; the prefix “SS” followed by the MLRA symbol and its subdivision, if necessary.
         • Southern Blue Ridge (SS0130B)
         • Red River Valley of the North (SS0056)
      2. MLRA Soil Survey Area corresponds to multiple Major Land Resource Areas.
         • Northern Coastal Plain and Northern Tidewater Area (SS0149A)
         • Southern California Mountains and Southern California Coastal Plain (SS0020)
      3. MLRA Soil Survey Area corresponds to parts of one or more Major Land Resource Areas.
         • Atlantic Coast Flatwoods and Tidewater Area, Southern Part (SS0153A-1)
         • Ontario-Erie Plain and Finger Lakes Region and Glaciated Allegheny Plateau and Catskill Mountains (SS0140-1)
      4. Soil Survey Area corresponds to a single county boundary.
         • Baldwin County, Alabama (AL003)
         • Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana (LA109)
      5. Soil Survey Area corresponds to two or more county boundaries.
         • Beaver and Lawrence Counties, Pennsylvania (PA603)
         • James City and York Counties and the City of Williamsburg, Virginia (VA695)
      6. Soil Survey Area includes only part of a single county.
         Select a name that clearly distinguishes the survey area from other survey areas in the county, or from adjoining counties. If a clear designation cannot be made, use the term “Area” to indicate that the survey area boundary does not include the entire county.
         • Nye County, Nevada, Southwest Part (NV785)
         • Socorro County Area, New Mexico (NM664)
      7. Soil Survey Area includes parts of two or more counties in one state.
         Use the name of a well-known place or geographic feature, and list the counties.
         • Jicarilla Apache Area, New Mexico, Parts of Rio Arriba and Sandoval Counties (NM698)
         • Wenatchee National Forest, Naches Area, Washington, Parts of Kittitas and Yakima Counties (WA680)
      8. Soil Survey Area includes all of one or more counties and part of another.
         • Soil Survey of Curry County and Southwest Part of Quay County, New Mexico (NM669)
         • Menifee and Rowan Counties and Northwestern Morgan County, Kentucky (KY632)
      9. Soil Survey Area includes parts of two or more counties in adjoining states.
         Note: In order to maintain acreage integrity for all states, separate Legend entries are made in the Soil Survey Schedule for survey areas that cross state boundaries.
         • Duck Valley Indian Reservation, Idaho and Nevada (ID677)
         • Duck Valley Indian Reservation, Idaho and Nevada (NV798)
         • Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina (TN640)
         • Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina (NC640)
      10. Soil Survey Area in a region with no counties.
          Use the name of a well-known place or geographic feature in the area.
          • San German Area, Southwestern Puerto Rico (PR787)
          • North Star Area, Alaska (AK642)

Limited and Denied Access Areas (608.04)

1. Limited Access Areas.
    
   1. Soil survey area coverage includes all lands (refer to part 608.02), and the goal of the National Cooperative Soil Survey is to survey all lands. Many survey areas include parts that have difficult or limited access to personnel conducting field operations, and occasionally landowners deny access to their property.
       
   2. Do not necessarily exclude land from a soil survey area based on difficult or limited access or because of difficulty in obtaining permission to gain access. Use all available resources, such as old soil survey maps (if available), geology and topographic maps, aerial photography, and other available remote sensing materials to apply common field procedures and techniques to delineate map units.
      1. For relatively small areas, mapping surrounding lands and projecting soil lines across the area of denied access may be feasible.
      2. For relatively large areas, more broadly defined map units may be appropriate. In these cases, describe the reduced reliability in the map unit description.
          
2. Surveying Denied Access Areas.
   
   State soil scientists, in consultation with the state conservationist and local cooperators, determine the feasibility of mapping areas of denied access. Reliability of the mapping for anticipated use and interpretations should be the final determining factor.
    
   1. Judgment should be used in deciding whether to attempt to gain permission to map areas of denied access. In some instances, such as areas restricted for national security purposes or where there is a desire by Native American officials for some tribal lands to remain unmapped, the decision may be made to not pursue the issue further.
       
   2. In situations other than those described in (1) above, use all reasonable means to obtain permission to map. Enlist the aid of community leaders, district cooperators and supervisors, county and state officials, and others, as appropriate.
       
   3. If reasonable efforts to gain access are unsuccessful, apply techniques and resources discussed above in part 608.04(a) to map the area.
       
3. Reporting Denied Access Areas.
    
   1. Delineate the area as a map unit with a name “Area not surveyed, access denied.”
       
   2. In the map unit description, tactfully describe the rationale for not mapping the area.
       
   3. Include the symbol and the acreage in the soil survey acreage table of the final report.
      1. Acreage is reported as mapping progress using standard progress reporting procedures.
      2. In rare instances where the area of denied access is very large, the soil survey area may be revised to exclude the unmapped area. Acres are not reported.
          
4. General Soil Maps.
   
   Whether or not areas are excluded from detailed mapping, do not exclude areas from the general soil map for the survey area and the U.S. General Soil Map (STATSGO2) database. Use standard procedures for delineating general soil map and STATSGO2 map units. The STATSGO2 map is the basis for the survey area general soil maps.

Determining Workloads (608.05)

1. The NRCS General Manual Title 340 describes agency policy for workload analysis. Other cooperating agencies have their own policy for workload analysis.
    
2. The workload analysis planning process.
   
   The workload analysis planning process considers the work to be done, estimates the amount of time required to complete each task, and provides a timetable for completing the work.
    
   1. A Long-Range Plan of Operations for initial soil survey projects (or update soil surveys requiring extensive revision) details the activities needed to complete the project in approximately 2 to 5 years. (See Exhibit 608-1).
       
   2. An Annual Plan of Operations for initial soil survey projects (or update soil surveys requiring extensive revision) is used to guide and provide specific focus to staff as the Long-Range Plan is being implemented. (See Exhibit 608-2).
       
   3. (3) A long-range plan for the MLRA Soil Survey Area considers all aspects of bringing all soil surveys in the area to a common standard to meet user needs. (See Exhibit 608-3 and Exhibit 608-4). In addition to the needs of the private lands in the area, it should include the needs identified by the cooperators responsible for the federal lands within the area so that a coordinated effort is achieved in all soil survey work.
       
   4. A Project Plan for an MLRA Soil Survey Area is used for planning to accomplish one or more of the highest priority needs within about a 2 to 5 year period. (See Exhibit 608-5).
       
   5. An Annual Plan of Operations (or Business Plan) is used to identify objectives, goals, responsibilities and timelines during a fiscal year.

Priorities for Soil Surveys (608.06)

1. State cooperative soil survey conferences, led by the State Soil Scientist, convene annually to discuss soil survey activities, consider the priorities of all cooperators, and recommend action. Other interested user groups recommend priorities, such as for special or interim soil reports. Considerations for preparing the priority list are:
   1. status of initial soil surveys and update soil surveys requiring extensive revision,
   2. NRCS needs for carrying out technical assistance programs and projects,
   3. cooperating agency needs for meeting their program and project needs,
   4. requests for soil surveys by local people,
   5. needs of federal partners on federal lands,
   6. needs for information that aids in land use planning and decisions,
   7. rapid land use changes in areas where critical soil problems are expected,
   8. contributions of funds or staffing,
   9. needs for tax evaluation, and
   10. other factors of specific local importance.
        
2. State soil scientists, in cooperation with lead scientists of cooperating partners, the MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office leader, and the MLRA Soil Survey Office leader work with the above information to evaluate the needs for each MLRA Soil Survey Area (see 610.03). Where federal lands are included within the MLRA soil survey area, it is important to coordinate with appropriate representatives of those agencies.
    
3. The MLRA Soil Survey Area Technical Team, made up of the MLRA Soil Survey Office staff, Soil Data Quality Specialists, Resource Soil Scientists, applicable NCSS partner soil scientists, and if needed, other discipline specialists, consolidate each state’s needs into a list for the MLRA Soil Survey Area.
    
4. The MLRA Management Team, consisting of the State Soil Scientists for each state serviced by the MLRA Soil Survey Office, and if applicable, Federal NCSS partners responsible for federal lands in the area, determine which of the identified needs are the highest priority. The MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office leader is also included in the process of priority setting. These are reviewed with the Board of Directors (or applicable subset of the Board) for concurrence. The Management Team then provides guidance and support to the MLRA Soil Survey Technical Team to incorporate the priorities into one or more individual project plans to be completed over about a 2 to 5 year period.
    
5. The long-range plan is revised periodically as work progresses and new information or unforeseen circumstances arise. Additional issues to be addressed may come from a variety of sources, such as Resource Soil Scientists, field offices, cooperators, customers, the MO, or State Soil Scientists. Reports from the Soil Data Mart or NASIS may also reveal issues and deficiencies to be prioritized and addressed. As identified projects are completed, the MLRA Management Team provides guidance as to the next priorities to be addressed by the MLRA Soil Survey Office staff and new project plans are developed.
    
6. Give consideration to the lead time required to prepare the geospatial data and analyze existing information.

Planning Workflow (608.07)

The MLRA project plan directs the use of resources over a period of about 2 to 5 years to accomplish identified activities. This is required for all MLRA soil surveys. The plan identifies the activities that are to be accomplished during the time period covered by the plan. The plan includes the responsibility for each activity, projected completion dates, and goals.

Exhibits 608-1 through 6 show sample formats for long-range plans, a project evaluation ranking procedure, project plans, and annual plans of operations for initial soil surveys or update soil surveys requiring extensive revision and for MLRA soil surveys. Adapt them to fit the needs identified for the soil survey area.

Part 610.02 contains information about workflow for updating by MLRA soil survey area.

Soil Survey Schedule (608.08)

1. Definition.
   
   The Soil Survey Schedule is a program management tool within the National Soil Information System (NASIS) for planning, managing, and tracking status, milestone events, and progress of the National Cooperative Soil Survey.
    
   1. Program managers use information in the Soil Survey Schedule to assess workloads, develop activity schedules and budgets, and plan for resources needed to complete the national soil inventory and related databases.
       
   2. The schedule lists all non-MLRA soil survey areas in NASIS, as defined in parts 608.02 and 608.03.
       
   3. Legends for each survey area contain administrative and other data that track the key business processes of the survey from field data collection through final publication.
       
   4. Various soil survey business areas populate progress in the schedule related to their individual areas of responsibility, and use information from the schedule to plan and manage their operations. See 608.08(b)(4) for a list of soil survey business areas.
       
2. Responsibilities.
   
   Data stewards for the various soil survey business areas are responsible for populating data elements and ensuring data quality in the Soil Survey Schedule. Soil survey business areas include all inventory-related activities at the field level, and support and enabling activities for generating soil survey products.
    
   1. The business area responsible for either initiating or completing a soil survey business process also is responsible for populating appropriate data elements and reporting progress associated with the process.
       
   2. Exhibit 608-7, Soil Survey Schedule Business Area Responsibilities, identifies broad soil survey business processes, along with associated data elements and the business area that is responsible for populating the schedule. Some data elements in Exhibit 608-7 indicate more than one responsible business area; for these situations, the appropriate business area program managers designate the responsible data steward.
       
   3. State and MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office program managers may delegate responsibility to populating some data elements to the field. For example, project soil survey offices may be designated to report mapping and compilation progress for their survey area.
       
   4. Designated business areas and key Soil Survey Schedule responsibilities are:
      1. State Offices – Legend administration, identify imagery, orthophotography, digital elevation models (DEM) and other base map materials, and coordinate mapping goals and progress reporting for soil survey areas with the MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office.
      2. MLRA Soil Survey Regional Offices – legend administration for MLRA soil survey areas, progress related to field reviews and correlations, and reporting compilation certification status.
      3. National Soil Survey Center – NASIS technical support, coordination with Information Technology Center, maintenance of area symbols and acreage, and soils hotline.
      4. National Office – policy and guidance for soil survey program, including fund allocations, progress reporting, and Soil Survey Schedule oversight.
      5. Digitizing Units – SSURGO digitizing and certification reviews.
      6. Digital Map Finishing Sites – digital map finishing for soil surveys.
      7. National Cartography and Geospatial Center – soil survey program support for imagery and orthophotography acquisition, map compilation materials, publication of soil survey products, distribution of SSURGO (Gateway), SSURGO and digital map finishing standards, status graphics, and digital elevation models and geospatial web services.
      8. Editors – English edit of manuscripts.
          
3. Accessing the Soil Survey Schedule.
    
   1. The Soil Survey Schedule and soil survey area legends are accessible through the conventional National Soil Information System interface.
      1. The interface provides authorized users with full capability to create, edit, and report data.
      2. Individuals accessing the data in this way need to be extremely careful not to populate or change data that falls under the responsibility of another business unit.
          
   2. Access is also available via a web-based application that provides authorized users with limited capability to manage data and generate programmed reports.
      1. Web access is at: http://ssschedule.nrcs.usda.gov.
      2. A web login and password can be obtained by contacting the soils hotline at (402) 437-5378 or by email at: hotline@lin.usda.gov.
          
4. Schedule Management.
   
   Exhibit 608-7 identifies soil survey business areas and related data elements, including key terminology and protocols, necessary for administration and maintenance of the schedule. Exhibit 608-7 provides an overview of the data elements and responsible soil survey business areas in the schedule.
    
5. Soil Survey Performance Measurement.
   
   The NRCS Performance Results System (PRS) is the official progress reporting instrument used by the agency to prepare national-level reports. Agency-accountable items such as soil mapping progress, first-time archival of SSURGO digitizing, and public release of soil surveys are assembled from the Soil Survey Schedule and the Soil Data Mart nightly and automatically uploaded to the PRS. Goals for these agency-accountable items are also taken from NASIS and recorded in the PRS.
   
   Other data from the Soil Survey Schedule is used to assess program performance and analyze budgets. Examples include signed memoranda of understanding, progress reviews and correlations completed, manuscripts edited, acres compiled and digitized, and the status of imagery and orthophotography acquisition. Both individual and business area performance can be analyzed.
    
   1. Performance Goals.
      1. At the beginning of the fiscal year, establish individual and team goals for soil survey business functions.
      2. In addition to initial and update soil surveys, mapping goals may be set for non-project survey areas based on anticipated requests for conservation planning. Refer to Exhibit 608-6 for more discussion about goal setting.
      3. State program managers and supervisors:
         • Base performance goals on the individuals’ job description, experience, training, complexity, and other factors;
         • Monitor progress throughout the year; and
         • Revise individual or team performance goals as needed, in consultation with the employee(s).
      4. Set performance goals for:
         • technical services and soil survey support activities;
         • mapping goals – do not include large water bodies (census water); however, report census water acres as a land category administrative action;
         • database development;
         • correlations; and
         • manuscript development.
            
   2. Progress and Progress Reporting.
      1. Soil survey progress records the inventory of the nation’s soil resources, development of related databases, soil survey products, and interpretative materials.
      2. Soil survey program managers are responsible for ensuring that progress is reported.
      3. Reportable items include all activities, including intermediate products that lead to a final product meeting National Cooperative Soil Survey standards.
         • acres mapped;
         • correlations completed;
         • acres compiled and digitized; and
         • manuscripts edited.
      4. Report progress in the Soil Survey Schedule as it occurs. As a minimum, report mapping progress quarterly, and all other progress monthly.
          
   3. Mapping Progress.
      1. Refer to Exhibit 608-6 for more discussion about reporting mapping progress.
      2. Discuss progress reporting issues with the Soil Survey Schedule manager in the Soil Survey Division Headquarters before revising.
         • For each soil survey area, enter mapping progress into the schedule by land category (refer to acreage accountability below).
         • The reporting date entered in the Legend Mapping Progress Table determines the fiscal year for which progress is counted.
         • Report progress as initial or update mapping.
         • Distinguish NRCS from cooperator personnel.
         • Enter each individual’s progress (preferable) or the project team’s as a whole.
         • Initial soil surveys are closely monitored (i.e., once-over surveys). Report initial mapping progress only once and never delete it from the system once it is reported, except for data entry errors that are immediately recognized and corrected.
         • Upon completion of the initial soil survey, all initial acres that are reported as progress should equal the land category acres and the sum of all land category acres should equal the soil survey area acres.
            
6. Legend Administration and Acreage Management.
   
   The National Soil Information System (NASIS) provides a variety of ways in which legends can be managed. Therefore, in order for the system to function optimally, a uniform approach is required.
   
   Soil survey area legends that are linked to Non-MLRA Soil Survey Areas provide data for the Soil Survey Schedule. The Schedule accommodates multiple legends for the same (spatial) survey area, or for overlapping survey areas; however, the schedule only maintains the official legend and any legacy legend(s) for survey areas. Copies of official legends can be linked to a locally created area type. However, these types of legends are not to be linked to the Non-MLRA Soil Survey Areas owned by Pangaea.
    
   1. Unique Spatial Areas.
      1. All survey areas represent a unique geographical (spatial) area, i.e., an entire county; they receive a unique area symbol and area name (see parts 608.02 and 608.03).
      2. Legends that represent the same geographical area use the same area symbol and area name.
      3. For survey areas having multiple legends, the soil survey area status identifies the most current legend, as discussed in 608.08(d).
      4. Exhibit 608-6 provides additional discussion and examples of various legend scenarios and protocols.
          
   2. Acreage Accountability.
      NRCS annual congressional appropriations are limited to non-federal lands, including Tribal and Trust Territories. The cost of soil survey activities by NRCS on federal lands must be reimbursed to the agency. However, the NRCS as federal lead for the National Cooperative Soil Survey maintains records of soil survey mapping for all lands of the nation.
      1. Seven land categories distinguish between non-federal and federal ownership. Additionally, federal lands are categorized according to the responsible federal land management agency.
         • Native American land
         • Other non-federal land
         • Bureau of Land Management
         • U. S. Forest Service
         • National Park Service
         • Other federal land
         • census water
      2. Refer to Exhibit 608-6 for definitions of the land categories and for additional discussion of acreage management and accountability.
          
   3. Acreage Allocation.
      Federal and private land ownership and their acreages constantly change. State program managers must periodically access land ownership for all soil survey areas.
      1. If ownership acres have changed in a soil survey area:
         • Re-allocate acreage assigned to the seven land categories.
         • Re-allocate progress assigned to each land category.
      2. The sum of all land category acres equals the state-total 1992 National Resource Inventory.
      3. To re-allocate acres for soil surveys with more than one legend or that partially overlap with another survey, refer to the discussion of acreage management and accountability in Exhibit 608-6.
          
   4. Acreage Base.
      County-based 1992 National Resources Inventory (NRI) data for total surface area (land and water) is used within NRCS for soil survey areas.
      1. Use the exact county-based figures or round to the nearest hundred.
      2. Coordinate acreage assigned to all survey areas with the National NASIS data steward at the National Soil Survey Center for inclusion in NASIS.
          
7. Soil Survey Area Status.
   
   The objective of the soil survey program is to complete the initial soil survey and to improve current interpretative and spatial soil survey information through an active evaluation and update program. The goal is to reduce the number of surveys that are out-of-date or that are designated as update needed at any given time. Refer to part 610 for additional discussion of updating soil surveys and for a sample evaluation sheet.
   
   Seven categories identify the operational activity status of soil survey areas and currency of published soil information for non-MLRA soil surveys. Program managers use status to identify workloads and ongoing field activities, for tracking progress, and for making graphic displays. The status assigned to soil survey areas containing federal lands is made in consultation with the federal partner agency.
   Soil survey area status categories and their definitions are:
    
   1. Non-project.
      1. Defined:
         • initial mapping incomplete;
         • no signed correlation document;
         • staffing not assigned to complete the initial mapping and field documentation within 3 to 5 years;
         • soil mapping on individual tracts, as requested for conservation and resource planning;
         • soil mapping and documentation meet NCSS standards, just like initial and update surveys;
         • “non-project” is the status designation assigned to survey area legends in the Soil Survey Schedule.
      2. Requirements:
         • a soil survey area handbook that includes a provisional descriptive legend (see part 627) containing a list of map units from within the MLRA and soil interpretations generated from NASIS;
         • field reviews held at least once every 3-5 years to ensure that mapping and interpretative materials meet National Cooperative Soil Survey standards;
         • technical assistance upon request.
            
   2. Initial.
      1. Defined:
         • a signed MLRA region-wide memorandum of understanding (MOU) and other local memoranda, as appropriate (see part 606);
         • staffing is assigned to complete the initial mapping and field documentation within 3 to 5 years;
         • “non-project” is changed to “initial” status on the existing Legend in the Soil Survey Schedule when the memorandum of understanding is signed and staffing is assigned.
      2. Requirements:
         • a long range plan details the activities needed to complete the project in approximately 2 to 5 years;
         • soils are mapped in contiguous blocks using map units from surrounding surveys within the MLRA;
         • a soil survey area handbook includes a descriptive legend (see part 627) and soil interpretations generated from NASIS as progressive correlation proceeds;
         • routine quality assurance reviews by the responsible MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office and field assistance by the appropriate entity;
         • progressive soil correlation with adjacent surveys within the MLRA;
         • high quality digital orthophotography base maps, digital elevation models (DEMS), and other base maps for digital soil survey mapping, and where needed, high quality imagery for field investigations;
         • mapping on hard copy aerial photography, subsequently compiling to orthophotography, and hand- or scan- digitizing are avoided if at all possible. Field mapping is done using electronic media and on-screen digitizing as much as possible to avoid these extra steps.
         • results in a signed correlation document.
            
   3. Published.
      1. Defined:
         • a traditional hard copy printed report, CD-ROM, DVD, web publication, or other media as agreed to by National Cooperative Soil Survey cooperators in the memorandum of understanding or project plan and issued by a federal or state agency that meets the current needs of users;
         • change the survey area status from “initial” to “published” on the existing Legend in the Soil Survey Schedule when the end publication product specified in the project plan is available.
      2. Requirements:
         • correlation document signed by the NRCS, based on Soil Taxonomy at the time the soil survey was published;
         • soil maps;
         • map unit and taxonomic unit descriptions;
         • soil interpretations generated from NASIS;
         • a populated, certified data set as part of the national soil database.
      3. Periodic updating – published surveys require various degrees of periodic updating:
         • when only new or revised soil interpretations are needed, retain “published” status;
         • add the interpretations supplement to the published report.
            
   4. Out-of-Date.
      1. Defined:
         • a published soil survey that no longer meets users’ needs and requires extensive revision to the soil maps as defined in part 610.04(a)(2)(i);
         • a comprehensive evaluation documents deficiencies for the entire survey area and National Cooperative Soil Survey cooperators agree on the evaluation;
         • the published soil survey is not targeted for immediate project soil survey activities.
      2. Requirement:
         • change the survey area status from “published” to “out-of-date” on the existing Legend in the Soil Survey Schedule.
            
   5. Extensive Revision.
      1. Defined:
         • a published soil survey that requires extensive revision, above and beyond normal MLRA soil survey project updating as described in part 610.04. Few surveys completed after about 1975 are expected to require this level of update;
         • an evaluation file identifies the needed revisions and maintenance;
         • The survey area has a signed MLRA Region-wide or local memorandum of understanding and staffing to complete the fieldwork within about 3 to 5years.
      2. Requirements:
         • written permission from the Soil Survey Division Director to conduct an extensive revision;
         • a long-range plan detailing all activities needed to complete the work within about a 5-year period;
         • change the survey area status to “extensive revision” on the existing Legend in the Soil Survey Schedule.
         • Legend management of the map units are the same as for initial soil surveys. Map units are added with a status of “provisional,” progress to “approved,” and then are eventually “correlated” when the spatial data is certified, the NASIS data is certified and both databases are ready to send to the Soil Data Warehouse;
         • Assign a status of “additional” to old map units that are replaced by new map units;
         • Refer to Exhibit 608-6 for additional guidelines on balancing land category acres and State National Resource Inventory acreage accountability.
      3. Additional characteristics of an extensive revision survey area include:
         • complete, systematically collected field data for the entire survey area;
         • re-mapping, as required, is based on the evaluation and memorandum of understanding;
         • a soil survey area handbook includes a descriptive legend (see part 627) and soil interpretations generated from NASIS;
         • routine quality assurance reviews are conducted by the responsible MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office, and field assistance by the appropriate entity;
         • progressive soil correlation within the context of the entire MLRA Soil Survey Area;
         • quality control functions are conducted by the MLRA Soil Survey Office;
         • updated correlation decisions are recorded in NASIS;
         • the most current Keys to Soil Taxonomy is used;
         • high quality digital orthophotography base maps, DEMs, and other base maps for digital soil survey mapping, and, where needed, high quality imagery for field investigations;
         • mapping on hard copy aerial photography, subsequently compiling to orthophotography, and hand- or scan- digitizing are avoided if at all possible. Field mapping is done using electronic media and on-screen digitizing as much as possible to avoid these extra steps;
         • updated maps, data, and interpretations are distributed through the Soil Data Mart and Web Soil Survey;
         • change the status of the legend to “published” when the final product specified in the memorandum of understanding is available.
            
   6. Update Needed.
      1. Defined:
         • a comprehensive evaluation documents deficiencies for the entire survey area and National Cooperative Soil Survey cooperators agree on the evaluation;
         • at least part of the soil survey area needs revision (primarily to the soil maps);
         • along with needed changes to the soil maps, the survey generally requires new or revised interpretations;
         • the published soil survey is not targeted for immediate soil survey update activities;
         • the needed revisions are primarily to the soil maps. See part 610.04(a)(2) for further discussion of each category:
           • update,
           • modernize the soil base map, or
           • supplemental soil mapping.
      2. Requirement:
         • change the survey area status from “published” to “update needed” on the existing legend in the Soil Survey Schedule.
            
   7. Update.
      1. Defined:
         • a soil survey with prior “published” or “update needed” status in which staffing is now available to complete the work;
         • change the survey area status from “published” or “update needed” on the existing legend in the Soil Survey Schedule to “update” when staffing from the MLRA soil survey office is assigned to complete the work as part of a project;
         • a new legend in the Soil Survey Schedule is not needed;
         • revised maps and data are periodically posted to the Soil Data Mart and Web Soil Survey.
      2. Requirements:
         • update activities neither require an memorandum of understanding nor result in a new correlation document;
         • an evaluation file identifies the needed revisions and maintenance;
         • correlation decisions that improve the coordination and joining of soil maps and data within the MLRA are recorded in NASIS;
         • legend management of the map units are the same as for initial soil surveys. Map units are added with a status of “provisional,” progress to “approved,” and then eventually are “correlated” when the spatial data is certified, the NASIS data is certified and both databases are ready to send to the Soil Data Warehouse;
         • revised or supplemental mapping progress is reported on the existing legend as “update mapping;”
         • a long-range plan of operations;
         • analysis of existing soil descriptions; laboratory data, and other field data to the extent practical;
         • complete, systematic collection of additional field data as required, are based on the disposition of existing data and the initial evaluation of update needed;
         • routine quality assurance reviews are conducted by the responsible MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office, and field assistance by the appropriate entity;
         • high quality digital orthophotography base maps, DEMs, and other base maps for digital soil survey mapping, and, where needed, high quality imagery for field investigations;
         • mapping on hard copy aerial photography, subsequently compiling to orthophotography, and hand- or scan- digitizing are avoided if at all possible. Field mapping is done using electronic media and on-screen digitizing as much as possible to avoid these extra steps;
         • distribution of updated maps, data, and interpretations through the Soil Data Mart and Web Soil Survey;
         • change the status to “published” when all work is complete.

Developing Other Schedules for Soil Survey Operations (608.09)

1. Soil Survey Operations.
   
   Schedules and timelines for soil survey activities are detailed in project plans of operations, annual plans of operation, and monthly or weekly schedules. Exhibit 608-1 identifies the basic activities that must be completed for initial surveys. Exhibit 608-4 is an example of potential activities that may be planned for MLRA soil surveys.
    
   1. Soil survey leaders schedule soil survey activities and coordinate routine work in consultation with the responsible state soil scientist and MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office. Quality control activities are carried out and documented by the MLRA Soil Survey Leader.
       
   2. MLRA Soil Survey Regional Offices schedule quality assurance reviews and field assistance visits in consultation with the MLRA Soil Survey Offices, State Offices, and National Cooperative Soil Survey partners.
       
2. Technical Soil Services.
    
   1. State offices and field offices develop annual plans of operation and monthly or weekly schedules, as appropriate, for technical soil services-related activities.
       
   2. Resource soil scientists and, in some instances, other soil scientists assigned to nearby soil survey project offices provide soil information as needed for conservation planning and other special local needs. These efforts ensure efficient use of soil scientist time and timely delivery of soil information.
       
3. Individual Schedules.
    
   1. Individual soil scientists prepare monthly or weekly schedules, as required by supervisors.
       
   2. These schedules include
      1. routine soil survey activities;
      2. training to be given and received;
      3. staff conferences; and
      4. information and public relations needs.

Status Maps (608.10)

Maps indicating the progress and status of soil survey operations and soil survey products are extremely useful management and public information tools. Maps may be on a national, regional, MLRA area, and state basis. The primary source of attribute data for these maps is the Soil Survey Schedule. The National Cartography and Geospatial Center (NCGC) maintains base map cartographic information and spatial data for soil survey areas.

(a) Responsibilities

The National Cartography and Geospatial Center (NCGC) is responsible for publication and distribution of status maps. The Geospatial Data Branch at the National Cartography and Geospatial Center maintains a digital file of soil survey area boundaries for all legends listed in the Soil Survey Schedule. States are responsible for assuring the accuracy and completeness of survey area boundaries, and for initiating revisions and corrections. The Geospatial Data Branch provides states with a 1:500,000 scale US Geological Survey base map containing survey area boundary coverage and coordinating instructions for revisions. The Soil Survey Schedule is the primary source of attribute data for status information. Part 608.08 identifies soil survey business areas that are responsible for data element population and maintenance of the Soil Survey Schedule.

(b) Availability

Visit the site at http://www.ftw.nrcs.usda.gov/status_data.html for maps in various formats that indicate the status of soil surveys and soil survey digitizing.

(c) Status of Soil Surveys Map

Maps indicating the progress and status of soil surveys and soil survey products are important management and public relations tools. Maps may be on a national, regional, MLRA region, and state basis.

1. Source Data.
    
   1. The primary source of attribute data is the Soil Survey Schedule. Part 608.08 identifies soil survey business areas that are responsible for populating and maintaining the Soil Survey Schedule.
       
   2. Base map cartography and spatial data for soil survey areas is maintained by the National Cartography and Geospatial Center (NCGC).
       
2. Responsibilities.
    
   1. The National Cartography and Geospatial Center:
      1. publishes and distributes status maps;
      2. maintains a digital file of soil survey area boundaries for all legends listed in the Soil Survey Schedule. Boundaries are taken from SSURGO data archived on the Soil Data Mart.
          
   2. State Soil Scientists:
      1. assure the accuracy and completeness of other survey area boundaries;
      2. initiate revisions and corrections.
          
3. Availability.
   
   Visit the NCGC site at http://www.ncgc.nrcs.usda.gov/ for maps in various formats that indicate the status of soil surveys and soil survey digitizing.
    
   1. Status of Soil Surveys Map.
      
      The status of soil surveys portrays a map of the status of all non-MLRA soil survey areas in the United States and its Trust Territories. This map is typically updated at the beginning of each fiscal year. Map legend categories include the status codes for survey areas, as defined in part 608.08, and other progress data in the Soil Survey Schedule.
       
      1. Standard map legend categories, colors, and a brief description.
         • Published (dark green): subset publication issued, and it meets user needs.
         • Initial, Field Mapping In-progress (yellow): memorandum of understanding signed for the initial subset comprehensive survey, project leader and staff assigned, mapping and related field activities underway.
         • Initial, Field Mapping Complete (light green): subset mapping and field data collection complete, correlation, manuscript development, and map finishing underway.
         • Extensive Revision, Field Work In-progress (light blue): long range plan of work developed for a previously published subset survey, project leader and staff assigned, field data collection and/or mapping underway.
         • Extensive Revision, Field Work Complete (orange): field data collection and/or subset mapping complete, correlation, manuscript development, and map finishing underway.
         • Out-of-Date (red): an evaluation documents that published report no longer meets user needs; extensive revision field work needed and will result in a new subset correlation and publication.
         • Update Needed (light goldenrod): an evaluation documents that parts (primarily maps) of the published report require revisions; plans for updating incomplete.
         • Update In-Progress (dark khaki): an evaluation documents that parts (primarily maps) of the published subset report require revisions; staffing assigned and work underway.
         • Non-project (white): plans for a comprehensive project survey incomplete.
      2. Additional information on the map includes:
         • Date: Status as of “mm/yy”
         • Legend Count and Percent: Total number of surveys in each legend status and percent of total area
            
   2. Status of Soil Survey Digitizing (SSURGO) Map.
      
      The Status of Soil Survey Digitizing (SSURGO) map portrays progress of the National Digitizing Initiative. Digital soil data for surveys under this initiative is a high priority for national and local users. This map is updated monthly by the National Cartography and Geospatial Center. The map shows progress toward SSURGO certification and archiving, as outlined in part 647. Surveys authorized as a digitizing initiative should be SSURGO certified within one to two years.
      
      Map legend categories cite milestone events in the SSURGO development process, and status reflects progress data recorded in the Soil Survey Schedule.
       
      1. The standard map legend categories, official ARC/INFO colors, and a brief description are:
         • Authorized Initiative (BURLYWOOD [a light brown]): soil survey funded for SSURGO development from special national allocations; or, the survey is a state priority without special national funding and authorized by the Director, Soil Survey Division.
         • Compilation in Progress (LIGHT SKY BLUE [a pale blue]): compilation of polygons and special features underway.
         • Compilation Complete (CYAN [a bright blue]): compilation of polygons and special features complete, and certified by the MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office.
         • Digitizing Complete (TOMATO [a pale orange red]): digital data capture complete for all spatial (area, point, linear) data. Survey ready for quality control review (check plot review and error correction).
         • Digital Review in Progress (GOLD [a dark yellow]): SSURGO review process underway. The spatial data, attribute data, metadata, correlation document, and compilation certification for a SSURGO initiative on file at an NRCS Digitizing Unit.
         • SSURGO Archived (GREEN YELLOW [a light green]): all digital data capture, attribute data, and metadata complete; survey passed a SSURGO certification review by an NRCS digitizing unit, and certified by an MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office and state conservationist; survey archived and available for distribution on the Soil Data Mart and Web Soil Survey.
      2. Additional information on the map includes:
         • Legend Title: “Initiative Status as of mm/dd/yy”
         • Count: Total number of authorized SSURGO initiatives in each legend status
         • Total: Total number of authorized SSURGO initiatives
            
   3. Other Status Maps.
      
      Program managers at the national, regional, MO region, or state levels may determine other types of soil survey status maps useful for management and information purposes within their operational area.

Long-Range Plan of Operations for Initial Soil Surveys and for Update Soil Surveys Requiring Extensive Revision (Exhibit 608-1)