NSSH Part 608

Limited and Denied Access Areas (608.03)

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 (608.04)

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 a realistic amount of time (i.e. about 5 years or less). (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. 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. The format and level of detail for the long-range plan can vary. The purpose is not to develop detailed plans to accomplish all of the needs, but rather to identify the needs in enough detail to allow them to be prioritized effectively. Detailed planning to accomplish the highest priority needs then takes place through project plans.
       
   4. A Project Plan(s) for an MLRA Soil Survey Area is used for planning to accomplish one or more of the highest priority needs, The actual length of time needed to complete the project will be dependent upon the scope of the project and how it is defined. While there is no mandated limit to the time a project can take to complete, projects expected to require more than about three to five years should be reevaluated to see if they can be subdivided into smaller projects with shorter individual time lines. Shorter-term projects are preferred because they can be managed more effectively. Some projects might be completed in less than a year while others will require multiple years. Multi-year project plans can be broken down into reportable milestones in order to show annual progress. (See Exhibit 608-5 for an example).
       
   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 (608.05)

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 Farm Bill and technical or financial 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 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 combined list of needs for the MLRA Soil Survey Area long range plan.
    
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 Area Technical Team to incorporate the priorities into one or more individual project plans.
    
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 then developed.
    
6. Give consideration to the lead time required to prepare the geospatial data and analyze existing information.
    

Planning Workflow (608.06)

The MLRA project plan directs the use of resources to accomplish identified activities as described above. At least one such plan is required for all MLRA Soil Survey Areas. 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.
 

Goals and Progress (608.07)

1. Definition.

   The National Soil Information System (NASIS) includes a number of tables and data elements for planning, managing, and tracking status, milestone events, and progress of the National Cooperative Soil Survey. These data are stored in the Project data object in NASIS. Projects for initial soil survey work are linked to Non-MLRA Soil Survey Areas. Projects for ongoing update work are defined by the set of map units they cover and are not linked to Non-MLRA Soil Survey Areas.
    

   1. Program managers use this information to assess workloads, develop activity schedules and budgets, and plan for resources needed to complete the national soil inventory and related databases.
       
   2. Included as projects in NASIS are all active initial mapping or extensive update Non-MLRA Soil Survey Areas, as defined in part 608.02.
       
   3. Projects linked to each Non-MLRA Soil Survey Area contain administrative and other data that track the key business processes of the initial survey from field data collection through final publication.
       
   4. Various soil survey business areas populate progress in the database related to their individual areas of responsibility, and use the information to plan and manage their operations. See 608.08(b)(4) for a list of soil survey business areas.
       
   5. A “Milestone” is an item or task identified to be completed for the Project Plan. Milestones are intermediate tasks such as number of transects collected, number of pedon descriptions gathered, spatial line work editing, OSDs revised, etc. The milestone information is entered into the Project Milestone table, the child table of the parent Project table in NASIS. The use of milestones allows the manager to divide the project into reportable items and track the progress. Progress towards completion of each milestone is entered into the Project Milestone Progress table, the child table of the parent Project Milestone table.
       
   6. Projects are also to be defined to describe work to be done while updating existing soil survey data. These projects are to be linked to the set of map units that they encompass by listing the map units in the Project Mapunit table. Milestones associated with these projects and progress towards them should be documented as described in (5) above.
       
   7. NASIS also includes the capability to record scheduled activities related to technical soil services, and progress made related to these activities. See part 608.09(b)(2) for more information.
       
2. Responsibilities.

   Data stewards for the various soil survey business areas are responsible for populating data elements and ensuring data quality in NASIS. 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 608-8, Business Area Responsibilities for Goals and Progress, 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 608-8 indicate more than one responsible business area; for these situations, the appropriate business area program managers designate the responsible data steward. See part 608.01 for additional information.
       
   3. State Office and MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office program managers may delegate responsibility to populating some data elements to the field. For example, MLRA Soil Survey Offices may be designated to report mapping and compilation progress for their respective area.
       
3. Accessing the Data.
    
   1. Soil survey area legends and projects are accessible through the National Soil Information System (NASIS) interface.
      1. The interface provides authorized users with full capability to create, edit, and report data.
      2. Individuals need to be extremely careful not to populate or change data that falls under the responsibility of another business unit.
      3. Various reports are available in NASIS to summarize the data.
          
4. Data 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 data. Exhibit 608-8 provides an overview of the data elements and responsible soil survey business areas.
    
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 NASIS 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 NASIS are 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. Goals are not always based on acres mapped. Goals for other aspects of soil survey can be established, especially for local project management.
      5. Performance goals can be set 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 in the Project Land Category Breakdown table;
         • gathering field documentation;
         • database development;
         • GIS analysis;
         • correlations; and
         • manuscript development.
      6. Refer to Exhibit 608-7 for more discussion about goal setting.
          
   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. State Soil Scientists are responsible for ensuring that progress is reported.
      3. Reportable items include all activities, including intermediate products (e.g. milestones) that lead to a final product meeting National Cooperative Soil Survey standards.
         • acres mapped;
         • correlations completed;
         • acres compiled and digitized;
         • manuscripts edited; and
         • • documentation collected (e.g., pedon descriptions, transects, photographs, monitoring data, laboratory samples, vegetation data, special studies).
      4. Report progress in NASIS as it occurs. As a minimum, report mapping progress quarterly, and all other progress monthly.
          
   3. Mapping Progress.
      1. Refer to Exhibit 608-7 for more discussion about reporting mapping progress.
      2. Discuss progress reporting issues with the Soil Survey Program manager in the Soil Survey Division Headquarters before revising them.
         • For each Non-MLRA Soil Survey Area, create a Project in NASIS and enter mapping progress into the Project Mapping Progress table by land category (refer to acreage accountability below).
         • The reporting date entered in the Project 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 or progress for the project team as a whole.
         • Initial soil surveys are closely monitored. 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 area acres for the respective Non-MLRA soil survey area.
            
6. Project Administration and Acreage Management.
   
   The National Soil Information System (NASIS) provides a variety of ways in which data can be managed. Therefore, in order for the system to function optimally, a uniform approach is required.
   
   In NASIS, projects that are linked to Non-MLRA Soil Survey Areas provide data about goals and progress for mapping and other milestone activities for initial soil survey work. A project is created for each initial soil survey project. Projects describing soil survey update activities are to be developed as needed.
    
   1. Unique Spatial Areas.
      1. All Non-MLRA Soil Survey Areas represent a unique geographical (spatial) area, i.e., an entire county, multiple counties, or parts of one or more counties; they receive a unique area symbol and area name (see part 608.02).
      2. With the data conversion to NASIS 6.0, a project was created for each legend linked to a Non-MLRA Soil Survey Area. The resulting project was named for the survey area and the status shown in the Legend table – e.g. Allen County, Kansas - Update needed. Data from the Legend data object related to goals and progress in NASIS 5.4 were moved to this new Project and related tables.
      3. Projects for the same geographical area are linked to the same area symbol and area name.
      4. For survey areas having multiple projects, the soil survey area status identifies the most current project, as discussed in 608.08(d).
      5. Exhibit 608-7 provides additional discussion and examples of various project 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 NRCS by the respective 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 608-7 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. This information is maintained in the Project Land Category Breakdown table in NASIS.
      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 within a project for a Non-MLRA Soil Survey Area must equal the area acreage for the survey area.
      3. The sum of all land category acres within a project for a Non-MLRA Soil Survey Area equals the state-total acreage from the 1992 National Resource Inventory.
      4. To re-allocate acres for soil surveys with more than one project or that partially overlap with another survey, refer to the discussion of acreage management and accountability in Exhibit 608-7.
          
   4. Acreage Base.
      County-based 1992 National Resources Inventory (NRI) data for total surface area (land and water) is used within NRCS as the official acreage for Non-MLRA Soil Survey Areas that coincide with county or parish boundaries, and for state totals. Acreages for Non-MLRA Soil Survey Areas that do not coincide with county or parish boundaries must be balanced with the respective state totals.
      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.
          

Developing Other Schedules for Soil Survey Operations (608.08)

1. Soil Survey Operations.
   
   Schedules and timelines for soil survey activities are detailed in long-range plans, project plans, annual plans of operation, and monthly or weekly schedules. Exhibit 608-1 is an example of a long-range plan of operations for initial surveys or update surveys requiring extensive revision. Exhibit 608-2 provides an example of an annual plan of operations for these types of surveys. Exhibit 608-3 is an example of the identified needs that long-range plans should address for MLRA Soil Survey Areas.
    
   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 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. These activities are to be reported in the Technical Soil Service table in NASIS. A choice list of activities is provided. New activities can be added to the list by coordinating with the National Leader of Technical Soil Services and the NASIS data steward at the National Soil Survey Center. Scheduled start and end dates can be recorded for each service provided, as well as the actual start and end dates. The person providing the service, the geographic location where the service was provided, the name of the person or entity receiving the service, and the benefits realized are to be documented also.
       
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 (608.09)

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 NASIS and the Soil Data Mart. Part 608.08 identifies soil survey business areas that are responsible for populating and maintaining the data.
       
   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 maintains a digital file of soil survey area boundaries for all Non-MLRA Soil Survey Areas listed in NASIS. Boundaries are taken from SSURGO data archived on the Soil Data Mart where SSURGO data is complete.
       
   2. State Soil Scientists:
      1. assure the accuracy and completeness of Non-MLRA Soil Survey Area boundaries. The states will provide NCGC with a boundary layer for survey areas that are not yet in SSURGO;
      2. initiate revisions and corrections to the boundaries as needed.
          
3. Data Availability.
    
   1. Soil Data Availability Status Map.
      1. The Soil Data Availability Status map at http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov/StatusMap.aspx portrays the availability of digital official soil data in the Soil Data Mart. This map is automatically updated daily based on contents of the Soil Data Mart. The map legend indicates the data available for each soil survey area. Partial surveys are also shown. Access the map at http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov/StatusMap.aspx.
      2. Standard map legend categories and colors
         • Dark green – digital spatial and tabular data are available
         • Light green – digital tabular data only are available
         • White – no digital data available
            
   2. Other Status Maps.
      1. 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)

Annual Plan of Operations for Initial Soil Surveys and for Update Soil Surveys Requiring Extensive Revision (Exhibit 608-2)

Example of Needs Identified for an MLRA Soil Survey Area Long-Range Plan (Exhibit 608-3)

Correlation Needs

Potential New Series

1. Non-mollic Sioux and Coe analogous to Langhei and Sisseton
2. Moderately well drained phases of Sioux and Coe
3. Shaly Divide, Marysland, and Wyrene
4. A phase of Wyard for coarse-loamy till areas
5. Series for shaly sands (e.g., shaly Hecla, Hamar, Venlo)
6. Two-story series for coarse-loamy till (e.g., Dickey, Towner, Swenoda, Lanona)
7. Colluvial soil analogous to Darnen for the coarse-loamy till
8. Other variants and out of date series

Classification Issues

1. Hapludolls vs. Calciudolls
   1. Binford
   2. Brantford
   3. Sverdrup
2. Aquic or Oxyaquic
   1. Clontarf
3. Describe OSDs to 2 meters
4. Evaluate the use of spot symbols throughout the MLRA
5. Evaluate sandy-skeletal soils for loamy-skeletal and sandy substrata
6. Evaluate the need for a fine textured Manfred
7. Out-of-date series

Soil-Landscape Issues

1. Evaluate use of upland sodium-affected soils (e.g., Aberdeen) on floodplains
2. Evaluate use of Southam, Parnell, and Tonka on outwash plains
3. Evaluate use of Southam, Parnell, and Tonka on coarse-loamy till plains
4. Evaluate use of Lindaas and Perella in depressions in lacustrine areas
5. Evaluate the use and develop mapping criteria for separating drainage phases of Maddock and Hecla
6. Evaluate the use and develop mapping criteria for separating drainage phases of Dickey, Towner, and Foldahl
7. Evaluate the need for separating till and lacustrine substrata (Towner, Swenoda, etc.)
8. Evaluate well drained outwash map units such as Renshaw and Brantford for correct drainage
9. Evaluate Barnes-Hamerly map units (Towner and Rolette Counties)
10. Evaluate Barnes-Buse and Svea-Buse map units in Cavalier and other counties
11. Evaluate selected map units in Lamoure County for proper drainage
12. Evaluate high terrace map units along the Sheyenne River in Ransom County to determine if they are till or outwash
13. Evaluate Edgeley map units in Lamoure and Dickey Counties
14. Evaluate the surface texture of Walsh in the Sheyenne River Valley
15. Evaluate the use and develop mapping criteria for separating Falsen and Lohnes
16. Define relevant slope groups for specific landscapes
17. Evaluate doughnut topography (composition, hydric soils, etc.)
18. Evaluate dissected topography (composition, etc.)
19. Evaluate high density pothole landscapes (composition, hydric soils, etc.)
20. Evaluate low-relief eroded landscapes (composition)
21. Evaluate small lake plains (upland soils) on till plain
22. Evaluate use of poorly and very poorly drained lacustrine soils (Fargo, Grano) in potholes on the till plain
23. Evaluate the potential of a till substratum under lacustrine soils in Ramsey and Towner Counties
24. Evaluate use of till substratum phases of Divide, Marysland, and Wyrene
25. Evaluate wooded map units (composition, components, O horizon)
26. Evaluate fluvial systems (consistent use of channeled map units, continuity of flood plains, frequency of flooding etc.)
27. Evaluate textures and drainage (somewhat poorly) in the Sheyenne River Valley
28. Evaluate stony phases (percent surface fragments, stony areas in Barnes County)
29. Evaluate the design of sand-mantled till map units
30. Evaluate the design of till-outwash map units
31. Evaluate the need for identifying various till lobes/members (shaly till, fine till)
    1. evaluate the near surface stratigraphy (loam surface, clay loam parent material)
    2. evaluate possible lacustrine influence on natric soils
32. Evaluate linear, esker-like surface features to determine composition
33. Evaluate the spatial distribution of sodium affected soils (relationship with depth to shale, lacustrine soils)

Soil Data/Interpretation Issues

1. Document saturation/water tables on sands
2. Evaluate salinity levels (Vallers, saline-Parnell, etc.)
3. Evaluate saline undifferentiated map units (Vallers and Hamerly)
4. Establish reference components for land use (range versus crop, drained versus undrained)
5. Summarize ponding duration investigation
6. Summarize hydric soil investigation
7. WSG for sandy soils
8. Determine surface textures for coarse-loamy till
9. Evaluate soil lengths for MLRA map units
10. Document PIs
11. Evaluate eco-site for Stirum

Miscellaneous

1. Review “official” field office hard copy soil survey manuscripts for any identified errors that need to be corrected in the digital product
2. Correct previously identified join errors that easily correctable with on-screen digitizing tools (not requiring field investigations)
3. Complete the placement of MLRA lines on SSURGO product
4. Update STATSGO for MLRA 55A and 55B
    

Example of a Project Plan Evaluation Ranking Procedure (Exhibit 608-4)

Rank each factor from 1 to 3, with 1 being low and 3 being high. Determine the overall priority ranking from the Key at the end.

A. Scientific Merit. How important is the Project for soil science and the soil resource inventory? Examples: updating or investigating taxonomic classifications; revising series concepts; updating or correcting pedon descriptions; sampling to fill data voids for series.

B. Agency Merit. How important is the Project for NRCS or Partners programs? Included here are all the Farm Bill programs, conservation planning, state cost-share, etc. Examples: K factors (affects HEL and CRP), hydric soils (wetlands), prime farmland issues, suitability groups.

C. External Merit. How important is the Project for external customers, either government or private?

D. Financial/Partnership Inputs. Are there inputs from other sources or partners, such as funding, staffing, equipment, or technical support?

E. Synergy. Does the Project serve or support another project or proposal?

F. County Soil Survey Deficiencies. Does the Project address deficiencies identified in the county soil survey evaluations and/or digital flags?

G. Efficiency. How much “bang for the buck” is in this project? Evaluate, in part, on the ratio of acreage affected to time required to complete.

Key:

1. If (G=3) and (D=3) and (2 or more of A or B or C or F = 3) OR Score = 3 on 3 of A, B, C, or F Then Priority = High
2. If (D=1) and (G=1) and (none=3) and (composite score <11) Then Priority = Low
3. All other; Priority = Medium

Example of a Project Plan (Exhibit 608-5)

PROJECT PLAN
Evaluation of MLRA 55A Map Unit F144B

Objective

Evaluate map unit composition of eroded fine-loamy glacial till found on 3-6 percent slopes in cropland. From determined composition percentages, a map unit name will be developed and an MLRA Symbol assigned. A new map unit will potentially be correlated across MLRA 55A.

Justification and Significance

The eroded fine-loamy till landscape on 3 to 6 percent slopes is a common feature throughout MLRA 55A (see figure 1). Two map units have been used to identify this terrain in the past. These map units are Barnes-Buse 3-6% slopes and Svea-Buse 3-6% slopes. Experience in the field suggests that these two map units may not correctly represent the terrain and further study is needed. This correlation is significant as the above map units exist in thirteen of sixteen counties in MLRA 55A. These map units encompass a total of 580,000 acres (85% on cropland) across MLRA 55A and include the Benchmark soils such as the Barnes Series and Svea Series. These soils are among the most productive in the state and are extremely important to conservation planning (e.g. RUSLE II, wind erosion). Future work will potentially include additional investigations on other map units related to the eroded study, the progression of erosion to the landscape, the impact of erosion on the North Dakota Soil Productivity Index, and the impact on MLRA 55B.

Potential Reportable Acres: 25,000 acres

Figure 1. Landscape of Barnes-Buse loams, 3-6% slopes.

Background

Anthropogenic influences, most commonly traditional cultivation practices in the last 50 years, have had a negative impact to the fine-loamy till landscapes found on 3 to 6 percent slopes located across MLRA 55A. Continuous tillage to cropland has accelerated machine, water and wind erosion and progressively altered dynamic soil properties commonly found on undisturbed landscapes. In addition to eroding the tops of rises, the deposition of calcareous material has affected the down slope portion of productive agricultural lands. Erosion has noticeably affected cropped landscapes to a point where past soil correlations may no longer be correct. An investigation on these types of landscapes and associated map units is needed in order to truly represent what is happening on the ground.

Benefits

Completion of this project will end in better identifying a soil-landscape relationship found extensively throughout MLRA 55A. Soils found on this landscape include Benchmark Soils such as the Barnes Series and Svea Series. Spatial and tabular data available to users will be updated. Updated soil interpretations for these cropped landscapes can lead to better conservation practices being implemented in MLRA 55A.

General Procedure

Locate the eroded fine-loamy till landscapes found on 3 to 6 percent slopes in cropland across MLRA 55A and identify map units used. Choose representative map units to investigate. Complete detailed transects of the eroded landscape, focusing on eroded areas and depositional areas. Select random transects to be performed. Determine composition percentages and develop map unit name and assign MLRA Symbol. Identify map unit trends across MLRA 55A. Correlate the map unit across MLRA 55A.

Needs

Equipment used for this project will include:

• ATV
• Bucket auger
• ArcMap GIS 9.2
• Fujitsu ST5111 Tablet PC
• Transect forms

Duration

Personnel

• Lance Duey (Soil Scientist): Conducting Field Investigation and Summary
• Earnie Jensen (MLRA Soil Survey Leader): Quality Control
• Joe Brennan (Soil Scientist/GIS): Assisting in GIS Applications/Use/Training
• Mike Ulmer (Senior Regional Soil Scientist): Quality Assurance
• County Field Offices: District Conservationists will be contacted prior to working in a county

Contact Person

Earnie Jensen
MLRA Soil Survey Leader
USDA-NRCS
706 8th Ave SE, Suite 1
Devils Lake, ND 58301
Tele: (701) 662-6283 ext. 135
Earnie.jensen@nd.usda.gov

I. Office Preparation and Investigation

1. Reviewing Existing Correlation Documentation
    
   1. Historical transect data will be evaluated.
       
   2. Review correlation decisions of the eroded fine-loamy till, 3-6% slopes in MLRA 55A.
       
   3. Choose map units which will be investigated during the project.
       
2. Review of Spatial Data
    
   1. Evaluate the existing MLRA legend, and non-updated Non-MLRA Soil Survey Area legends. Choose map units to be queried using GIS (see chart 1).

Chart 1: MLRA 55A Eroded B-slope Fine-loamy till Map Units

2. Using ArcMap 9.2 GIS software, query the eroded fine-loamy till map units, 3-6% slopes and develop a physiographic map of MLRA 55A (see figure 2).

Figure 2. Locations of All Eroded Fine-loamy till, 3-6% slope (cropland and rangeland).

 

3. Review spatial distribution for trends such as map unit clustering and voids.
   1. Map units are heavily populated in the Eastern half of MLRA 55A because Eastern counties have had MLRA legend updates
   2. Map units are thinly populated in the Western half of MLRA 55A because Western counties have not been updated to a MLRA legend
   3. Bottineau County and Pierce County are void of eroded, fine-loamy till 3 to 6 percent slope map units because Bottineau County did not recognize an eroded fine-
      loamy till map unit on 3 to 6 percent slopes. The eroded fine-loamy till map unit was correlated on 3 to 9 percent slopes. Additional investigation needs to be conducted in Pierce County
       
4. Identify map units that exist only on cropland.
    
5. Choose map units in cropland across MLRA 55A that correctly represent the landscape and investigate each using techniques outlined in the project plan.

3. Office Evaluation of Ortho-Imagery Photo Tones (see figure 3)

Figure 3. Analysis of Ortho-Imagery Photo Tones

 

1. Analyze photo tones of selected map units and choose areas for transecting.
    
2. Conclude that three photo tones influence the landscape
   1. Black = Possible zones of wetness or potholes
   2. Grey tones = Possible zones of deposition and other
   3. White tones = Possible zones of erosion
       
3. Determining Photo-Tone Coverage
   1. What percentage of the map units are white tones?
   2. What percentage of the map units are black tones?

Who: Duey, Jensen, Brennan
When: Spring 2007
Quality Control: Jensen
Quality Assurance: MO-7 Staff
 

II. Field Investigation

1. Transecting
    
   1. Choose 10 representative map units and investigate black, grey, and white photo tones.
       
   2. Determine areas to transect.
       
   3. Identify soil series and record stops.
       
   4. Example of data to be collected:
      • Bk depth and thickness
      • Bt depth
      • Bw depth
      • E depth and thickness
      • C depth and texture
      • 2C depth and texture
      • Depth to redox
      • Color of redox features
      • Percent redox
      • Color of soil matrix
      • Landscape position
      • Soil Series
      • Slope shape & percent
      • Surface texture
      • Surface carbonates depth & thickness
      • Mollic epipedon thickness
      • Surface carbonate thickness

Who: Duey
When: Summer/Fall 2007, Spring 2008
Quality Control: Jensen
Quality Assurance: MO-7 Staff
 

III. Summary of Field Investigation

1. Review data collected in the field
    
   1. Check for inconsistencies, patterns, and/or voids in collected data.
       
   2. Collect additional data if needed.
       
2. Review Ortho-Imagery
    
   1. Review transects determine if black, grey, and white areas were represented in all 10 sites.
       
   2. Compare identified Soil Series to ortho-imagery photo tone.

Who: Duey
When: Fall 2007
Quality Control: Jensen
Quality Assurance: MO-7 Staff
 

IV. Additional Field Investigation

1. Application of Transects to Photo-Tone
    
   1. Select 20 additional sites across the MLRA and apply knowledge gained from landscape transects.
       
   2. Using photo tone of the Ortho-imagery to identify the soil series

Who: Duey
When: Spring/Summer 2008
Quality Control: Jensen
Quality Assurance: MO-7 Staff
 

V. Correlation Process

1. Component Determination
    
   1. Major Component(s)
       
   2. Minor Component(s)
       
2. Assigning Map Unit Name and Symbol
    
   1. Revise or create new Reference Components
      1. Changes to WEG (e.g., 5 changes to 4L)
          
   2. Select a new map unit name if needed
       
   3. Select a new MLRA Symbol if needed
       
   4. Add the new MLRA map unit to the MLRA legend
       
   5. Spatially assign MLRA map unit symbol to counties where the eroded, fine-loamy till on 3 to 6 percent slopes landscape occur
       
3. Component Data will be entered in NASIS at Level II
    
   1. Populate Data Map Unit(s) at Level II
       
   2. Validate Data Map Unit(s)

Who: Duey, Jensen
When: Winter/Spring 2008-2009
Quality Control: Jensen
Quality Assurance: MO-7 Staff
 

VI. SSURGO Download

1. Download map unit changes to SSURGO

Who: MO-7 Staff
When: Winter 2008

______________________________
MLRA Soil Survey Leader Signature


______________________________
MO-7 Leader Signature

Annual Plan of Operations for an MLRA Soil Survey (Exhibit 608-6)

Soil Survey Schedule Guidelines (Exhibit 608-7)

This exhibit provides additional guidance for administering data in NASIS related to goals and progress reporting. It is primarily intended for soil survey program managers and data stewards. It is divided into major soil survey program business areas for ease of reference. Data elements relevant to the business areas are listed and discussed. Also refer to Exhibit 608-8, a quick reference companion which provides a snapshot of business area responsibilities.

Definitions of data elements are in NASIS, and therefore, are NOT repeated in this document. Additional explanations are provided for some data elements.

I. PROJECT ADMINISTRATION and ACREAGE MANAGEMENT

Timely administration of Projects and acreage accountability are critical functions to the usefulness of the NASIS database as a management tool. Projects serve as “place-holders” to project future needs, identify progress, and track milestone events leading to completion of soil survey products.

Guiding Principles for Administration and Maintenance:

1. The tables and data elements related to goals and progress are imbedded in the NASIS database, which is a multi-user database. They serve as the official reporting instrument for production soil survey activities of the National Cooperative Soil Survey.
    
2. Administration is the responsibility of state offices; updating maps and data is the responsibility of soil survey business area data stewards.
    
3. For the initial soil survey, data are maintained in Projects linked to Non-MLRA Soil Survey Areas owned by Pangaea.
    
   • Each Non-MLRA Soil Survey Area will be linked to a Project in NASIS. All geographic areas of the Nation are covered in at least one such survey area.
   • With the data conversion to NASIS 6.0, a project was created for each legend linked to a Non-MLRA Soil Survey Area. The resulting project was named for the survey area and the status shown in the Legend table – e.g. Allen County, Kansas - Update needed. Data from the Legend data object related to goals and progress in NASIS 5.4 were moved to this new Project and related tables.
   • Mapping progress and milestones may be reported continuously, but as a minimum, is reported at the end of each quarter. Other data entries may be maintained continuously, but as a minimum, are current at the end of each month.
      
4. For update soil survey work, a Project is created for each project plan developed for the MLRA Soil Survey Area. This includes extensive revision projects. These projects are linked to the appropriate MLRA Soil Survey Area.
    
   • Mapping progress and milestones may be reported continuously, but as a minimum, is reported at the end of each quarter. Other data entries may be maintained continuously, but as a minimum, are current at the end of each month.

1. Administrative Data Elements:
    
   • Area table
     • Area Name. This data element applies to the Area, Project, Legend, and Legend Area Overlap tables.
     • Area Symbol. This data element applies to the Area, Project, Legend, and Legend Area Overlap tables.
     • Area Acres
   • Legend table
     • MLRA Office
     • MOU Agency Responsible
     • Legend Description
     • Geographic Applicability. This data element specifies the currency of soil survey information, including both attribute and spatial data
   • Project table
     • Project Name
     • MLRA Soil Survey Area Responsible
     • State Responsible
   • Legend Certification History table
     • Legend Certification Status
     • Certification Date
     • Certification Kind
   • Export Certification History table
     • Export Certification Status
     • Certification Date
     • Certification Kind
   • Project Product table
     • Product Availability Status
        
2. Acreage Management Protocols for Initial Soil Survey Projects linked to Non-MLRA Soil Survey Areas:

   Seven land categories are used to identify the ownership of all lands of the United States and its Trust Territories. The land categories are: Native American Land, Other Non-federal Land, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Other Federal Land, and Census Water. Accordingly, acreage is assigned in each project linked to a Non-MLRA Soil Survey Area, subject to the following conventions:
    

   1. Land categories reflect current land ownership as it occurs in the survey area.
       
   2. The sum of all land category acres from all Projects linked to Non-MLRA Soil Survey Areas in a state equals the 1992 NRI acres for the state.
       
   3. Land category acres are balanced across projects that cover the same geographic area, such that each acre is recorded only once.
       
   4. Survey areas that cover parts of two or more states will have a separate project for each state. Each project will have land categories, land category acres, goals, and progress for the respective state. A Non-MLRA Soil Survey Area will be needed for each state involved. The area symbol will be assigned for the respective state. The area name will be the same for both. Area acres will be for the whole survey area, and will be recorded as the same in each survey area.
       
   5. Acres are recorded to the actual acre, or rounded to 100 acres.
       
   6. Areas in Alaska identified as “Alaska Native Lands”, or in Hawaii as “Hawaiian Homelands” are included in the meaning of Native American Land.
       
   7. Census Water applies to all contiguous water polygons that are 40 acres in size or larger. If a water polygon is less than 40 acres in size in the survey area, but extends into an adjoining survey area such that the total extent in both survey areas is more than 40 acres, then the water qualifies as Census Water. Census Water acreage is NOT to be part of mapping goals; it is administratively managed in NASIS as a land category in the Project Land Category Breakdown table to account for total survey acres and progress.

   Project Scenarios and Protocols:
    

   1. Survey Areas with One Project. Only one project is linked to a Non-MLRA Soil Survey Area in NASIS, and no other survey areas have been established that coincide geographically with any part of the survey area. The actual (or best estimate of) land category acres are recorded in the Project Land Category Breakdown table. The sum of all acres recorded in the table are to equal the survey area acreage.
       
   2. Survey Areas with Two or More Projects. These areas typically have an older out-of-date legend and corresponding project, and a newer update or published legend and project. Acres in the Project Land Category Breakdown table should be re-balanced such that the older project shows zero acres in each land category. The newer project should reflect the actual (or best estimate of) land category acres in the Project Land Category Breakdown table, thus land category acres will be recorded only once for the survey area. Mapping progress should be retained in both the older and newer Projects as appropriate (see section on mapping goals and progress).
       
   3. Survey Areas That Partly Coincide With Another Survey Area(s). These areas typically consist of a newer survey area that covers part of an older survey area, or a newer survey that covers all or parts of two or more previous survey areas. Acres in the Project Land Category Breakdown table should be re-balanced in all affected survey area projects such that current land category acres are recorded in the newest project and subtracted from older projects. The sum of land category acres in the newest project will equal the survey area acreage. The resulting sum of land category acres in each of the other affected project will equal less than their respective survey area acreage. Mapping progress should be retained in both older and newer projects as appropriate (see section on mapping goals and progress).
       
3. Acreage Management Protocols for Update Soil Survey Projects linked to Non-MLRA Soil Survey Areas:
   
   Seven land categories are used to identify the ownership of all lands of the United States and its Trust Territories. The land categories are: Native American Land, Other Non-federal Land, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Other Federal Land, and Census Water. Accordingly, acreage is assigned in each project linked to a Non-MLRA Soil Survey Area, subject to the following conventions:
    
   1. Land categories reflect current land ownership as it occurs in the survey area.
       
   2. For each such project developed, the appropriate land category(s) and acres will be entered into the Project Land Category Breakdown table.
       
   3. As these projects stand on their own and the same acre of land may be covered by more than one project, there is no need to balance land category acres across projects or within a state. The same acre may be reported as being updated more than once.
       
   4. Acres are recorded to the actual acre, or rounded to 100 acres.
       
   5. Areas in Alaska identified as “Alaska Native Lands”, or in Hawaii as “Hawaiian Homelands” are included in the meaning of Native American Land.
       
   6. Census Water applies to all contiguous water polygons that are 40 acres in size or larger. If a water polygon is less than 40 acres in size in the survey area, but extends into an adjoining survey area such that the total extent in both survey areas is more than 40 acres, then the water qualifies as Census Water. Census Water acreage is NOT to be part of mapping goals; it is administratively managed in NASIS as a land category in the Project Land Category Breakdown table to account for total survey acres and progress.
       

II. MAPPING GOALS and PROGRESS

Goals and progress are recorded in the Project Mapping Goal and Project Mapping Progress tables for each defined project. Goals and progress may be recorded for each individual project staff member or for the project staff as a whole. Use the following protocols:

1. Project Staff. First, enter individual project member names in the Project Staff table before entering goals or progress. A choice list is provided based on NASIS User names. If a name is needed for the whole staff, contact the Soils Hotline to have the name added to the NASIS User table.
    
2. Goals. Enter fiscal year goals in the Project Mapping Goal table at the beginning of each fiscal year.
    
3. Progress. Enter mapping progress and show the effective progress reporting date in the Project Mapping Progress table under the appropriate land category. NOTE: The reporting date determines the fiscal year for progress reporting. Show initial and update mapping under NRCS or cooperator columns, as appropriate. Update acres may be reported in any Project where update activity has occurred.
    
4. Progress. Once initial soil survey mapping progress has been reported in a Project, that progress should not be moved to another Project, unless an error was made in data entry. However, in order to show the current progress for all land categories, progress may need to be re-allocated among land categories within the same Project to reflect any changes in land ownership. NOTE: For situations where land category acres have been re-balanced across Projects, acres of mapping progress reported for a land category may be more than the land category acres shown for that Project, and in some cases the land category acres may even be zero.

1. GOAL SETTING - Project Mapping Goal table
    
   • Fiscal Year
   • Initial NRCS Acres Goal
   • Initial Cooperator Acres Goal
   • Update NRCS Acres Goal
   • Update Cooperator Acres Goal
   • Staff Member
      
2. REPORTING MAPPING PROGRESS - Project Mapping Progress table
    
   • Progress Reporting Date
   • Initial NRCS Acres
   • Initial Cooperator Acres
   • Update NRCS Acres
   • Update Cooperator Acres
   • Staff Member

INITIAL ACRES. This refers to mapping a soil survey area and reporting progress for the first time. The cumulative initial acres reported for a completed survey area always equals 100% of the survey area acres. This applies to all lands of the Nation, and mapping by both NRCS and cooperator personnel, and it applies to mapping at any order of detail or scale. Typically, initial acres are reported only for surveys having a non-project or initial status, but may apply to surveys with update status where areas that were not mapped during the initial survey are mapped and reported for the first time. Initial Acres are reported only once for a given geographic area. All subsequent mapping on the same ground is reported as update acres.

UPDATE ACRES. This refers to re-mapping, or updating on parts or all of a survey area and reporting progress on acres previously reported. The cumulative update acres for a survey area may exceed 100% of the survey area acres. This applies to all lands of the Nation, and mapping by both NRCS and cooperator personnel, and it applies to mapping at any order of detail or scale.
 

III. IMAGERY, ORTHOPHOTOGRAPHY, MAP COMPILATION MATERIALS, AND OTHER DATA LAYERS

These data elements are primarily the responsibility of state offices in their administrative and liaison capacity between MLRA Soil Survey Regional Offices and National Cooperative Soil Survey partners within a state. Field imagery, orthophotography, and map compilation materials may be needed for project survey operations, or SSURGO initiatives.

Acquisition of field imagery, orthophotography, map compilation materials, and other digital data layers is coordinated with the National Cartography and Geospatial Center. Development of new imagery and orthophotography, along with related funding and cost-share issues, is coordinated with the National Office. The primary source of new orthophotography development is through the National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP).

Beginning in NASIS 6.0 these needs are recorded in the Project Data Need table. Each type of product or data needed is to be recorded on a separate row in the Project Data Type column using the choice list provided. Applicable dates are to be recorded in the “date” columns.

• Project Data Need table
  • Project Data Type
  • Date Needed
  • Date Ordered
  • Date Received
     

IV. INITIAL and UPDATE SURVEY OPERATIONS

These data elements relate most directly to production soil survey operations, and therefore, are the responsibility of MLRA Soil Survey Regional Offices. Data elements relative to the memorandum of understanding for project areas and product types are jointly shared by state offices and MLRA Soil Survey Regional Offices.

1. ADMINISTRATIVE and FIELD ACTIVITIES
    
   • Legend table
     • MOU Signed
     • MOU Projected Completion
     • Project Scale. Standard National map scales are 1:12,000 in quarter quad format or 1:24,000 in full quad format. Puerto Rico is approved for 1: 20,000 and Alaska is approved for 1: 25,000; any other scale and/or format must be approved by the Director, Soil Survey Division, prior to development of the long range plan for the survey area.
   • Project Field Review table
     • Correlation Event = “Initial Field Review”
     • Correlation Event = “Final Field Review”
     • Date = date of the respective correlation event report
   • Project table
     • English Edit Site
     • Digital Map Finishing Site
     • Digitizing Unit
        
2. MAP COMPILATION
    
   • Project Milestone table
     • Milestone Type Name = “Map Compilation”
     • Milestone Date Started = date compilation project was started
     • Milestone Date Completed = date compilation project was completed
     • Milestone Type Name = “Map Compilation Certification”
     • Milestone Date Completed = date of certification
   • Project Milestone Progress table
     • Milestone Progress Amount
     • Milestone Progress Unit = “percent”
        
3. MAP FINISHING
    
   • Project Table
     • Map Finish Method. Choices are digital (preferred) and manual.
   • Project Milestone table
     • Milestone Type Name = “Digital map finishing”
     • Milestone Date Started = date map finishing project was started
     • Milestone Date Completed = date map finishing project was completed
   • Project Milestone Progress table
     • Milestone Progress Amount
     • Milestone Progress Unit = “percent”
   • Project Milestone table
     • Milestone Type Name = “Maps to NCGC”
     • Milestone Date Started = date map finishing project was sent to NCGC
     • Milestone Date Completed = date map finishing project was received at NCGC
     • Milestone Type Name = “Maps to printer”
     • Milestone Date Completed = date finished maps were sent to printer
        
4. SSURGO DIGITIZING, CERTIFICATION, and ARCHIVING

   SSURGO Operations. As part of the National Cooperative Soil Survey, a SSURGO database is to be developed for all areas. The Soil Survey Division coordinates with NCGC in SSURGO database development; states have responsibility for recompilation of soil survey maps; MLRA Soil Survey Regional Offices have soil business responsibility for correlation, for map compilation quality assurance, and for digitizing quality assurance; and digitizing units have responsibility for digitizing and for certification review. The dataset is archived in the Soil Data Warehouse and delivered via the Soil Data Mart, Web Soil Survey and Geospatial Data Gateway. Quality assurance of the SSURGO product is completed at the National Cartography and Geospatial Center.

   SSURGO Progress Reporting. Progress and status for SSURGO development are tracked continuously in NASIS and the Soil Data Mart. Business areas with responsibilities for SSURGO development also have responsibility to populate the appropriate data elements in NASIS; refer to Exhibit 608-7, Business Area Responsibilities for Goals and Progress. Data stewards are designated to insure timely and accurate progress reporting.

   SSURGO Certification. After SSURGO data has passed a certification review by the digitizing unit, and all paper work and quality assurance is completed by the MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office, the survey is certified as meeting SSURGO standards by the responsible MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office leader and the state conservationist.

   These data elements are the primary responsibility of the digitizing units and the National Cartography and Geospatial Center. If actual digitizing is not done by the designated digitizing unit, states have responsibility to populate digitizing started, digitizing percent, and digitizing completed prior to sending the job to the digitizing unit for certification review. Dates and progress for the following milestones are recorded in the Project Milestone and Project Milestone Progress tables as outlined in Exhibit 608-8.
    

   • Project Milestone table
     • Milestone Type Name = “Digitize maps”
     • Milestone Date Started = Date the digitizing was started. For completed surveys the correlation document, compilation certification, and attribute data are on file at the office doing the digitizing is started, or correspondence granting an exception is on file from the MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office.
     • Milestone Date Completed = Date the digitizing was completed. Quality control work by the state or the digitizing unit, and quality assurance by the MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office, is normally done after the digitizing is complete, and before the SSURGO review is started.
   • Project Milestone Progress table
     • Milestone Progress Amount
     • Milestone Progress Unit = “percent”
   • Project Milestone table
     • Milestone Type Name = “SSURGO Digital review”
     • Milestone Date Started = Date the digital review was started.
     • Milestone Type Name = “SSURGO Certification”
     • Milestone Date Completed = Date the SSURGO dataset was certified.
     • Milestone Type Name = “SSURGO Archived”
     • Milestone Date Completed = Date the SSURGO dataset was archived.
        
5. MANUSCRIPT and PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
    
   1. Manuscript Technical Edit and Review
      • Project Milestone table
        • Milestone Type Name = “Technical Edit”
        • Milestone Date Started = Date the technical edit was started
        • Milestone Date Completed = Date the technical edit was completed
           
   2. English Edit
      • Project Milestone table
        • Milestone Type Name = “English edit received”
        • Milestone Date Completed = date the manuscript was received by the editor
      • Project Milestone table
        • Milestone Type Name = “English Edit”
        • Milestone Date Started = Date the English edit was started
        • Milestone Date Completed = Date the English edit was completed
      • Project Milestone table
        • Milestone Type Name = “Text received at NCGC”
        • Milestone Date Completed = date the manuscript was received by NCGC
      • Project Milestone table
        • Milestone Type Name = “Text to printer”
        • Milestone Date Completed = date the manuscript was sent to the printer
           
   3. Products Data Elements
      • Project Product table
        • Product Type. Six final product types are available from a choice list. All that apply for a survey area are identified according to their publication date. Choices are:
          • Interim Report
          • Soil Attribute/Spatial on CD-ROM
          • Soil Survey Report on CD-ROM
          • Three Ring Bound Manuscript
          • Traditional Bound Manuscript
          • Web Publication
        • Product Description
        • Scheduled Delivery (date)
        • Actual Delivery (date)
        • Availability Status