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***MLRA REGION 10 Newsletter***

***4^th^ Quarter 2002***

***(October-November-December)***

**Soil Survey Reaches Large Audience**

A milestone was reached in Arizona\'s efforts to market soil survey
information with the recent publication of two soil shrink-swell
potential maps in the Arizona Registrar of Contractors newsletter. The
newsletter is mailed to approximately 36,000 licensed contractors and to
trade organizations, city and county building departments, and all State
and congressional representatives. Eric Wolfbrandt, NRCS geographic
information systems (GIS) specialist, developed the maps from the NRCS
Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) data base data for the Phoenix and
Tucson metropolitan areas to complement a two-part series on the effects
of expansive soils in the construction industry. The maps can be viewed
at \<<http://az.nrcs.usda.gov/soils/>\>.

Your contact is Phil Camp, NRCS Arizona State Soil Scientist, at
602-280-8837.

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**Long-Term Monitoring Activities Advance Wet Soils Study**

Wet soils monitoring activities begun in 1988 are winding down, but
managing the data will go on for some time. Ideas are under discussion
for sharing the data, such as having monitoring data available online at
the National Soil Survey Center (NSSC) Web page.

The activity began when the International Committee on Aquic Soils
(ICOMAC) established 10 sites each in Louisiana and Texas to represent a
number of expressions of wet soils. The sites were monitored under a
common protocol with wells, piezometers, tensiometers, thermocouples,
and a field test for ferrous iron in the soil solution. Soils were
described and analyzed. In 1990, the Committee reviewed these data on
site and used the information to modify definitions and keys for aquic
classes in Soil Taxonomy. Subsequently, similar projects were initiated
with NSSC and National Cooperative Soil Survey Cooperators at Oregon
State University, University of Alaska, North Dakota State University,
Purdue University, and the University of Minnesota. An existing water
table study in New Hampshire was expanded to include the ICOMAC
protocols. A project with Utah State University to study effects of
long-term irrigation on soil properties was added in 1996. Most of the
post-1990 studies were on catenas, a topographic sequence of sites on a
landform. Hydric soil indicators were tested in all of the studies.

Mollisols in Minnesota commonly have deep, dark surface horizons that
mask aquic morphology. The study showed that aquic morphology
immediately beneath the mollic surface reliably indicates aquic
conditions higher in the soil. In New Hampshire monitoring stations have
aided in development and testing of hydric soil indicators.

Research was conducted primarily through graduate student theses. More
than 94 publications/presentations (oral and poster) have been made,
including a presentation at the Quebec 2000 Millennium Wetland Event.

For more information, contact:

Warren Lynn

National Soil Survey Center

\(402\) 437-5135

<warren.lynn@nssc.nrcs.usda.gov>

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**#5 Alabama Establishes a Mesonet Measuring Network**

Seven automated climate and soil monitoring stations were recently
installed in Alabama forming the beginning of a new State meteorologic
measuring network (mesonet). With funding from Alabama A-&-M University
(AAMU), the National Water and Climate Center (NWCC) has installed these
stations as part of the nationwide Soil Climate Analysis Network (SCAN)
network. SCAN capabilities enhance the mesonet, allowing monitoring
stations to provide hourly data from a full complement of atmospheric
sensors and soil moisture and soil temperature sensors. The NWCC works
closely with the National Soil Survey Center to collect soils
information at each of the sites.

AAMU plans to conduct research and is collaborating with NASA on remote
sensing of soil moisture conditions. AAMU will also provide products for
agricultural producers to assist them with management of their
resources, including providing potential drought, pest, and disease
information that may affect their crops. An Alabama television weather
service has already put a link on its Web site to the NWCC homepage,
with plans to use the information from the seven sites to augment the
station\'s mesonet to provide additional forecasts.

The data from all SCAN stations are available in near real-time at the
NWCC homepage:
[http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov](http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/).

For more information, contact:

Garry L. Schaefer

National Water and Climate Center

\(503\) 414-3068

<gschaefer@wcc.nrcs.usda.gov>

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**Program Provides Soil Analyses, Information, and Assistance**

The Soil Biology Program was implemented by the National Soil Survey
Center (NSSC) to develop an understanding of the biological
characteristics of soils, in order to eventually develop soil
interpretations. Along with climate, soil organisms and microorganisms
control the turnover rate of organic matter, playing an important role
in energy and nutrient cycling in soil systems. To evaluate and measure
the amount and rate of turnover of organic matter, the Soil Biology
Program analyzes the soil biological characteristics related to fast,
intermediate, and slow organic matter pools found in soils. Pool data
are useful in the study of carbon dynamics and macronutrient cycling,
soil quality determinations, understanding global climate change,
long-term soil fertility evaluation, and soil survey enhancement. The
data can also help farmers, ranchers, land use planners,
conservationists, and other landowners assess the effects of
conservation management practices and erosion. Initiated as a research
program, the Soil Biology Program is now providing soil analyses and
assistance on a limited request basis to special projects around the
country. Eligible projects are selected in a review process from those
submitted at the State level through State soil scientists, major land
resource area offices, and State Conservationists. Available soil
analyses include organic carbon with enhanced accuracy through gas
chromatography; soil carbon to nitrogen ratios related to the
composition of plant and microbial communities; microbial biomass and
activity, two labile carbon fractions, and potential mineralizable
nitrogen from microbial activity for the fast pool; root biomass and
particulate organic matter (POM \>53 microns) for the intermediate pool;
and clay associated amorphous organic matter (C-Min \<53 microns) for
the slow pool. Also available for general use are fact sheets describing
field methods for determining soil fauna, root biomass, and total soil
organic matter. Information and educational materials available include
\"Basic Biological Factors of Soil Carbon and Nitrogen,\" in poster or
page-size handouts; fact sheets about the Soil Biology Program; an
\"Implementation of Soil Biological Analyses at the NRCS-NSSC Soil
Survey Laboratory\" poster; and an \"Evaluation and Interpretation of
Soil Biological Data from Two Selected Sites\" poster. Some of the
above, including posters, are also available on the NSSC web site, at
[http://www.nssc.nrcs.usda.gov.](http://www.nssc.nrcs.usda.gov./)

Your contact is Carol Franks, NRCS research soil scientist, at
402-437-5316 or \<carol.franks@usda.gov\>.

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**Helping People Understand Soils**

Nearly 200 attendees at the National Conservation Education meeting
hosted by the U.S. Forest Service in Albuquerque, New Mexico, reacted
enthusiastically to the NRCS rollout of its new soil education CD.
Included on the CD are the Soil Biology Primer; the NRCS-National
Science Teachers Association book, \"Dig In: Hands-on Soil
Investigations;\" information on State Soils, Dominant Soil Order maps;
and lesson plans. The meeting also included classroom projects using
mini-soil monoliths and exercises using soil crayons.

In addition to the \"Train the Trainer\" activities, soil scientists at
the National Conservation Education meeting interacted with leadership
from various conservation education organizations, inspiring a workshop
planned for coordinators with Project Learning Tree. Educational
materials described above can be found at the National Soil Survey
Center web site at

<http://www.statlab.iastate.edu/soils/nssc/educ/Edpage.html>.

Your contact is Gary Muckel, NRCS soil scientist, at 402- 437-4148 or
<gary.muckel@usda.gov>.

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**Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) Earth Day**

NRCS and the Forest Service teamed up under the NRE mission area banner
to celebrate Earth Day on April 22, at USDA\'s Forest Products
Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. The goal was to highlight the two
agencies\' ongoing conservation contributions to clean water and air,
healthy soil, improved wildlife habitat, and a quality environment on
private and public lands. A major highlight of the Earth Day Event was
the NRCS Soil Survey Division\'s unveiling its SoLIM (Soil-Landscape
Inference Model) software and new display by Dr. Sheryl Kunickis, NRCS
soil scientist/landscape analyst. The event was featured on local
television and in newspapers Statewide.

Your contact is Renae Anderson, NRCS Public Affairs Specialist, at
608-276-8732, ext. 227.

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**The Yak Learns About Kalkaska Sand,**

**Michigan's State Soil**

**By John Werlein- Resource Soil Scientist- Grayling**

Marty Kroell and I had a special request this spring to host a
photo-shoot and education session for an entourage from the Detroit Free
Press newspaper. The group consisted of reporter Patricia Chargot,
photographer Mary Schroeder, along with the Yak and his assistant. They
were working on a special assignment to report on Michigan's State
Symbols so they could create an informative insert in the newspaper to
commemorate Michigan Week. The photos and information they gathered was
presented in a format that appealed to grade school children and
educators.

For those of you that aren't familiar with what a yak really looks like,
it's a large hairy wild ox that is found in Tibet and Central Asia. It
has long brown hair on its body and down it's legs to protect it from
the frigid temperatures. The North American version of it would be the
musk ox, which inhabits northern Canada and Alaska. The Free PressYak
has been modified slightly so that it appeals to the younger crowd. It
stands on two feet instead of four and has large eyes and a big happy
smile.

So why did the Yak choose Grayling as a place to visit? Well, it all
began when Bill Frederick received a call from the Free Press back in
February. The Yak wanted to see the state tree, white pine, growing on
the state soil, Kalkaska sand. What a concept! So Bill called Del Mokma,
Professor of Soil Science at Michigan State University and they came up
with Hartwick Pines State Park as a possible location. Del then
proceeded to call me about the idea and asked me to find a good Kalkaska
sand site for the photo shoot. I became quite excited about the request
because it was a great opportunity to generate some interest about our
soil resources and the State Soil.

I located a good site within the confines of Hartwick Pines State Park
and received permission to dig a large observation pit. The site was
located on an outwash plain within an old pine plantation that was
planted during the CCC days. It was a peaceful and picturesque spot that
was in a forgotten corner of the park, far from the noise and commotion
of the city. I managed to convince Marty that he would love this spot
and he agreed to grab a shovel and help me dig. After an hour or two of
heaving soil out of the hole we managed to unearth a beautiful profile
of Kalkaska sand.

![](media/image2.png){width="2.5729166666666665in"
height="3.6145833333333335in"}

The next day Del Mokma, the Yak, and the Free Press group arrived to
view the soil. Del climbed into the pit and explained the processes of
soil formation, differences in horizonation, spodic development, and the
importance of soils. At first the audience had little interest in the
subject, but as time progressed we won them over and they became
interested in the State Soil and all of its colored layers. When all was
said and done, they walked away thinking that Kalkaska sand was quite
unique and it was one of nature's most beautiful sand paintings. I would
have to agree!

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**A Strange Religion**

**An "Outsiders" View of Soil Scientists**

The exact number of followers in this cult is unknown: however, it is
believed that the number is not large as compared with some other cults.
One of the first strange things about this sect, and this alone makes it
unique among sects, is that its members can be found in virtually every
county in the U.S. Ordinarily, cults tend to be regional in character,
but then this is a strange cult. As a whole, its members seem to be of
at least average intelligence and are not striking in appearance in any
way. Their mode of dress is quite ordinary; it might even seem that they
consciously dress to appear unobtrusive. They do carry about their
persons some strange objects. Might we call them fetishes! Knives,
bottles containing acid or water, small magnifying lenses and other
unique bits of paraphernalia are seen, but more about these later.

The general appearance of the rites they perform suggest some pagan
worship. One might happen onto a group of these quaint folk in a pasture
or field or forest, sometimes in remote vastness and even sometimes near
towns or dwellings. The rites are nearly unbelievable when first
observed. It seems that a hole in the ground, varying in diameter from a
few inches to a few feet and in depth again from a few inches to a few
feet, forms a kind of altar. Generally, this is roughly round in outline
but oblong ones have been observed, particularly when the worshipers are
searching for a sacred entity called Krotivina. At the beginning of the
rites, one or two of the group (the group may be of any size but seldom
over 12) begin by digging the hole. High priests, called correlators,
designate the spot at which the altar is to be made. This hole is made
with talking, laughing, and joking; however, when it comes time to
remove the object of worship from the hole, the group usually falls
silent and stands in reverent awe. This Deity is, of all things, a slab
of earth about 8 inches long, 4 inches wide and 1 foot or more deep. The
greatest dimension is nearly always from the vertical. This is gently
removed from the hole and gently laid upon the ground. Quite frequently
this is done by one of the high priests. Usually, a few moments of
respectfully silent awe follow the placing of the Deity. This object is
called the Profile; however, sometimes these are preserved for future
worship and are then called Monoliths.

After placing the Deity beside the altar and the moment of silent
meditation, the worshipers fall upon this object of worship and
literally tear it to pieces. They take bits of earth from this holy body
and crush it into their hands. They prod it with knives, measure it with
tapes, treat it with acid, crush it and expectorate in it or wet it with
water and rub it gently between their fingers. Is this saliva-soil
combination some strange communion? It is at this stage of the rite that
talking in tongues is observed or at least it seems that it is
completely incomprehensible to the uninitiated. Some say that they
understand each other but this seems unlikely to the casual observer.
Sometimes they say names of rivers or towns or counties that may be
hundreds of miles away. From this it might seem that the beholding of
this Deity brings on visions, for some of the worshipers have never been
to the towns and counties they are heard to mention. Sometimes they seem
to disagree about certain phases of the religious experience. Two might
be on their knees, rubbing this moistened dirt between their fingers and
be heard to say,

> **First**, "Loam"
>
> **Second**, "Nope, very fine sandy loam"
>
> **Third**, "That's not very fine sand. That's angular silts."

Then at times it seems as if they're talking in a strange geometry, as
one might be heard to say, "weak subangular blocky", or "strong prisms".
And at times it seems that architecture has contributed something as one
hears something about "strong columnar structure". Then they can be
heard talking in algebra or so it seems, when they talk of A1, B1r, Ao,
or Ced. And sometimes something might be said that resembles Russian,
German, Latin, or Greek (it probably wouldn't be recognized by Russians,
Germans, Latins or Greeks, however). One of the high priests was heard
to frequently say something that resembled" mollic epipedon". This
incantation seems to have some particularly reverent significance as the
lesser members always seemed to gaze upon him with awe when the time
came when these words could be used.

The high priests seem to be prophesying the coming of some
incomprehensible entity that is already worshiped by lesser members,
even thought they don't understand it or even know who, what or how it
is or what it will do when it arrives. It is called Soil Taxonomy.

After Profile is treated, spat upon, gouged, crushed, and discussed the
high priests begin questioning one who is called Party Chief and they
may talk about this thing for from 15 minutes to 4 hours and it seems as
if they are always talking about something it (profile) isn't. The true
religious nature of this group is proven by its mystic characteristics.
The mystery being that the high priests do not know what "it" is, but
always know what "it" isn't. Lesser members who haven't yet attained the
mystic insight of the high priests or even the Part Chief usually what
"it" is but not what "it" isn't.

Following the discussion of what "it" isn't is a short social period in
which members talk about other members (not present, of course), of how
hard it was to get funds from administrators, the relative merits of
various types of spades and of hunting or fishing trips.

The hole is always filled but this cannot be done until sanctioned by
one of the high priests. This is done quite subtly. The lesser members,
who usually do the filling, may stand for some time waiting for the
"that's all" nod of the head, or the high priest may sanction it by
kicking a clod into the hole. Lesser members never begin filling an
unsanctioned hole. Once begun, the filling is completed with vigorous
dispatch, as many as a half a dozen may gather around and shovel and
kick dirt into the hole.

It might be mentioned that, as in all religious groups, there are
usually one or two nonbelievers. They usually stand around telling jokes
at the most inappropriate times, sometimes openly heckling the
worshipers and sometimes picking up bits of plants and looking at them
with an air of boredom or, rarely, interest. Sometimes cows and what
cows eat and other mundane things are talked about.

Clayton W. Stephens

9/28/62

Range Conservationist, BIA

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**\"Out of the long list of nature\'s gifts to man, none is perhaps so
utterly essential to human life as soil.\"** *From Soil Conservation by
Hugh Hammond Bennett (1881-1960), first chief and founder of the Natural
Resources Conservation Service*

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**Soil Survey Symposium on the Web**

NRCS and University of Missouri soil scientists recently hosted the 2002
Missouri Natural Resources Conference, "Soil Information for Natural
Resource Assessment and Management." It consisted of presentations by
foresters, wildlife biologists, conservationists and soil scientists
from NRCS, University of Missouri, Missouri Department of Conservation,
and Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Symposium abstracts and
presentations are posted on the NRCS Missouri web site at:

<http://www.mo.nrcs.usda.gov/soils/soilsym/soils_sym.htm>

Your contact is Fred Young, NRCS soil scientist, at 573-876-0907.

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**After 100 Years, Missouri Completes Soil Survey**

by BILL GRAHAM

The Kansas City Star

Scientists say after a century of probing and analysis they finally have
a complete map of Missouri\'s soils.

To celebrate, leaders from college, conservation and environmental
agencies will sink a soil probe into a garden at the governor\'s mansion
in Jefferson City today to mark what officials estimate was a \$120
million project, when past costs are measured in today\'s dollars.

\"This is one of the most extensive natural resource inventories in the
world,\" said Dennis Potter, the state soil scientist based in Jefferson
City for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. \"There are 44.6
million acres in Missouri, and to produce this survey a soil scientist
had to walk almost every acre.\"

Soil experts began the survey in 1899. But revisions and a more complete
mapping began in the 1960s, Potter said. They were finished in December.
Rich farmland in north Missouri was surveyed first and Ozarks timberland
last.

\"There are probably several people in the state who spent their entire
careers working on this,\" Potter said.

The texture, mineral and organic matter content, fertility and acidic
nature of soils vary.

Contractors use survey maps because some soils are more prone to crack
concrete foundations and make basements leak, Potter said. Farmers use
survey maps to plan crop production. Environmental planners rely on maps
to predict such things as subsoil water flow.

Under state law, the assessed property tax value of land zoned for
agriculture is based on soil types and how productive they are for
crops.

Soil surveys are available free at county Natural Resources Conservation
Service offices. Potter said long-range plans call for offering Internet
or compact disk versions of the surveys statewide.

To reach Bill Graham, natural science reporter, call (816) 234-5906 or
send e-mail to bgraham@kcstar.com.

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**Indiana Counties Offer Soil Survey on CD-ROM**

Elkhart and Fountain are the first counties in Indiana to put soil
survey information on CD-ROM. This is an improvement over the
traditional hardcopy version in terms of both convenience and cost. CDs
are produced for \$1.75 per copy, versus \$35 to \$75 for a paper copy.
Furthermore, the Geographic Information System (GIS) application allows
the user to explore soils data interactively, which is very difficult to
do with hardcopies. To suit the needs of a variety of soil survey data
users, the manuscript, tables, and maps are accessible in both PDF and
GIS formats. The CD comes with all the software (Acrobat and ArcView)
needed to access soil survey information and graphics.

Your contact is Henry Ferguson, NRCS soil scientist, at 317-290-3200
ext. 377 or <henry.ferguson@in.usda.gov>.

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**Center of Excellence, Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College**

Greetings from the Center of Excellence map finishing team at the Fond
du Lac Tribal and Community College.

The team just finished compiling Chippewa County and currently is
performing quality control checks on the maps. Freeborn County was
recently completed and is now at the Region 10 MO for Quality Assurance
checks before going to Madison WI for digitizing. Our current project,
Murray County continues to be compiled by six students at the Center.

Mike Walczynski has also involved the students in other activities.
During Career Awareness Day at the college three students represented
Cartographic Aids with Mike as a Soil Scientist. Approximately 700
students, middle school through high school attend the event and asked
various questions to a variety of professions. Mike explained the tasks
of a soil scientist and showed a soils display along with other NRCS
literature. The Cartographic Aids explained how they perform their
duties and also had students try drawing soil lines.

At this year's State Envirothon Mike was the presenter at the Soils
Station where he gave a brief talk to approximately 200 high school
students about soils and the site. Mike utilized three students at the
Center to assist him in correcting tests, monitoring a soil pit, and
providing guidance with various tools soil scientists' use.

This July, Mike took the map finishing team on a soil mapping exercise.
The students were introduced to the hand tools a soil scientist uses and
had an opportunity to use them. They were shown how a soil description
is made using a Munsell color book and noting various soil properties in
the soil profile. They learned how soil lines get placed on the map by
identifying landscape positions. The students also observed how
vegetation relates to soil drainage classes.

Visitors are always welcome at the Center of Excellence. So please stop
by to see how the partnership works between NRCS and Fond du Lac Tribal
and Community College at Cloquet.

CONTACT: Mike Walczynski - (218) 879-0862

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**Soil Climate Analysis Network (SCAN) Milestone Reached**

Seven automated climate and soil monitoring stations, recently installed
in Alabama, form the beginning of a new State meteorological measuring
network (mesonet), as part of the nationwide Soil Climate Analysis
Network (SCAN) network. Funded by Alabama A-&-M University (AAMU) and
the NRCS National Water and Climate Center (NWCC), these stations enable
SCAN and mesonet to provide hourly data from a full complement of
atmospheric sensors and soil moisture and soil temperature sensors.
Additionally, NWCC works closely with the NRCS National Soil Survey
Center to collect soils information at each of the sites. AAMU will also
provide products for agricultural producers to assist them with
management of their resources, including providing potential drought,
pest, and disease information that may affect their crops. An Alabama
television weather service has already linked its web site to the NWCC
homepage with plans to use the information from the seven sites to
augment the station\'s mesonet to provide additional forecasts. Near
real-time data from all SCAN stations are available at the NRCS NWCC
homepage, at \<[http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov\>.]()

**Your contact is Garry L. Schaefer, NRCS hydrologist, at 503-414-3068
or \<gschaefer@wcc.nrcs.usda.gov\>.**

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**MLRA 108B/115C Special Soil Study aids Illinois soil survey update
projects**

Rock Falls, IL MLRA Project Office

The MLRA soil survey update process is a dramatic departure from the
previous "once-over" county soil surveys of recent decades. Since their
establishment in the early 1990's, the 5 Illinois MLRA Project Offices
have developed and incorporated soil survey guidelines and strategies to
implement the MLRA concept within the state. This has included, among
other things, revisiting and confirming where necessary and/or
appropriate the landscapes and soil properties in the field;
recompilation of soil layers onto 1:12000 digital orthophotography;
population of the data map units within the new computerized NASIS data
base; and the development of online soil survey manuscripts to accompany
the above information.

In most cases, completing an MLRA Soil Survey update does not mean
remapping the soils of a specific county or area. The existing published
soil information, while having its limitations, is often a good and
fairly accurate record of soil properties and conditions.This
information can and should be utilized to help produce an improved
product to the users. In all cases, and particularly with older existing
soil surveys, however, it is still necessary to schedule and conduct
field investigations -- whether mapping, transects, lab data, or other
investigations -- to confirm landscapes and soil properties.

Over the past two years, the Rock Falls MLRA Project Office staff,
serving the 18-county northwest Illinois area, have completed two
region-wide special soil/landscape studies to help confirm soil
properties along two major drainage systems in the area: the Mississippi
River sand terraces and the Green River Lowland outwash sands. The study
was driven by an issue that arose in the Henderson County, Illinois
update project, along the Mississippi River, regarding the presence of
lamellae in previously mapped non-lamellic sandy soils (primarily
Oakville and Sparta), and in the particle size of the Oakville series
sands. Well drained sandy soil series involved in at least six of the
current Rock Falls office soil survey updates in these watersheds (and
mapped in adjacent states as well) included the Ade, Bloomfield,
Chelsea, Oakville, Plainfield, and Sparta series.

The Rock Falls staff reviewed the initial Henderson County soil survey
update field investigation documentation during 1990 and 1991. A field
review held in September of 1991 with State Office, Regional Office, and
officials from the University of Illinois and others discussed the
findings to date. Lab data results on a representative Oakville series
sample were obtained later in the year.

Several points were made during the Henderson review. In many cases, the
non-lamellic and lamellic sandy soils were both on the previous soil
legends, for many of the other involved counties as well as in
Henderson. These soils were also often mapped adjacent to one another on
the sandy Mississippi River terraces. In addition, many of the
non-lamellic soil profile descriptions on file from the previous county
soil surveys (particularly in the early 80's mapped Mercer County
immediately north of Henderson) often included references to color or
textural lamella below 40 inches in the profile.

Al Geincke, MO10 SDQS, was along during the September, 2001 Henderson
County field review. He suggested to the group that if there are lamella
present in some places on this landscape, then there is a good chance
that they are present more extensively than presently identified, with
depth being a likely variable.

Though Mercer and two other impacted county update projects were in
their final year of work, the Rock Falls staff decision was made to
delay completion of these until a region-wide study (at least throughout
NW Illinois) could be completed, and any conclusions incorporated as
appropriate.

A 6-month study was developed and conducted by the Rock Falls staff in
the fall to spring of 2001-2002. Though the study was initiated in order
to answer Henderson County soil questions, it was extended not only to
other impacted counties along the Mississippi River, but also to the
same soils mapped in the Green River watershed. The study objective
became two-fold: determine the extent and nature of lamella in
previously mapped non-lamellic Oakville and Sparta series polygons, and
determine the sand size in the control section of Oakville series
polygons.

Several transects were completed in the previously mapped well drained
non-lamellic sandy soils, first over a 3-adjacent county area of
Mississippi River sand terrace association units, and later in the
separate 4-county area within the nearby Green River Lowland.

Of the nearly level to gently sloping Mississippi River terrace units,
59 of 64 borings (92%) of the sampled non-lamellic points in Oakville
and Sparta series polygons actually contained lamella, typically at
depths between 40 and 60 inches. In addition, the Oakville series sand
size typically was identical to that of the Henderson County sample
data, which was dominated by medium rather than fine sand.

In the Green River Lowland, the results were not quite as conclusive,
primarily because of differences in landscape there. The Oakville and
Sparta series were again present, but were mapped on both a nearly level
to gently sloping outwash plain as well as upon isolated sloping to
steep dunes superimposed upon the outwash plain. While textural lamella
were again present in the nearly level outwash plain polygons (80%), the
Oakville and Sparta polygons on the dunes typically had fewer, thinner
lamella that were dominantly color rather than textural.

During the NW Illinois study, adjacent states (IA, WI) were contacted
for input. Wisconsin soil scientist Duane Simonson in particular
contributed to the study by completing field investigations on select
Sparta series polygons along the Mississippi and Wisconsin River
watersheds.

The regionwide Oakville/Sparta series special soil study results
obtained enabled several conclusions to be made and incorporated in each
of the 6 impacted NW Illinois soil survey update projects. Because of
the presence of lamella and the medium sand size, the NW Illinois
Oakville series polygons were correlated to the existing Coloma series,
mapped extensively in Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. The Sparta
series was retained as Sparta, with lamella described in the lower layer
below 40 inches. A recommendation was submitted to and concurred by the
MO10 office and affected states to revive a former remark in the Sparta
OSD recognizing that lamella are typically present in the lower part of
the profile.

This special soil study is an excellent example of the MLRA concept at
work -- landscape analysis and correlation rather than administrative
(county boundary) correlation; regionwide and interstate cooperation
regarding similar soils; seamless join of soil mapping in the region;
and computer modelling of soil conditons, to name a few.

The Rock Falls staff developed and presented a powerpoint presentation
of this special soil study for the August Midwest SSPL meeting in
Madison, WI. Two staff soil scientists, Frank Heisner and Jon Wald, are
developing poster presentations of the study findings for the national
ASA Indianapolis meetings in November. Jon Wald has since accepted and
NRCS SS position in Washington state. Other staff members at the time
included Dave Preloger, SS; Amy Kuhel, RA; and Steve Elmer, SSPL.

Submitted by Steve Elmer

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**WEB SITES OF INTEREST**

Interesting web site\...

Soil Under a Microscope: Evaluating Soils in Another Dimension

<http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/worldsoils/microscope/>

State Soils website at <http://www.geobop.com/paleozoo/Soils/>

Current soils forms may be obtained at this web site:
<http://www.ftw.nrcs.usda.gov/nps/soi.htm>

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**OSDs updated 7/2002- 9/2002**

FRIGID: fenander ... hayriver ... kelliher ... lenroot ... normania ...
sissabagama ... slimlake ... spoonerhill ... stinnett ... totagatic

MESIC: basco ... gladek ... impact ... newglarus ... pilot grove

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**Schedule for October-November-December (subject to change)**

[Week]{.underline} [Location]{.underline} [Staff]{.underline}
[Activity]{.underline}

9/30-10/4/02 Brooklyn Center, MN AGG Prog Rev - Benton County, MN

10/7-11/02 Duluth, MN AGG Prog Rev - St. Louis County, MN

10/7-11/02 Eagle River, MI JJJ Final Field Review - Keweenaw County

10/14-18/02 Watertown, SD AGG Prog Rev - Codington County, SD

10/14-18/02 Waverly, IA TWN QA Review-Winneshiek Co.

10/21-25/02 Atlantic, IA TWN QA Review-Shelby Co.

10/21-25/02 Omaha, NE JFH QA Field Visit-MLRA 102C

10/28-11/1/02 Rochester, MN AGG, MNSEP MLRA 104 Review

TWN

11/11-15/02 Washington, IA TWN QA Review-Iowa Co.

11/18-22/02 Des Moines, IA TWN Eroded Mollisol Tour-Iowa

12/2-6/02 Virginia, MN AGG MLRA 88/93 SCM

12/9-13/02 Ironwood, MI JJJ 93B Legend Development

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CONTRIBUTIONS, IDEAS, SUGGESTIONS, AND QUESTIONS ARE WELCOME

This newsletter is intended to be a forum to distribute information of a
general nature that will benefit soil scientists in soil survey project
offices. It is hoped that it will foster communications and sharing of
knowledge among those soil scientists in MLRA Region 10.

\* \* \* \* \*

Articles from other newsletters are often included to distribute ideas
and comments from other areas of the country; these ideas and comments
are not necessarily identical to those used in MLRA Region 10.

\* \* \* \* \*

The format of this newsletter is intentionally simple so that it can be
received, read, and printed by the project office having the least
sophisticated computer and printer setup.

\* \* \* \* \*

Thanks to those individuals who participated this month. It is your
efforts that have made this newsletter a success.

\* \* \* \* \*

Articles in an electronic format can be submitted to:

<rhonda.osterman@mn.usda.gov>

\* \* \* \* \*

Previous copies of this newsletter are available at:

<http://www.mn.nrcs.usda.gov/mo10/mo10.html>

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>
> To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of
> Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
> Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice
> and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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