**Workload Analysis --- Long-Range Plan for an MLRA Soil Survey**

Introduction:

> The workload analysis for the MLRA-13-7 contains information regarding
> the status of soil data at the initiation of the project. It also
> contains specific action items and completion their dates. The action
> items are designed to direct the work needed to raise all soils
> information for the area to current NCSS standards and to update the
> information at the current standards after the project.
>
> As new information is gathered, the workload analysis will be reviewed
> and possibly revised. Accordingly, it will be reviewed by the MLRA
> Soil Survey Office (SSO) technical advisory group biannually beginning
> in 2010 to consider any appropriate adjustments.
>
> The companion to this document is the memorandum of understanding
> (MOU) for the overall MLRA Region. It contains cooperating agency
> agreements that are in place. It also contains specifications that
> pertain to products produced.

Description of the Work Area (Ag Handbook 296):

> Northern Coastal Plain (MLRA 149A)
>
> This area is in Maryland (47 percent), New Jersey (44 percent),
> Pennsylvania (4 percent), Delaware (3 percent), Virginia (1 percent),
> and the District of Columbia (1 percent). Major cities include
> Washington, DC, at the southern edge of the MLRA and Baltimore,
> Maryland, Wilmington, Delaware, East Brunswick, Trenton, Cherry Hill
> (and many other cities across the Delaware River from Philadelphia,
> Pennsylvania), and Vineland, New Jersey, at the northern end. Part of
> the Fort Dix Military Reservation is in this area in New Jersey.
> Aberdeen Proving Ground, the Fort George G. Meade Military
> Reservation, the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, and the
> United States National Agricultural Research Center in Beltsville,
> Maryland, are all in the MLRA, as well as Andrews Air Force Base just
> east of Washington, DC. There are some State forests and numerous
> State parks, wildlife management areas, and national wildlife refuges
> in this area.
>
> Physiography
>
> This area is in the Embayed Section of the Coastal Plain Province of
> the Atlantic Plain. This area is a nearly level to rolling, dissected
> coastal plain that has been subjected to episodes of rising and
> falling sea levels. During low sea levels, eroding streams have
> dissected the area, leaving a series of terraces across the landscape.
> The Raritan, Delaware, and Chesapeake Bays are classic drowned river
> valleys. Elevation ranges from sea level to 330 feet. It is less than
> 165 feet in most of the area. Local relief is mostly 6 to 35 feet, but
> it is 100 feet or more in a few areas.
>
> Soils
>
> The dominant soil order in this MLRA is Ultisols. Some Entisols,
> Inceptisols, Spodosols, and Histosols also occur. The soils in this
> area have a mesic soil temperature regime, an aquic or udic soil
> moisture regime, and mixed, siliceous, or glauconitic mineralogy. They
> are very deep, excessively drained to very poorly drained, and
> primarily loamy or sandy. Some Hapludults formed in fluviomarine
> deposits on terraces and flats (Downer, Hammonton, Sassafras, and
> Woodstown series) and in near-shore marine deposits containing
> glauconite on uplands (Adelphia, Freehold, Collington, and Holmdel
> series). Other Hapludults formed in sandy eolian deposits (Galestown
> and Tinton series) and in silty loess deposits (Matapeake and Mattapex
> series). Fragiudults formed in old alluvium on hills and relict stream
> terraces (Aura series) and in silty deposits on broad flats
> (Beltsville series). Quartzipsamments (Evesboro and Lakehurst series)
> formed in eolian or marine sand deposits on dunes and flats along
> streams. Haplosaprists (Manahawkin series) formed in freshwater bogs
> and along stream corridors, and Sulfihemists (Transquaking series)
> formed in organic deposits in estuarine and tidal marshes. Alaquods
> (Atsion series) formed in sandy marine deposits on braided stream
> channels and broad lowlying flats.
>
> Land Use
>
> Following are the various kinds of land use in this MLRA:

A.  Cropland---private, 13%

B.  Grassland---private, 3%

C.  Forest---private, 25%; Federal, 2%

D.  Urban development---private, 32%

E.  Water---private, 18%;

F.  Federal, 1%

G.  Other---private, 6%

> About half of this area is in farms. Nearly one-third of the area is
> used for urban development. The extent of urban development is
> expanding rapidly. The major crops in the area are vegetables, corn,
> soybeans, small grains, and fruits. Tobacco is a specialty crop in
> Maryland. Specialty crops in New Jersey are highbush blueberries and
> cranberries. Forage crops and grains for dairy cattle are important
> locally. Poultry, nursery stock, and sod farms also are important
> locally. Most of the woodland in the area is in farm woodlots, but
> some is in large holdings. Pine pulpwood and hardwood lumber are the
> principal forest products. State forests and parks are extensive in
> some areas. A narrow band along the coast is intensively developed for
> resorts and for recreation.
>
> Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain (153C)
>
> This area is in Maryland (62 percent) and Delaware (38 percent). The
> town of Middletown, Delaware, the city of Dover, Delaware, and the
> towns of Chestertown and Easton, Maryland, are in this area. U.S.
> Highways 13, 113, and 301 cross the area. Dover Air Force Base is in
> this MLRA, and a number of national wildlife management areas are
> throughout the MLRA.
>
> Physiography
>
> This area is in the Embayed Section of the Coastal Plain Province of
> the Atlantic Plain. It is a nearly level to gently sloping coastal
> plain. Elevation ranges from sea level to about 80 feet. Local relief
> is only 6 to 15 feet, even where flood plains or coves from the bay
> are incised.
>
> Soils
>
> The dominant soils in this MLRA are Ultisols. Entisols and Inceptisols
> are of lesser extent. The soils in the area have an aquic or udic soil
> moisture regime, a mesic soil temperature regime, and mixed or
> siliceous mineralogy. They are very deep, dominantly well drained to
> poorly drained, and generally loamy or sandy in the mineral horizons.
>
> Well drained, loamy Hapludults (Sassafras, Downer, Hambrook, Unicorn,
> and Ingleside series) are on broad uplands. Moderately well drained
> Hapludults (Woodstown, Pineyneck, and Hammonton series) are in
> intermediate positions on the landscape. Poorly drained Endoaquults
> (Fallsington, Carmichael, and Hurlock series) are in low-lying areas.
> The soils generally formed in loamy or sandy coastal plain sediments.
> Significant areas of Hapludults (Matapeake, Nassawango, and Mattapex
> series) and Endoaquults (Othello and Elkton series) that formed in 1
> to 3 feet (1 meter or less) of loess over sandy and loamy, stratified
> coastal plain deposits occur in the MLRA.
>
> Small areas of sandy soils that formed in sandy terrace deposits or
> ancient dunes associated with rivers are throughout the MLRA. Somewhat
> poorly drained to excessively drained Quartzipsamments (Evesboro,
> Runclint, Galloway, and Klej series) and Hapludults (Galestown and
> Cedartown series) and poorly drained Psammaquents (Askecksy series)
> are the dominant soils in these small areas.
>
> The flood plains, freshwater swamps, and low-lying flats are dominated
> by very poorly drained Humaquepts (Mullica, Indiantown, and Longmarsh
> series), Haplosaprists (Manahawkin and Puckum series), and Fluvaquents
> (Chicone and Zekiah series). The tidal marshes along the Chesapeake
> and Delaware Bays are dominated by very poorly drained Sulfihemists
> (Honga, Transquaking, Bestpitch, and Mispillion series) and
> Sulfaquents (Appoquinimink and Broadkill series).
>
> Land Use
>
> Following are the various kinds of land use in this MLRA:

A.  Cropland---private, 40%

B.  Grassland---private, 2%

C.  Forest---private, 20%; Federal, 1%

D.  Urban development---private, 7%

E.  Water---private, 25%

F.  Other---private, 5%

> About one-half of this area is in farms. Farming is highly
> diversified. The main agricultural enterprise is the production of
> grain crops, such as soybeans and corn. Fruit and vegetable production
> and specialty crops, such as cranberries and blueberries, are
> important in the area. Many large-scale corporate farms produce the
> specialty crops. The production of poultry, truck crops, or fruit
> crops exceeds general farming in importance in some counties. Sod
> farms are important in some areas. Many large tracts of loblolly pine
> in areas of the wetter soils are managed for timber production. Native
> mixed pine and hardwood forests remain in large tracts or in areas of
> protected public lands in State forests and parks. Broad flats of
> marine and fluvial origin are drained by flat, wide, meandering,
> slowmoving streams. Ditch networks on large tracts have been developed
> to facilitate drainage for agricultural production. Rapid expansion of
> urban and suburban development is reducing the extent of farmland,
> particularly prime farmland, as well as forestland. The seafood
> industry is significant to the economy of the counties bordering the
> two bays.
>
> Northern Tidewater Area (153D)
>
> This area is in New Jersey (46 percent), Maryland (35 percent), and
> Delaware (19 percent). The Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean
> border this area. The Delaware Bay divides the area nearly in half.
> The MLRA includes Long Branch, Asbury Park, Lakewood, Hammonton, and
> Atlantic City, New Jersey; Cambridge, Salisbury, and Pocomoke City,
> Maryland; and Milford, Georgetown, and Seaford, Delaware. A short
> stretch of Interstate 195 crosses the northern tip of this area, in
> New Jersey. The Garden State Parkway parallels the coast in the part
> of this area in New Jersey, and the Atlantic City Expressway connects
> Atlantic City to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. U.S. Highway 13 connects
> most of the rest of the area outside of New Jersey. Lakehurst Naval
> Air Station and most of Fort Dix are in the part of this area in New
> Jersey, and a number of national wildlife refuges and State forests
> are throughout the area. The Assateague Island National Seashore,
> consisting of most of Assateague Island, is in the part of the area in
> Maryland.
>
> Physiography
>
> This area is in the Embayed Section of the Coastal Plain Province of
> the Atlantic Plain. It is a nearly level to gently sloping coastal
> plain with dunes and beaches on the ocean and bay sides. Large areas
> of tidally flooded marshes occur, particularly between the numerous
> barrier islands and the mainland along the Atlantic Coast and along
> the bays. Elevation typically ranges from sea level to about 80 feet.
> In the Barnegate Bay watershed in the northern part of the MLRA,
> however, remnants of old Coastal Plain deposits have a maximum
> elevation of more than 200 feet. Local relief is only 6 to 15 feet,
> even where flood plains or coves from the bay are incised.
>
> Soils
>
> The dominant soil orders in this MLRA are Ultisols. Entisols,
> Histosols, Spodosols, and Inceptisols are of lesser extent. The soils
> in the area have a mesic soil temperature regime, an aquic or udic
> soil moisture regime, and mixed or siliceous mineralogy. They are very
> deep, very poorly drained to excessively drained, and generally loamy
> or sandy in the mineral horizons. A strip of coastal beach dune sand
> extends along the Atlantic Ocean in most of the MLRA.
>
> Well drained, loamy Hapludults (Sassafras, Downer, Hambrook,
> Nassawango, and Ingleside series) are on broad uplands. Moderately
> well drained Hapludults (Woodstown and Hammonton series) are in
> intermediate positions on the landscape. Poorly drained Endoaquults
> (Fallsington and Hurlock series) are in low-lying areas. These soils
> generally formed in loamy or sandy coastal plain sediments. The parts
> of the MLRA in Maryland and Delaware have significant areas of
> Hapludults (Matapeake and Mattapex series) and Endoaquults (Othello
> and Elkton series) that formed in 1 to 3 feet (1 meter or less) of
> loess over sandy and loamy, stratified coastal plain deposits. Large
> areas of sandy soils that formed in sandy coastal plain sediments or
> ancient dunes are throughout the MLRA. Somewhat poorly drained to
> excessively drained Quartzipsamments (Evesboro, Runclint, Lakehurst,
> Lakewood, and Klej series) and Hapludults (Galestown and Cedartown
> series) and poorly drained and very poorly drained Alaquods (Atsion
> and Berryland series) are the dominant soils.
>
> The flood plains, freshwater swamps, and low-lying flats are dominated
> by very poorly drained Humaquepts (Mullica series), Haplosaprists
> (Manahawkin and Puckum series), and Fluvaquents (Chicone series). The
> tidal marshes along the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays and between the
> barrier islands and the mainland are dominated by very poorly drained
> Sulfihemists (Honga, Transquaking, Bestpitch, and Mispillion series)
> and Sulfaquents (Appoquinimink, Broadkill, Purnell, and Boxiron
> series).
>
> Along the Atlantic Ocean, a broken line of barrier islands consisting
> of primarily coastal beaches and dunes is dominated by Udipsamments
> (Acquango and Brockatonorton series) and Quartzipsamments (Hooksan
> series).
>
> Land Use
>
> Following are the various kinds of land use in this MLRA:

A.  Cropland---private, 15%

B.  Grassland---private, 1%

C.  Forest---private, 31%; Federal, 2%

D.  Urban development---private, 11%

E.  Water---private, 28%; Federal, 1%

F.  Other---private, 11%

> This area consists mainly of forestland, open water, or farmland. A
> significant acreage is urban land. The agricultural products in the
> area are primarily grain crops, such as soybeans and corn. Fruits and
> vegetables also are grown, and tobacco is grown in some areas in
> Maryland. Cranberries and blueberries are grown in New Jersey. Poultry
> production is important in the parts of the area in Delaware and
> Maryland, and much of the locally grown corn is used for feed. Large
> forested areas occur throughout the MLRA, particularly in the wetter
> low-lying areas. Numerous national wildlife refuges, State forests,
> State parks, and wildlife management areas occur throughout the MLRA.
> Seasonal tourism is a large part of the local economy, particularly
> along or near the barrier islands.

Purpose for Doing the Work:

> The purpose of this project is to coordinate and update soil surveys
> in MLRA-13-7 in accordance with current National Cooperative Soil
> Survey (NCSS) standards.
>
> [County soil surveys were published from 1966 to 2004, for except New
> Castle County, Delaware scheduled for release during 2006; Prince
> George's and Charles County, Maryland scheduled for release during
> 2006, updates in Baltimore, Calvert, and Cecil Counties, Maryland were
> due for completion in 2007. The remaining counties, Harford and Saint
> Mary's, will be completed by 2010; and Cumberland and Salem Counties,
> New Jersey, are scheduled for release in 2008. About half of the soil
> surveys were published before 1978. The information provided in the
> reports reflects the knowledge of soil properties and soil behavior
> relative to the interpretation needs at the time of the field
> mapping.]{.mark}
>
> The published reports remain an excellent source of data. However,
> most surveys do not meet current NCSS standards or user needs since
> new information about soils is needed due to changes in demographics,
> technologies, environmental questions, and intensities of land use.
> Existing soil surveys will be built upon, and a database will be
> developed to address local, regional, and national concerns. The
> database will provide more comprehensive soil and site data for
> managing cropland and forest land, conserving water and protecting
> water quality, improving and maintaining pasture, developing wildlife
> habitat, developing soil potential ratings, and preparing plans for
> watersheds and recreational and urban areas.

Status:

> Work has been done on evaluating existing surveys, reviewing
> laboratory data, compiling individual county legends to be converted
> into an MLRA legend, and formulating modernization plans.
>
> [A MLRA SSO technical advisory group will be formed in August of 2008
> to direct and manage the priorities of the MLRA soil survey area. The
> members of the group include the MLRA Regional Office Leader the State
> Soils Scientists from Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey, and a
> representative of the MO-13 Office.]{.mark}

Approach:

> Initial work will be directed toward legend development,
> investigations, and data gathering to build on work already done in
> the evaluation process. It will include assessments of user needs,
> geomorphology investigations, and evaluations of existing information
> from the current soil surveys, previous special projects, geological
> mapping, water table studies, existing soil characterization data,
> various air photos, and any other pertinent information. A strong
> emphasis is to be placed on working with all users of the soil survey
> to assure that the modernization addresses users' needs. Early
> fieldwork will transect existing map units and sample soils.
> Re-correlation, map revision, remapping, and map compilation
> activities will begin later in the project when the legend development
> is more complete.
>
> Project plans will be developed to address a specific problem or work
> on a group of soils across the entire MLRA. For example, in several
> counties in Delaware and Maryland, the tidal areas were mapped as
> Tidal Marsh. A specific task will be to re-correlate them with the
> soil series of the map unit name. Enough investigation across the MLRA
> will be done to assure that the legend design and correlations are
> valid throughout the MLRA. Work done in recent surveys will be used as
> a starting point in legend development.

[Subset Project Plans will be developed to address the following
specific tasks:]{.mark}

A.  [Populating MLRA Area Overlap Tables in NASIS]{.mark}

B.  [Evaluating Benchmark Soil and conduct soil sampling]{.mark}

C.  [Reviewing OSD's]{.mark}

D.  [Analyzing NASIS Data for composition and data availability]{.mark}

E.  [Soil series with dual drainage class]{.mark}

F.  [Review water table criteria within the MLRA areas]{.mark}

G.  [Review Correlation and Classification documents]{.mark}

H.  [Review map join within the MLRA and surrounding MLRA's]{.mark}

I.  [Plan field visits for active soil survey areas]{.mark}

J.  [Mapping of subaqueous soils]{.mark}

[]{.mark}

Working on specific landforms and parent materials at the same time,
will assure accurate and consistent correlations in the most efficient
way possible. Sufficient work will be done on all major landform types
early in the project to assure the proper development of the legend.

Investigative work in the first year or two of the MLRA soil survey
project will be the key to establishing a sound, stable legend that can
be used.

A.  Data Collection\
    \
    Data gathering and sampling will be started early in the survey in
    all parts of the MLRA to assure that results are ready as needed.\
     

    1.  Retrieval of Archived Data\
        The MLRA SSO technical advisory group will ensure that the
        archived information is retrieved and supplied to staff.
        Information will include available field notes, original field
        sheets, correlation decisions notes, lab data, and geology
        reports.\
         

    2.  Evaluation of Current Data and Information

        a.  The MLRA SSO technical advisory group will assign an ad hoc
            \"lab data committee\" to oversee the indexing and analysis
            of existing laboratory data.

        b.  All lab data will be updated on NRCS-SOIL-8(s) - Index of
            Laboratory Data as needed. The lab data committee will
            classify the assembled lab data and pedons. Latitude and
            longitude coordinates will be provided where possible. These
            coordinates will allow the spatial referencing of pedons for
            an evaluation of data voids. The expected date of completion
            is [\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--]{.mark}.

        c.  The laboratory data committee will work with the National
            Soil Survey Laboratory (NSSL) to develop a system to
            incorporate existing lab data into the laboratory database
            and identify a system that will allow the effective use and
            analysis of existing and future lab data at the field level.
            This system should be compatible with NASIS data format,
            data dictionary, and methods of retrieval. The expected date
            of completion is [\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--]{.mark}.

        d.  An ad hoc committee will prepare a \"landform/soil
            classification and characteristics genetic key.\" The
            genetic key will be used to identify soils that require
            specific investigation. This key will also be extremely
            useful in familiarizing all soil scientists and users of the
            soil survey information with the soils and the specific
            landforms on which they occur. The key will provide the
            necessary details to guide the soil scientist in
            differentiating soil series. The expected date of completion
            is [October 2008]{.mark}.

        e.  An ad hoc committee will evaluate the soil series in the
            project area. All series and their records will be evaluated
            and updated early in the project. Lab data will be used to
            update the range in characteristics of the series to provide
            quantified statements. The differentiating criteria among
            competing series will be evaluated. Where separations with
            other series are not clear, plans will be made to study the
            series more closely. Where differences cannot be identified
            and substantiated, series will be combined. Suites of soils
            will be studied by major landform, as grouped in item *d*.
            The expected date of completion is
            [\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--]{.mark}.

    3.  Detailed Sampling Plan

> The information gathered from the evaluation of current data and
> information will determine where emphasis is needed for detailed
> sampling and investigations. Data on particle size for most of the
> dominant or benchmark soils are extensive; other characterization
> data, however, are limited. Samples will be taken to a depth of 80
> inches (2 meters) or to bedrock if it occurs within that depth. The
> expected date of completion is [October 2010]{.mark}.

4.  Documentation

> All NCSS standards for documentation are to be met. Every effort will
> be made to utilize existing pedon descriptions, laboratory data,
> transect information, and all other previously collected information
> to meet documentation requirements and thereby minimize the amount of
> new data required and maximize the efficiency of data collection
> efforts.

5.  Special Studies

    a.  [Soil series with dual drainage class. The expected date of
        completion of the plan is \-\-\-\-\-\--.]{.mark}

    b.  [Sulfidic materials in upland soils, to evaluate their
        distribution and consequence of disturbance. The expected date
        of completion of the plan is
        \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--.]{.mark}

    c.  [Mapping of subaqueous soils found in local bays. The expected
        date of completion of the plan is
        \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--.]{.mark}

    d.  Additional studies that are necessitated by questions identified
        during field investigations will be organized as early as
        possible. An ad hoc committee will be assigned to develop
        individual plans to assure comprehensive study throughout the
        area in question. Plans for special studies will be sent to the
        MLRA office to be distributed within the state for review and
        comment.

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B.  Classification

    1.  Numerous variants and subsoil or substratum phases of series
        were correlated in the initial soil surveys. Many of these will
        be correlated to existing series that have been established in
        recent years. Some new series will need to be established. All
        laboratory sampling will extend to a depth of 80 inches or more.
        Several series will be proposed for current substratum phases.

    2.  Pedon PC will be used for all descriptions taken in the project.

    3.  Current laboratory data indicates that some existing series may
        need to be reclassified. During the evaluation of existing data,
        these series will be identified and any additional sampling
        needs will be incorporated into the sampling plan. Based on the
        analysis of existing and new laboratory data, series will
        reclassified if appropriate. All pedons will be classified
        according to Soil Taxonomy, 2nd Edition and the latest
        amendment. The expected date of completion is
        [\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--]{.mark}.

C.  Legend Development\
    \
    A list of map units from within the MLRA will be developed using
    existing information. An ad hoc committee will begin work on this
    effort in [2008]{.mark}. In addition to an initial list of map unit
    names, consideration should be given to the coordination of soil
    symbols, whether alpha or numeric, and to the coordination of
    features and symbols.\
     

D.  Field Reviews\
    \
    The MLRA soil survey office leader will conduct periodic quality
    control reviews of the work performed and document the results. The
    assigned MLRA regional office Data Quality Specialist will conduct
    periodic quality assurance reviews. The MLRA technical advisory
    group and other cooperators will be kept abreast of all field review
    activities and will have the option of attending all field reviews.\
     

E.  Remapping\
    \
    Much of the remapping, if needed, will be relatively minor, such as
    subdividing existing delineations into two or more delineations or
    changing some line placement. The evaluations identify specific
    problems and generally identify where on the landscape to expect
    them. In some map units, individual delineations may not change, but
    delineations on different landform positions will be correlated to
    different map units. Some remapping will be needed to correct
    joining problems between existing surveys.\
     

F.  Recorrelation\
    \
    Areas were mapped prior to soil taxonomy can be correlated to new
    series that are based on recent work done in adjacent counties. New
    series will be proposed to correlate some of these map units.\
     

G.  Publication Development\
    \
    One comprehensive database of information will be developed. Subsets
    of these data may be published for a county or other area if
    requested by cooperators. Mapping and publication will be at a scale
    of 1:12,000. Some differences are anticipated in the application of
    terminology from state to state, such as runoff, drainage class, and
    productivity indices. The MLRA SSO technical advisory group will
    develop the guidelines for the use of terminology in publications.
    The expected date of completion is [\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--]{.mark}.\
     

H.  NASIS Soil Database Development\
    \
    The soil attribute database will be developed and maintained using
    the National Soil Information System (NASIS) software. It will be
    used in guiding the planning for field investigations and in testing
    interpretations.\
     

I.  Interpretations\
    \
    Data from research studies will be used to develop new
    interpretations, especially interpretations for local needs. Special
    emphasis will be placed on coordinating interpretations between
    similar soils and between soils that are associated on a given
    landscape. An ad hoc committee will be assigned by the MLRA SSO
    technical advisory group to investigate and resolve differences in
    interpretations regarding items such as capability classification,
    drainage classification, permeability, soil erodibility, soil loss
    tolerance, and other factors. Coordinating and sharing data map
    units in the NASIS and agreement on common interpretative criteria
    will eliminate these differences. The anticipated date of completion
    is [\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--]{.mark}.\
     

J.  Coordination\
    \
    Soil classification, correlation, interpretations, and mapping
    concerns that are identified during fieldwork will be brought to the
    attention of the MLRA SSO technical advisory group.

[Potential Special Research Projects]{.mark}:

> This project will take a new approach to soil surveying, and many new
> technologies and methodologies will be used or tested during the
> project. The following paragraphs discuss potential special projects.
> The agricultural experiment stations and the Natural Resources
> Conservation Service will take the lead in these projects. Assistance
> will be obtained from the National Soil Survey Center and the National
> Cartography and Geospatial Center. In many cases, some research has
> already been done and the project should try to put the research to
> practical use, where economically feasible. The development of special
> projects will be dependent to some extent on the availability of funds
> from local, state, and federal sources.

[List of Potential Special Projects]{.mark}:

> Soil-landscape studies of certain major landforms\--Mapping
> consistency can be improved by understanding the soil-landscape
> relationships and the soil genesis related to landforms of regional
> importance. Studies should include geomorphological investigations and
> a consideration of the soil continuum to a depth of 10 to 20 feet.
> These investigations can provide valuable information for making
> interpretations related to water quality.