**Annual Plan for an MLRA Soil Survey FY-09**

Introduction:

> The annual plan for the MLRA-13-7 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 quarterly to
> consider any appropriate adjustments.

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.
>
> 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).
>
> 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).

Status:

> Work will begin with evaluating existing surveys, reviewing laboratory
> data, compiling individual county legends to be converted into an MLRA
> legend, and formulating modernization plans.
>
> A MLRA SSO staff will meet at the beginning of the first quarter to
> direct and manage the priorities of the MLRA soil survey area. A
> quarterly report to the State Soils Scientists from Delaware,
> Maryland, and New Jersey, and the MO-13 Leader will be available upon
> request.

Approach:

> Work will be directed toward legend development, investigations, and
> data gathering to build on the evaluation process. 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.

The FY-09 workload will be developed to address the following specific
tasks:

A.  Populating MLRA Area Overlap Tables in NASIS

B.  Evaluating Benchmark Soil and conduct soil sampling

C.  Reviewing OSD's

D.  Analyzing NASIS Data for composition and data availability

E.  Review Correlation and Classification documents

F.  Review map join within the MLRA and surrounding MLRA's

G.  Plan field visits for active soil survey areas

H.  Map revision

I.  Soil series with dual drainage class

J.  Review water table criteria within the MLRA areas

K.  Mapping of subaqueous soils

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.

A.  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.

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 2009.

C.  Legend Development\
    \
    A list of map units from within the MLRA will be developed using
    existing information. 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

> 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.  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.\
     

H.  Coordination\
    \
    Soil classification, correlation, interpretations, and mapping
    concerns that are identified during fieldwork will be brought to the
    attention of the MLRA SSO, the State Soil Scientist of Delaware,
    Maryland, and New Jersey, and the MO Office.