# Presentation: 103233

## Welcome to MLRA Soil 

- Welcome to MLRA Soil
- Survey Office Leader’s
- Orientation Seminar
- April 15 – 17, 2008
- Hosted by MO-13 and the NSSC

## MLRA Soil Survey Region 13

- Net Meeting April 15 – 17, 2008

- MLRA Soil Survey Office Leader Orientation Seminar

##         Seminar Objectives

- When you complete this seminar you will:
- Identify the MO-13 staff and their areas of expertise
- Be aware of standard Operating Procedures for MO-13
- Have a basic understanding of MLRA Implementation Plan
- Understand Agency’s soil survey restructuring plan
- Be able to prepare annual, project, and long-range plans
- Be aware of new technology
- Identify the Board of Directors and their function

##         Seminar Assumptions

- The information presented here is based on the assumption that all MLRA Offices are operating with the initial soil survey completed and have certified SSURGO data to use

## Meet the MO Staff

- Currently have six professionals on staff to serve the MLRA SSO:
- Data Quality/Correlation/NASIS Support
- Geospatial Support
- Web Publishing  and English Edit
- Data Quality/Correlation/Geomorphology
- Forestry

## Front Desk

- Laura McLane
- MO-13 Secretary
- 304-284-7593
- _[Laura.mclane@wv.usda.gov](mailto:Laura.mclane@wv.usda.gov)__ _

##         Soil Data Quality - NASIS

- David Kingsbury
- Soil Data Quality Specialist
- Acting NASIS Coordinator
- 304-284-7589
- david.kingsbury@wv.usda.gov

## Geospatial Support

- Tim Prescott
- GIS Specialist
- 304-284-7590
- Timothy.prescott@wv.usda.gov

**Geospatial Support**

## Soil Data Quality - Geomorphology

- Mike Jones
- Soil Data Quality Specialist
- 304-284-7588
- Michael.jones@wv.usda.gov

**Soil Data Quality - Geomorphology**

## Editing and Publishing Services

- Suzie Meierdierks
- English Editor
- 402-437-5504
- Suzann.meierdierks@lin.usda.gov

- Debbie Chase
- GIS Specialist-Publications
- 304-284-7568
- debbie.chase@wv.usda.gov

**Editing and Publishing Services**

## Forestry

- Through a 70/30 percent staff
- share agreement with Virginia,
- we are able to offer forestry
- assistance to all MLRA offices

- Don Flegel
- Soil Data Quality/Forester
- Harrisonburg, VA
- 540-434-1404x122
- donald.flegel@va.usda.gov

## MO-13 Leader

- Steve Carpenter
- 304-284-7585
- stephen.carpenter@wv.usda.gov

## Some Basic Fundamentals

- Technical Soil Services will be provided through the state office structure with leadership provided by the state soil scientist

## Some Basic Fundamentals

- State Conservationists have the responsibility within their states for the administrative support of the MLRA soil survey offices

## Some Basic Fundamentals

- MLRA SSO activities are coordinated by the MLRA Regional Office (MO) under the leadership of the MO Leader in partnership with states, NCSS partners.

## Some Basic Fundamentals

- MO Office emphasis will be on delivering a regionally consistent database both attribute and spatial via the Web Soil Survey

## What we will discuss today:

- Standard Operating Procedures
- Implementation Guidelines
- Planned Operations
- Management by MLRA

## Some Basic Fundamentals

- Standard Operating Procedures            “The Way we Do Business”

## 3 Levels of Coordination in the Restructured Program

- MO Board of Directors
- MO Management Team
- MLRA Technical Team

## Board of Directors

- Who are they?
- Kevin Wickey, WV, Chair
- Craig Derickson, PA
- Tom Drewes, NJ
- Jon Hall, MD
- Russell Morgan, DE
- Jack Bricker, VA
- Terry Cosby, OH

- Mike Hubbs, KY
- Kevin Brown, TN

## Board of Directors

- What do they do?
- Approve Staff
- Recommend Budgets to RAC
- Approve Offices
- Approve Plans
- Meet Annually

## MO Management Team 

- Comprised of State Soil Scientists in region
- Coordinate implementation in their state
- Work with state and local partners
- Supervise MLRA Office Leaders in their state

## MO Management Team

- Who are they?
- Rich Gehring-OH
- Bill Craddock-KY
- David Kriz-VA
- Ed White-PA
- Ron Taylor-NJ
- Jim Brown-MD
- Diane Shields-DE
- Doug Slabaugh-TN

## MLRA Technical Team

- Made up of MLRA Office Leader, MLRA office staff, MO soil data quality specialist, and the resource soil scientists
- Develops all appropriate plans (Long Range, Annual, and Project)

## State Soil Scientist Roles in the New MLRA Soil Survey Office Structure

_**MLRA Soil Survey Areas**_
- Managing soil survey mapping funds in area of responsibility
- Responsible for goal setting and progress reporting
- Supervision of soil survey staff

_**Statewide **_
- Soil Survey management team (Guidance and support to all MLRA SSOs within state)
- Field Office Tech Guide
- Technical Soil Services
- Program Support

## MO Office has responsibility for:

_**Quality Assurance**_**  ****Providing standards, review, and training support for all phases of the soil survey**
**Providing guidance to MLRASSO on data collection, analysis, mapping techniques, map unit design and naming, soil classification, legend management, NASIS data population, and overall anagement of the soil survey**

## MO Office has responsibility for:

**QA on:  ****OSDs and SC databases, spatial data, MLRA correlation guidelines, on soil temperature and moisture regimes; and, coordinating the collection of soil survey related soil characterization in the region**

## MLRA Project Leader Has Responsibility for:

_**MLRA Soil Survey Areas**_
- Managing soil survey operations ensuring standards are met (quality control)
- Conducting the survey including field data collection, investigation, and maintaining the soil data for the geographic area
- Supervision of soil survey staff

## MLRA Project Leader Has Responsibility for:

**Ensuring accuracy of line placement with respect to landforms.**
**Ensuring the accuracy and consistency of the soil map unit attribute data.**
**Ensuring that soil series are mapped regionally on appropriate parent materials and landforms.**
**Georeferencing locations of sampled soil profiles and ensuring adequate representation of soil series by laboratory data. **
**Quantifying distribution and extent of designated benchmark soils.**

## Part One

- Any Questions a this point?

## Implementation Guides

- Examples in Notebook
- Two Phase Process
- Evaluation and Maintenance of our current spatial and property database; and,
- Enhancement for future users

## Evaluation and Maintenance

- A Seven Step Process
-         1.  The Initial Evaluation
-         2.  The Benchmark Soil Review
-         3.  The OSD Review
-         4.  Applying Soil Taxonomy
-         5.  The Database
-         6.  Organization of Existing Data; and,
-         7.  GIS Applications (the springboard for future work)

## Enhancement

- A Six Step Process
-         1.  The Planning Process
-         2.  Revising the Spatial Data, where required
-         3.  Revising Existing Soil Properties (Super Seven)
-         4.  Establish New Data Elements
-         5.  Develop New Interpretations; and,
-         6.  Miscellaneous Issues

## Evaluation and Maintenance

**Step One:  The Initial Evaluation**
-         1.  The Legend
**Our current subset legends were developed over two generations of county soil survey correlations. This has resulted in inconsistencies in naming similar landscapes in adjacent surveys.  Many inconsistencies in these legends can be resolved with a comprehensive review of MLRA subset legends. **
**The MO recommends that all MLRA Soil Survey Leaders undertake a thorough review of their subset legends to identify problem map units, landscapes, or data. This evaluation will create an inventory of “soil survey issues” that will later be prioritized and addressed via project plans. **
**For example, a review of the legends in MLRA-126 identified the need for update work in several “pre-taxonomy surveys”. The project office developed a project plan and set goals for their work in 2008.  The update survey was improved by correlating by physiographic areas. **

## Evaluation and Maintenance

-  Step Two:   The Benchmark Soil Review
- Review and evaluation of Benchmark soils is an Agency priority. Guidance has been provided by the NSSC on processes to review the current Benchmark soil list (issue paper, Tom Reedy and others). The NCSS has provided excellent guidance in reviewing Benchmark soils.  Most evaluations will extend the concept of benchmark soils to the landscape catena and will include comprehensive data mining to compile information related to the benchmark and associated soils.
- The MO recommends each MSSO evaluate their current Benchmark soils and make recommendations for changes. The MO will coordinate efforts among MSSOs. This review should include an evaluation of a “data completeness index” as described by the NSSC.

## Evaluation and Maintenance

- Step Three:  The OSD Review
-         Revision and maintenance of OSDs is primarily the responsibility of MSSOs. We urge all MSSOs to initiate a plan to systematically review and revise the OSDs in their MLRA(s). This review should prioritize the OSDs and work should begin on benchmark and extensive series or soils involved in on-going MLRA work. It is recommended that each MSSO develop an OSD maintenance plan as part of their long range plan. This should include the review of a specific number of series annually. MO-13 will assign series responsibility to individual MSSOs.

## Evaluation and Maintenance

**Step Three:  The OSD Review (continued)**
**At a minimum, the following items should be addressed (see NSSH for additional guidance): **
**a)****	****determine if the pedon is representative for that series (high importance) **
**b)****	****review the Range in Characteristics **
**c)****	****review the Competing Series (update this section in the competing series also) **
**d)****	****review the Associated Series (update this section in the associated series also) **
**e)****	****review the Geographic Setting **
**f)****	****review Remarks Section; add statements concerning any diagnostic features **
**g)****	****update to 2 meters (if possible) **
**h)****	****convert to metric **

## Evaluation and Maintenance

- Step Four:  The Application of Soil Taxonomy
**MLRA Soil Survey Offices have the responsibility for evaluating Soil Taxonomy. We realize that Soil Taxonomy is fairly stable in the MO-13 Region; however, MSSOs need to identify any issues affecting Soil Taxonomy and help collect appropriate documentation to support revisions. Several issues affecting soils in the MO have been identified, including: **
**          ****a)****	****recognizing anthropogenic induced change in soils **
**                  ****subaqueous soils**
**                  ****mine-land reclamation **
**                 ****drainage **
**                 ****extent and spatial variation of compaction in minesoils**
**         ****b)     CEC activity class **
**         ****c)****	****      soil moisture and temperature regimes **
**         ****d)     horizon criteria; including the usefulness of  subgroups **

## Evaluation and Maintenance

- Step Five:   The Database
- Database activities have been separated into two distinct categories:
-   a.  Integrity and management of site and legend objects; and,
-   b.  Properties and interpretations (the update of soil property and interpretive data).
- More on this tomorrow

## Evaluation and Maintenance

- Step Six:  Organization of the Data
-          The establishment of MSSOs in the restructured soil survey program has created the opportunity for these offices to become clearinghouses for all soil survey information for their assigned MLRAs.  This can lead to the consolidation and compilation of soil survey data currently housed at various locations. Centralizing this information will leave a legacy the next generation of soil scientists will appreciate. This data will also make positive contributions and improve the efficiency of projects.

## Evaluation and Maintenance

- Step Seven:  GIS Applications
-           Along with compiling existing hard copy data, an inventory of existing digital/GIS data will be essential for these new survey offices. The MO provided a digital “basic cartographic set” which includes SSURGO, roads, hydrography, geology,  strongly recommends that each MSSO query GIS sources to develop an inventory of existing data such as ground water, aquifers, land use, geology, STATSGO, etc. Because digital data files can be large, many SOs have developed protocol for storage. It is important that a formal structure is used so data can be easily accessed, updated, protected
-  The MO recommends that a series of resource maps be developed for each MLRA. These maps could highlight conservation or resource issues

## Enhancement

- A Six Step Process
-         1.  The Planning Process
-         2.  Revising the Spatial Data, where required
-         3.  Revising Existing Soil Properties (Super Seven)
-         4.  Establish New Data Elements
-         5.  Develop New Interpretations; and,
-         6.  Miscellaneous Issues

## Step One:The Planning Process

- Our update work will be centered on the planning process outlined in NSSH Part 608
- Priorities determined by input from MLRA Technical Team and MO, SO, and National objectives

## Long Range Plan of Operations

- Describes what is required to bring surveys up to common modern standard.
- Within context of MLRA Region-wide MOU
- Based on ‘evaluations’ (needs list)

## Annual (Business) Plan

- Agency Policy is to have Business Plans
- Follow guidance in GM 340.401 ‘Business Planning’.
- Will contain specifics for completing a portion of the current Project Plan.
- Milestones and actions
- Timeframes and responsibilities
- Progress and status.

## The Project Plan

- Describes work to be accomplished in about 2-5 year period to meet 1 or more highest priority needs.
- Requires a prioritization process
- Requires consensus by “Technical Team”
- SSS’s, MO Leader, MLRA SSO Leader, Cooperating Agencies, Others as appropriate.
- Requires concurrence by STC’s/Partners
- Should be reflected in host-STC goals.

## The Annual and Project Plan

- All Seven MLRA Offices in MO-13 should have plans ready for approval by September 1, 2008 for 2009
- These will be presented to the BOD in September for approval
- What do you want to get accomplished?

## Step Two:  Revising the Spatial Data

- MO-13 will not support traditional means of updating soil surveys unless approved by NHQ Soil Division Director
- No starting over from scratch

## Step Two: Revising the Spatial Data

- New technology will be employed to evaluate and correct current data:
- Unify slope breaks
- Better delineate erosion and deeply dissected areas
- Be more consistent in map units across a given area
- Statistically evaluate soil variability
- Utilize data provided
- More on Thursday

## Step 3: Revising Soil Properties

- Focus on the “Super Seven”
- Organic Matter
- pH
- CEC
- AWC
- PSA
- Db
-  Ksat

## Step 3: Revising Soil Properties

- Focus on the “Super Seven”
- Once voids are identified, field data collection and sampling can be done to quantify properties
- Work should focus on Benchmark soils or “Benchmark landscapes”
- Be sure to evaluate existing characterization data
- Revise and quantify!

## In Summary

- Key Issues
-         Training

## Management of Soil Survey by MLRA Course

- Marc Crouch is point of contact
- Roles/Responsibility and Soil Correlation
- Evaluation of historic soil survey
- Prioritization and planning
- MLRA (long range) work plan (e.g. MLRA 105)
- Project (mid range) plan (MLRA SSA 10-10)
- Annual work plan (plan of operations )

## Management of Soil Survey by MLRA Course

- Project Management
- Role of Benchmark Soils
- Assessment/Evaluation/Validation
- geospatial and attribute
- Correlation Decision Making
- Soil Map Unit geometry/attribute Editing
- Certification and publication

## In Summary

- Key Issues
-   MLRASSO should work on assembling MLRA Technical Team
-        as soon as practical – begin to develop your annual plan for 2009
-        and any project plan required
-   Will present your plans to BOD in September for approval

## Management of Soil Survey by MLRA is a three part sequential process:

**MLRA-wide Data Analysis and Assessment**
**Correlation Decision Making**
**Edit soil map unit geometry (split, merge, re-label, re-shape) and edit attributes**

## Five Keys to Success

- Develop 3 Levels of Coordination
- Use and Refine SOP and Implementation Guide
- Develop and Execute plans (Long-range, Annual, and Project)
- Maintain Clear and open communication
- Provide for Adequate Training

## Where are we in the Restructuring?

## Timeline

- Transition Plans Developed

- Begin Transition

- 108 Offices, 97 Leaders

- Activate Placement Plan

- Quarterly Reports to OAC

- Full Implementation

- July, 2006

- October, 2006

- January 1, 2008

- October, 2008

- October, 2009

- 13 Offices, 16 Leaders

- Planned FY’08

## Slide 60

## Slide 61

## Slide 62

##                THE  END

## For the Reorganization: State Soil Scientists must:

- Account for all employees assigned to soil survey.
- Where/when assigned.
- Written notification? Accepted/rejected?
- Provide example of letter used to notify employees.
- Changes from past report (retire, job change, etc).
- Status of new employees.

## MO Leaders

- To track status of the 146 proposed MLRA Soil Survey Offices.
- Track current number soil scientists in the MLRA Soil Survey Area above or below the calculated funding level for the office.

## USDA Letter Summary

- Letter - Nov. 9, 2007, signed by Asst. Sec, Rutherford.
- MLRA Restructure Plan approved.
- Final implementation requires quarterly updates to the Office of Adjudication and compliance.
- Demotions, grade/series change, RIF, directed reassignments, race, sex, national origin of those placed and those to be placed.
- Joint effort by:
- Soil Survey Division/Civil Rights Division/Human Resources

##  Bulletin For Data Call

- Purpose:
- Update personnel information so we can:
- Account for every employee affected by restructure
- Assess impact on minorities & women
- Provide quarterly reports to the Department.
- You provided this data previously, so it just needs to be updated.
- Contains 2 Spreadsheets
- State Soil Scientists
- MLRA Regional Office Leaders

##  Bulletin

- Bulletin advises states that all employees not previously notified of eventual duty station must be notified by September 30, 2008.
- Expected to be signed by SSRA and Management Deputy Chiefs.

## Possible Office Scenarios

- MLRA SSO staffed and is the only office.
- MLRA SSO staffed and also provides QC for a satellite office that is completing an initial soil survey.
- MLRA SSO is staffed, but is temporarily in a location where its current “project” is an initial soil survey.
_**MUST**_ be conducted as part of the entire MLRA Soil Survey Area.

## FY’09 Goal

- All GS-12 MLRA Soil Survey leader positions filled.
- All employees notified of assignments as part of an MLRA SSO.
- Most MLRA Soil Survey Offices are established.
- A few exceptions will be allowed by the Soil Survey Division Director where this is impractical because the initial is still underway.
- Evaluation and planning process to set priorities for the new offices to begin working on (discussion in breakouts).