Mountain Views November 2000 
Newsletter of the MLRA 6 Office, Lakewood, CO
Greetings From Cam.

We are pleased to present another issue of Mountain Views.  It is our hope that you will find the articles that follow informative, useful, enjoyable, and perhaps amusing.

As more and more of our soils resource data becomes available in digital formats, opportunities for utilizing the data to solve technical issues, create resource inventory maps, and assist with conservation planning are many.  Throughout our region as well as the country, tools to gain access to the data have been developed and are being implemented.  The Soils Data Viewer, which is an ArcView software application, is a module designed to provide easy access to digital soil survey geographical data (SSURGO) and soil interpretations.  The Soils Data Viewer works with the Customer Service Toolkit and is used to create resource planning maps.  The planned implementation for the Viewer is in USDA Service Centers that have digital soil survey information as well as digital orthophoto imagery.  We are looking at ways to provide the Soil Data Viewer and digital soils data to customers in a CD-ROM format for use with their GIS systems. 

The road to being able to deliver digital soils information to the public for their use in solving resource issues begins with the creation of a certifiable database.  Yes, I am referring to "populating NASIS (National Soils Information System) data."  The integrity and usefulness of the delivered product depends upon the initial efforts of the field soil scientist in creating the database.  This is no small task and a lot of effort has gone into training as well as connection to the NASIS system.  

Many hours of sweat go into describing and collecting enough soils resource data in order to make predictions on how the soil will react to the many uses it endures.  The process to get to from the initial soil observations to delivery of useful digital data on a CD is dependent upon the availability of a quality, reliable, and consistent soils property database.

I applaud the efforts of the field soil scientists, and want to remind those who use soils resource information of the dedicated work that goes into delivering technical soils information that can be trusted.

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MLRA Project Office Locations Proposed.	
J.C. Loerch, State Soil Scientist, Colorado and MO-6 Leader

As part of a fiscal year 2001 Soil Survey Division initiative, all the MO offices around the country were asked to work together with the states they serve and to create a map indicating proposed locations for MLRA project offices. As you may remember the Major Land Resources Area (MLRA) concept for conducting project soil surveys was adopted by the NRCS in 1995 as a result of the reinvention process. 

The "MLRA Project Office" will be an important component of the Soil Survey Program of the future. The bottom line is having fewer and better-equipped project offices in lieu of maintaining the one- and two-person project offices. It is believed that it will be easier and more economical to install, maintain and support the latest computers, communications, and GIS tools if fully equipped MLRA Project Offices are established. Other benefits include safe professional working environments, co-location opportunities with university or community colleges, a diffusion of political boundaries, and an enhanced  ability to attract and maintain highly qualified staffs with an opportunity to employ specialists such as GIS experts, foresters, and range conservationists.

The following map illustrates the proposed locations within MO-6. 

Other locations within Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico that are outside of the MO-6 boundary include:
	Ft. Morgan, Colorado	MLRA 67
	La Junta, Colorado	MLRA 69
	Cortez, Colorado		MLRA 36
	Greybull, Wyoming		MLRA 32
	Torrington, Wyoming	MLRA 67
	Buffalo, Wyoming		MLRA 58B
	Grants, New Mexico
	Las Cruces, New Mexico
	
The Lakewood MO-6 Board of Directors (State Conservationists) agreed to the following comments in regards to implementing the proposed MLRA Project Offices:

1. The proposed number and locations of MLRA project offices are preliminary and represent our best thinking at this time. 

2. The States served by MO6 support the MLRA concept and are committed to working together to achieve the objectives of the concept. However, states will implement the components of the concept, including number, location, and staffing of the offices when doing so is commensurate with good business management and will result in improved customer service within mission areas of the agency. A multi-disciplinary approach for technology delivery will be evaluated when establishing any MLRA project office.

3. Because of the size of the counties in some states, it is not always practical to complete several counties from one central office location. We foresee a combination of an MLRA hub office with connected satellite field offices where practical. Also, the life of a super MLRA project office in some areas may be shorter than the ideal concept.

4. There should be no national deadline for implementation of this concept.

The time is upon us to begin implementing the infrastructure and foundation that will allow us to grow and improve the Soils Resource Production and Delivery system of the future. It will not happen overnight and I foresee that each MLRA project office will have its own personality that will fit the resource needs of the area. As with any program delivery process, the success of implementing this concept is dependent upon the efforts of the Project Office field specialists and the committed support of management. I an optimistic that during this fiscal year we will have at least one MLRA Project Office established within the Southern Rocky Mountains Soil Survey Region (MO-6).




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New Developments in GPS 

For the past several years we have been purchasing the global positioning system (GPS) receivers from a military contract with Rockwell Avionics.  The Precision Lightweight GPS Receiver (PLGR) was purchased because of its superior precision for locating points.  Recently the government, which maintains the global positioning system (GPS) satellites, turned off "selective availability" (SA).  What this means to us is that the signal from these satellites is no longer intentionally degraded for security purposes.  Now non-military GPS receivers can locate points with nearly the same precision as the PLGR for a fraction of the price.  The price of the PLGR with accessories has escalated to about $2,500.  Good commercial GPS receivers can be purchased for a few hundred dollars, depending on the brand and features on each model.

After visiting with our National GPS Coordinator in Ft. Worth, TX, we decided to try a commercial GPS receiver and compare precision and features vs. the PLGR.  The model recommended and purchased was the Garmin III Plus.  The accessories we ordered included a carrying case, an external magnetic antenna, mapping software, and a cigarette lighter power cord.  The total cost was $590 per receiver and accessories.



In initial tests the Garmin III Plus has compared very well with the tried-and-true PLGR.  The following is an abridged comparison of some of the features of the two units:

	Garmin III Plus	PLGR
Size:	5.5 x 2 x 2.5"	9 x 4 x 2.5"
Weight:	0.6 lbs.	2.5 lbs.
Internal power - duration:	4 AA - 16 hrs	8 AA - 10 hrs
On-screen maps	Yes	No
Waypoints	500	999
Routes	20 with 30 legs	15 with 25 legs
ASCII output	Yes	No

We have purchased enough of the Garmin III Plus receivers to supply those soil scientists who do not already have a PLGR assigned to them.  Those who will be shipped the new GPS receivers are Marisa Rice, J.P. Pannell, Mike Petersen, and Jim Borchert.  If you need an additional GPS receiver, contact your supervisor and order through your normal channels.

The PLGRs should continue to give us years of service.  They are well suited to soil survey and technical soil services, as well as to other natural resource data collection needs. Hopefully the Garmins will serve us at least as well.  However, because of cost and features, we do not plan on ordering any more PLGRs at this time.

The Garmins do offer more features such as on-screen maps with automatic tracking, are smaller and lighter, and offer precision nearly equal to the PLGRs.


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ALAN WALTERS  
I grew up in NY so I don't like anyone touching my stuff without asking.  I went to college in NY, Ohio and Arizona.  I started with SCS in Wyoming in 1974.  I have worked for the Agency in WY, CO and WA.  I am married with 2 daughters, a weiner dog and a cat. I am always outnumbered.




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This song is included on a CD called "Echoes from the Canyon" by Fleeting Moment, a local bluegrass band.  They made this CD in conjunction with the Black Canyon of the Gunnison becoming a national park. It is being sold in the park and in local music stores here in the valley. There is another song on the CD that I wrote, but it is an instrumental called Gunnison River Rag.

Listen to the River
by Jodi Boyce
(Soil Scientist, Montrose, Colorado)

Listen to the river, the mighty rolling river
Listen to the river, roll on to the sea.

We found the river in '91, so clear and deep and strong,
Rapids running everywhere, we stayed all summer long.

The trees were swaying in the breeze, all nature seemed to dance
In time with the river's music, ringed by rustic elegance.

Listen to the river, the crashing raging river,
Listen to the river, roll on to the sea.

A hot day in the desert we took the horses down,
Water tumbling over the rocks made a deafening sound.

We found the river in '91, so clear and deep and strong,
Memories of that summer, like the river, they roll on.

Listen to the river, the mighty rolling river,
Listen to the river, roll on to the sea.



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By Kelly Pace, Resource Data Collection Specialist, Brighton, Colorado


The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has been collecting resources information since the early 1930's, when the agency was known as the Soil Conservation Service (SCS).  

NRCS is mandated (through the Rural Development Act of 1972, the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act of 1977, and other supporting legislation) to assess the condition, and trends of soil, water, and related resources on the nation's non-Federal lands at intervals of 5 years or less.  To accomplish this assessment, the National Resources Inventory (NRI) program was established.

The first NRI was conducted in 1977, and subsequent inventories were made in 1982,1987,1992, and 1997.  The 2000 NRI is the beginning of a transition to a continual inventory process to better assess the soil conservation, natural resources health, and other environmental issues.

Implementing a continuous inventory will help eliminate the 5-year cycle of hiring or detailing personnel, and training for data collection only to have the team disbanded after data collection is complete.  Another benefit will be up-to-date, relevant data and information.

2000 Natural Resources Inventory

The 2000 NRI was originally slated to be a two part inventory consisting of an on-site inventory and a remotely sensed inventory.  In April of 2000 the on-site portion of the inventory was canceled to allow more time to be focused on the preliminary work necessary for the remotely sensed portion of NRI.

The remotely sensed portion of the NRI uses high quality 9x9 natural color photography along with ancillary materials, (such as cropping history reports, elimination keys, etc.), to determine land cover/use, acres of farms and built-up, acres of rural transportation, and acres of water.  USLE (Universal Soil Loss Eauation) and WEQ (Wind Erosion Equation) factors are also collected on areas that are in cropland, pastureland, and CRP.

The 2000 NRI data collection is scheduled to be completed at the end of December of this year.  At this time, approximately 38% of Colorado and 60% of Southern Wyoming is completed. 


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Establishing a Precedent
By Melissa R. Trenchik

The soil survey team of Laura L. Craven and Melissa R. Trenchik is changing one image of soil science: the Woodland Park, Colorado team represents the only all-female soil survey team in MO 6. 

Laura and I have been working together on the Teller-Park Soil Survey since January of 1998.  This is the first time in Laura's 17-year career that she has worked with another female soil scientist.  During the past four years Colorado has seen a significant increase in the number of female soil scientists; in fact, a female soil scientist is on every Colorado soil survey project with a two-member team.  The influx of women into the soils program is not confined to Colorado, but is occurring throughout the nation. I witnessed another precedent while attending Soil Correlation class this summer: 16 women and 14 men attended - for the first time in NRCS history, the females were in the majority at a soils class!  

NRCS soil scientists are often teased for paying too much attention to detail and for getting too hung up on the numbers.  Well, you all have a good reason to tease us, because I'll bet you won't find anyone who sweats the small stuff like Laura and I do.  We are both striving to do the best job possible no matter what the task, and we always endeavor to learn as much as possible about our discipline.  In our pursuit for excellence we look for ways to promote professionalism. Therefore, we each are ARCPACS Certified Professional Soil Scientists (CPSSc).  So the final precedent I would like to share is that we are the only ALL-FEMALE- ALL-PROFESSIONALLY-CERTIFIED NRCS soil survey crew in the country!   This is a distinction we are rather proud of:  there are a total (male and female) of 1,343 CPSSc in the world, with only 137 female CPSSc, of which 21 are employed by NRCS.

As the culture of soil science changes from progressive soil surveys to update surveys and technical soil services, we all need to cultivate professionalism.  In Colorado there are 31 Certified Professional Soil Scientists, but only 7 of those are NRCS employees.  I feel we are underrepresented in this arena, especially since NRCS is the lead agency for soils.  As more private sector scientists delve into our area of expertise and maintain a greater number of Certified Professionals, we as NRCS employees are in danger of losing our credibility. The certification process is not all that difficult-the most painful part is sending in your exam fee. If anyone is interested in obtaining their Certification, please contact me and I can give you the details. 

<melissa.trenchik@co.usda.gov>


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The soils section has a new scanner.  It has the capability to scan materials up to 36" wide in color.  Other options include scanning to several different image file formats as well as scanning straight to a specified printer or plotter.  This tool will be a great addition in our ongoing efforts to fully automate NRCS data sources.  For example, the soils folks in the field have the option of having their original field sheets scanned and transferred to CD for security copies.  It will also allow the soils group to revitalize archaic copies of  published Colorado soil surveys that are so dang old they've dwindled down to a single remaining copy.

The GIS section is so dang excited to implement this technology in various mapping and cartographic applications such as scanning ongoing soil survey mapping!!  In this example, field sheets could be scanned as they become available, allowing NRCS to provide soils data to local GIS users as quickly as possible.  Other non-existing 24k data layers for Colorado could be scanned and vectorized for map finishing, Customer Service Tool kit, GIS projects and what not.



  Chris Mueller 
  GIS Specialist
  USDA/NRCS
  GIS/Remote Sensing
  <chris.mueller@co.usda.gov>

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Paramicaceous - a Flaky Taxonomic Break?
Tom Hahn, SDQS, MO6 staff

Ever since the criteria for the paramicaceous mineralogy class came out, we have been debating about how to apply it in MO6. According to the NSSC Classification staff, "The paramicaceous class was established to include those soils that have properties resulting from significant mica and mica pseudomorph content, but they do not make the greater than 40 percent (by weight) limit. Low shear strength is still an important property of soils that meet the criteria of paramicaceous." 

Our question became, "If we indeed have these soils, are they mappable and are they significant to soil behavior and management?"

The first survey to face this issue was Rocky Mountain National Park. Mica was abundant in the Park and a decision had to be made. Based on numerous reference samples with grain-count data, Project Leader Lee Neve and I decided 40 to 70 percent mica by grain count should be considered paramicaceous. These soils were generally shallow or moderately deep and developed in colluvium or residuum from granite, gneiss, and schist (Silver Plume Formation). Very deep soils from till generally had less than 40 percent mica. Lab data supported this 'rule of thumb' and because of the correlation to soil depth and parent material, it seemed mappable. Soil series were correlated accordingly.

I will soon be testing this rule of thumb to see if it provides a meaningful separation for soil behavior. The National Soil Mechanics Lab has provided Atterberg limits on a dataset of mica soils from throughout Colorado that have mica grain-count data. Some of these samples also have experimental data for mica by weight. I hope a pattern will emerge that will indicate a mica content that has a significant effect on liquid limit or plasticity index. The objective is to add value to our soil surveys by correlating taxonomic classes (and thereby our soil maps) to practical soil interpretations.