Fall 2014

The Coastal Plainer

Volume 18, No. 1

3381 Skyway Drive, P.O. Box 311, Auburn, AL 36830

Phone: (334) 887-4549 Fax: (334) 887-4551

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/soils/survey/office/ssr7/

Soil Survey

Region #7

Message from the

SSRO–Leader’s 

Desk

By Charles Love, Regional Director

Again, greetings everyone!

Thank you for another 

successful year. We met 

the challenges folks!

First, I want to take a 

moment on behalf of my 

family and myself to thank 

you for the cards, emails, and other support 

during my recovery following my medical 

procedure. I am slowly transitioning back to the 

work place.

This year, we had great collaboration from 

our technical and management teams as 

we carried out the activities of soil data join 

recorrelation (SDJR), initial soil survey, and 

MLRA soil survey. MLRA soil survey offices, 

ecological site specialists, and soil survey 

regional office team members developed and 

completed 325 projects for SDJR, initial soil 

survey, MLRA soil survey, and the ecological 

site inventory (ESI), totaling 4,323,228 acres. 

We provided soils data that is impacting over 

40 strike-force counties, which are counties 

that have been identified as having over 20 

percent poverty. USDA–NRCS is providing 

additional resources to better serve producers 

in these areas. The project data impacts five 

landscape conservation initiatives in Region 

7: Gulf of Mexico Initiative (GoMI), Everglades 

Initiative (EI), Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative 

(MBHI), Longleaf Pine Initiative (LLPI), and 

Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds 

Initiative (MRBI). The data 

also help establish a strong 

database for activities 

related to the Conservation 

Delivery Streamlining 

Initiative (CDSI) and 

modeling units.

SDJR

The Soil Science Division 

(SSD) leadership is asking 

the Soil Survey Regional 

Directors to make it a 

priority to accelerate SDJR 

for the next 2 years. We will evaluate all our 

data map units in the NASIS database. This 

new approach will surely help us provide soil 

survey information that is consistent across 

political boundaries, expedites the conservation 

planning process, supports CDSI, and provides 

consistent soils data for Conservation Effects 

Helping People Understand Soils

In This Issue:

Message from the SSRO–Leader’s Desk ............ 1

Earth, Wind, and Fire in Central Florida ............. 5

New to SSRO–7 .................................................. 7

Delta Bell, USDA–NRCS Pathways Intern ........ 8

Mapping and Classifying Reclaimed Coal 

Mine Soils ..................................................... 9

Bucket List Trip 2014 ....................................... 10

From the Field ................................................... 13

Lower Mississippi Valley Water Table Study ... 14

Regional Modeling Unit Fact Sheet .................. 15

Nondiscrimination Statement ............................ 16

And One from the Past ...................................... 17
2 The Coastal Plainer

Assessment Project (CEAP) analyses to help 

meet the agency overall priorities.

ESI

In FY–14, we established two ESI projects 

covering portions of MLRAs 151, 154, and 

155. These projects allowed us to complete 

key fieldwork. We conducted two quality 

assurance field reviews to ensure we were 

meeting national standards for the ecological 

sites. These QA reviews enabled our ES 

quality assurance specialist to approve the 

sites. 

The SSR–7 ES team also developed a strategic 

plan that identifies ES projects through 2018 

in MLRAs 134, 151, 154, and 155. As we gain 

opportunities to increase our regional ES staff, 

we look forward to also establishing ES projects 

in MLRA 133A (the Coastal Plain area). MLRA 

133A is one of the largest ES project areas in 

the region.

Four ES projects have been approved:

• MLRA 151A: Gulf Coast Marsh.—Lead by

Charles Stemmans and Burnell Muse (A 

QA review was held in June, 2014.)

• MLRAs 154 and 155: Yellow Sands Xeric 

Uplands of Central Florida.—Lead by 

Susan Carr and Rachel Stout-Evans (A 

QA review was held in August 2014.) 

• MLRAs 133A, 152A, and 138: Panhandle 

Xeric Longleaf Pine Sandhills.—Lead by 

Susan Carr and Rachel Stout-Evans

• MLRA 134: Deep Loess Backslopes 

Ecological Site Inventory, Southern 

Mississippi Valley Loess.—Lead by Barry 

Hart and Caleb Gulley

I want to give special thanks to those States 

that participated in the ESI quality assurance 

field reviews and express my hopes that they 

and other State staffs will have the opportunity 

to assist in future reviews. The technical 

engagement and insight from the State staff 

members at these field reviews was invaluable. 

I appreciate their efforts in enabling us to move 

forward to the next steps: final correlation, 

certification, and delivery of an ecological 

site description to our external and internal 

customers. 

In FY–2015, the SSR–7 regional ecological 

site QA specialist, ecological site QC 

specialists, and MLRA soil survey office 

leaders will be developing projects that 

accelerate ES activities by MLRA throughout 

the region. 

We also plan to identify “Provisional” ecological 

sites to meet the National ES Handbook 

instructions. All of the soil survey regions, 

including SSR–7, will be working in conjunction 

with National Headquarters staff, States, 

and cooperators to analyze named soil 

components and build provisional ecological 

site communities based on MLRAs and soil 

groups. The soils within each MLRA will 

be grouped into provisional ecological sites 

using soil taxonomy or specific soil properties 

that are relevant to vegetative species and 

performance. The provisional site descriptions 

will include draft site concepts, state-andtransition models, and state-and-transition 

narratives. Guidance regarding the provisional 

sites will be provided as it is received from 

headquarters.

Administrative Transformation

The Soil Survey Division is now responsible for 

support of the operating budget for soil survey 

regional offices and MLRA soil survey offices. 

A National Administrative Customer Support 

Team has been established to help the Soil 

Science Division with agency administrative 

transformation procedures. One job of the 

team will be to assist in transitioning the 

following activities to the 12 regional offices: 

travel, purchase cards, human resources, and 

AgLearn activities. Our regional administrative 

assistant and I will be working closely with 

the various teams to help SSD deploy these 

administrative transformation efforts as they 

come on board.

Just recently, the administrative assistants 

for the soil survey regional offices hosted a 

Helping People Understand Soils
Soil Survey Region #7 3

teleconference to discuss key administrative 

tasks. This outstanding group deployed their 

problem solving skills to help the agency’s 

efforts at administrative transformation. We 

are very pleased with the exceptional skill set 

the group has demonstrated in best serving 

soil survey offices and regional offices and in 

supporting the soil survey regional directors. 

The administrative assistants will continue to 

host a monthly teleconference to engage in the 

dialog needed to ensure continuity among the 

regional offices and thereby meet the overall 

agency goals.

This group is working closely with SSD staff 

and customer team members to develop 

support for use of GovTrip, Purchase Card 

Management, WebTCAS, and AgLearn 

systems. For example, we envision the 

administrative assistant at each regional 

office serving as regional custodian for 

AgLearn, ensuring enrollment, developing 

the annual training-needs inventory, and 

tracking the training for all staff members. 

This work will help us meet the overall agency 

training mission. The National Leader for 

AgLearn is implementing this procedure as 

part of the agency’s efforts at administrative 

transformation.

I want to personally thank the SSR–7 State 

Conservationists, their administrative staffs, and 

the state soil scientists for all their outstanding 

support during our transitions.

Projects

NRCS has begun working with the Agricultural 

Research Service (ARS) to assist with the 

National Ecological Observatory Network 

(NEON), which is a major national research 

effort. Specific areas of interest for NEON 

are factors that cause ecosystem change 

(climate change, land use change, and 

invasive species) and parameters that respond 

to change (biodiversity, biogeochemistry, 

ecohydrology, and infectious diseases). 

Our contribution to this national project will 

involve collecting soils samples, preparing 

soil descriptions, and analyzing various 

pedons throughout the region. We are looking 

forward to working with SSD, the National Soil 

Survey Center, and state soil scientists on this 

important effort. I will keep you posted as the 

effort progresses.

In FY–14, the MLRA SSOs and SSR–7 team 

documented in NASIS 115 technical soil 

services support activities, totaling 3,936 

hours. The SSR–7 team is glad to assist the 

state soil scientists as they empower technical 

soil services to support conservation program 

delivery throughout the region.

Some of the special projects supported and 

completed in SSR–7 in FY–14 include:

• Soil Monitoring Network study in 

conjunction with Colorado State 

University (Alabama, Georgia, and 

Mississippi)

• Order-one survey (~100 acres) in 

conjunction with North Carolina State 

University (Alabama and Mississippi)

• Soil sampling projects for “Soil 

Formation, Carbon Cycling, and 

Organo-mineral Interactions in Alabama 

Blackland Prairie Vertisols” working with 

Auburn University

• Lower Mississippi Valley soil moisture 

study in conjunction with University 

of Arkansas (Arkansas, Louisiana, 

Mississippi, and Tennessee)

• Initial mapping for water conservation 

district properties in conjunction with 

South Florida Water Conservation District 

(Florida)

• Update mapping in Ocala National Forest 

(MLRA 133A) in conjunction with U.S. 

Forest Service (Florida)

• Mapping and classifying of reclaimed 

coal mine soils (Choctaw County, 

Mississippi)

• Assistance with soils information for 

ecological demonstration sites at 

Tuskegee University Longleaf Pine 

Plantations in conjunction with various 

agencies and foundations across the 

southeast region

Helping People Understand Soils
4 The Coastal Plainer

Personnel

FY–14 Summer Interns (Pathways)

Trey Allen Reich

• Location: MLRA Soil Survey Office, 

Denham Springs, Louisiana

• Starting date: 5/19/2014

• College: LSU

Gregory Reynolds

• Location: MLRA Soil Survey Office, 

Meridian, Mississippi

• Starting date: 7/25/2014

• College: Alcorn University

Jarmarius Reed

• Location: MLRA Soil Survey Office, Tifton, 

Georgia

• Starting date: 5/19/2014

• College: TSU

Delta Bell

• Location: MLRA Soil Survey Office, 

Tupelo, Mississippi

• Starting date: 5/19/2014

• College: UAPB

New Employees

Dr. Charlie Ogg

• Position: Modeling unit coordinator for SE 

Regional Conservationist Administrative 

Area

• Location: Auburn, Alabama

William Covington

• Position: Administrative support assistant

• Location: Auburn, Alabama

Aaron Friend

• Position: Soil data quality specialist

• Location: Auburn, Alabama

Retirement

Scott Anderson

• Position: Senior regional soil scientist

• Location: Auburn, Alabama 

• Date: November 29th

Priorities

I am very excited to take this opportunity to 

share with you the Soil Science Division (SSD) 

priorities for FY–2015.

• Strengthen the National Cooperative 

Soil Survey (NCSS) through increased 

transparency in the strategic planning 

process and through collaboration in 

achieving NCSS goals.

• Strengthen technical soil services 

to support soil health initiatives, 

conservation planning, and program 

delivery.

• Increase integration of soil science with 

climate change initiatives.

• Accelerate the Soil Survey Data Join 

Recorrelation (SDJR) initiative with the 

overall goal of completing the initial phase

in 3 years.

• Accelerate production of ecological site 

description products in collaboration with 

State technical staff and partners.

• Formulate a plan to accelerate the 

foundational (initial) soil inventory on all 

lands, including Federal lands.

Each of these priorities is equally important to 

achieving the goals of the Soil Science Division 

and the Natural Resources Conservation 

Service. Please look for more details about 

each priority in an upcoming national bulletin 

and help share the priorities with our State 

Conservationists, partners, and cooperators to 

help us meet our present and future priorities 

and support our mission.

In closing, FY–14 was an outstanding year 

for meeting our goal of providing high quality, 

science-based soils information through 

agency product delivery systems to serve our 

internal and external customers as they put 

conservation on the land. As we say, “Help 

People, Help the Land.” I feel FY–15 will be 

another exciting year for Soil Survey Region 7 

and our MLRA soil survey offices as we meet 

Soil Science Division priorities and in turn 

support the agency priorities. Please join me in 

embracing these new opportunities!

As always, thank you for your support.

—Charles 

Helping People Understand Soils
Soil Survey Region #7 5

Earth, Wind, and Fire in 

Central Florida

A Field Review oF Yellow SAndS XeRic

UplAndS ecologicAl Site pRoject in

MlRA 154

By Susan Carr, Ecological Site Inventory Specialist, Tavares, 

Florida

The first-ever quality assurance (QA) and field 

review of an ecological site inventory (ESI) 

project in Florida occurred at Tavares during 

the week of August 11, 2014. Specifically, 

participants gathered to review the “Yellow 

Sands Xeric Uplands” ecological site of central 

Florida. Members of the Florida ESI technical 

team were present, including soil scientists, 

biologists, range specialists, and others from 

Florida, Mississippi, and the soil survey regional 

offices in Auburn and Raleigh (SSRO–7 and 

SSRO–3). Also present for the 2-day field 

review were our partners with the USFS Ocala 

National Forest, The Nature Conservancy, and 

Florida Natural Areas Inventory.

This ecological site occupies areas of droughty, 

excessively drained, deep sands in Florida’s 

Ridge and Upland physiographic regions. 

The yellowish colored sands of the Astatula 

and Candler soil series occupy approximately 

700,000 acres of MLRA 154, with a north 

to south distribution of over 200 miles in 

the Florida Peninsula. Natural vegetation 

communities in MLRA 154 on yellow sands 

includes Longleaf Pine Sandhills, Sand Pine 

Scrubs, and Xeric Hammocks. The two latter 

plant communities feature thick growths of 

evergreen oak species. The Yellow Sands 

Xeric Uplands ecological site is complex. The 

predominant ecological drivers for the structure 

and composition of native vegetation are fire, 

The extent of Astatula and Candler (yellow sands) map hurricanes, and climate. In fact, these drivers 

units in MLRA 154.

Julie Ruh and Rachel Stout-Evans, NRCS soil scientists, 

dig a soil pit in the Ocala National Forest.

Helping People Understand Soils
6 The Coastal Plainer

may surpass soil properties in influencing 

plant communities. Accordingly, the stateand-transition model for this humid-subtropic 

ecological site is so complex that the field 

review team had a lot to look at and consider.

In an attempt to see the geographic variation 

in native vegetation of the Yellow Sands Xeric 

Uplands site, the review team hit the road 

for 2 days of field trips. On the first day, the 

review team visited the Longleaf Pine Sandhills 

of Riverside Island in Ocala National Forest. 

These sandhills are not on a real island; rather, 

they are an “island” of longleaf pine in a sea 

of sand pine scrub! Also, these very different 

plant communities occur on identical soils. 

Interestingly, the fire regime determines the 

distribution and structure of sandhill vs. scrubs 

in Ocala National Forest. Carrie Sekerak, 

wildlife biologist at the Ocala National Forest, 

explained the specifics of fire management and 

ecology in the forest.

On the second day, the review team headed 

about 120 miles south to Tiger Creek Preserve 

in south-central Florida. Tiger Creek is owned 

and managed by The Nature Conservancy. 

It has been managed with fire for decades, 

making it an important site for observing 

naturally fire-maintained plant communities. 

Preserve managers Steve Morrison and Adam 

Peterson treated the group to a ride through 

the preserve on a swamp buggy (which has 

been “repurposed” as a scrub buggy). From 

this vantage, the group was able to really see 

the “lay of the land” and to understand how 

xeric uplands are managed and restored with 

prescribed fire.

Helping People Understand Soils

Longleaf pine sandhills (left) and sand pine scrub (right) in the Ocala National Forest.
Soil Survey Region #7 7

On the final day of the field review, the 

group summed up issues and offered 

recommendations for implementation as 

Florida’s ESI staff moves forward with the 

Yellow Sands Xeric Uplands project. The field 

review and the subsequent documentation mark

a project milestone. The ESD has now reached 

“Approved” status, and acres will be reported 

to Congress. The next phase of the project 

includes correlation to specific SSURGO map 

units, inclusion in NASIS and ESIS databases, 

and eventual implementation in NRCS agency 

programs. 

Thank you to all who participated and provided 

input in this large, multidisciplinary effort. 

New to SSRO–7

Aaron Friend has joined Soil Survey Regional 

Office 7 at Auburn, Alabama. He comes to us 

from the soil survey 

office for MLRA 148 

(Northern Piedmont) 

in Frederick, 

Maryland, where 

he had been since 

early 2010. In 

addition to working 

on the Soil Data 

Join Recorrelation 

(SDJR), he 

organized and 

maintained the 

NASIS database 

for MLRA 148. 

Aaron also worked 

on sampling for 

the Rapid Carbon 

Assessment 

as a field soil 

scientist. Another 

major focus of his 

activities in 2013 

was coordination 

for the National 

Cooperative Soil 

Survey Conference, which was hosted by the 

State of Maryland.

Aaron started with NRCS in 1999 as a field soil 

scientist in Cumberland, Maryland, where he 

was supervised by Carl Robinette. Charged 

with updating the soil survey of Allegany 

County, Maryland, Aaron was heavily involved 

with GIS updates from across the State.

Prior to joining NRCS, Aaron managed the Soil 

Research Lab at West Virginia University.

Aaron was born and raised in Morgantown, 

West Virginia. He graduated from West Virginia 

University with a degree in Environmental 

Protection, and he continues to bleed gold and 

blue. Outside of the office, he is an avid road 

bicyclist and enjoys remodeling homes. His 

wife and infant son are excited to make Auburn 

home.

We are all looking forward to having Aaron as a 

part of the SSRO–7 team in Auburn. 

Aaron Friend, new soil data quality specialist, at Soil Survey Regional Office 7 in Auburn.

Helping People Understand Soils
8 The Coastal Plainer

Delta Bell, USDA–NRCS 

Pathways Intern

By Steve Depew, MLRA Soil Survey Office Leader, Tupelo, 

Mississippi

Delta Bell is a USDA–NRCS Pathways intern 

currently at the Pine Bluff, Arkansas, MLRA 

soil survey office, where she is training with 

soil scientist Willie Nelson. Delta has shown 

a great interest in soils and is eager to learn 

what she can. She was originally from Lonoke, 

Arkansas, where she graduated from Lonoke 

High School in 2011. She is a senior at the 

University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff, working on 

a comprehensive major in agronomy with an 

emphasis on soil science. During the 2013–

2014 school year, her course work included soil 

fertility and chemistry.

Delta started her USDA–NRCS Pathways 

internship the summer of 2013 at the MLRA 

soil survey office in Normal, Alabama. While in 

Alabama, she trained with soil scientist Chris 

Ford. She spent the summer of 2014 with 

us at the MLRA soil survey office in Tupelo, 

Mississippi. While in Mississippi, she saw 

the Eutaw and Tuscaloosa formations, the 

Blackland Prairie, and the Ripley formation 

(Pontotoc Ridge). Among her other activities, 

she also attended an all-day teacher workshop 

at the Itawamba Community College at 

Beldon, Mississippi. 

We are all looking forward to continuing to 

work with Delta and to providing her with more 

field mapping exercises and other educational 

opportunities. 

Delta Bell being presented a Certificate of Appreciation for her service in Mississippi to the Region 7 MLRA Soil 

Survey Office in Tupelo. Presenting the certificate is Mississippi State Soil Scientist Delaney Johnson.

Helping People Understand Soils
Soil Survey Region #7 9

Mapping and Classifying 

Reclaimed Coal Mine Soils in 

Choctaw County, Mississippi

By Chris Hatcher, MLRA Soil Survey Office Leader, 

Meridian, Mississippi

NRCS has started a long-term project with 

the objectives of mapping, classifying, and 

delineating soils in reclaimed areas of the Red 

Hills Coal Mine in Choctaw County, Mississippi. 

The project includes an evaluation of soils on 

reconstructed landscapes within the boundary 

of the mine property. The project area is in 

Major Land Resource Area 133A, the Southern 

Coastal Plain.

The soil survey of Choctaw County was 

completed in 1986. The Red Hills Mine began 

production in 2000, approximately 14 years 

after the survey was 

completed. The mine 

covers a permitted 

area of 5,809 

acres and delivers 

approximately 3.25 

million tons of coal per 

year. Examination 

of the soil survey 

indicates that much of the area that has been 

reclaimed consisted primarily of Smithdale, 

Sweatman, and Providence soils in the uplands 

and, to a lesser extent, Chenneby, Oaklimeter, 

and Tippah soils along flood plains and on 

stream terraces. Much of the natural soil and 

landscape have been removed during mining 

operations. All of these areas have been 

reconstructed and restored to “approximate 

original contours.” In most cases, these areas 

were improved in regards to land use efficiency. 

In many cases, reclamation was done in a 

repetitive and consistent pattern, causing some 

uniformity throughout the reclamation process.

Several soil series has been established on 

reconstructed, oxidized materials resulting 

from lignite mining in Mississippi and other 

States. Although these series are on geological 

formations similar to those of the project 

area, initial studies indicate a distinct contrast 

between these established series and the soils 

of the Red Hills Mine area. This project will 

establish and examine baseline data to define 

the composition of the soils in the project area 

and to establish series and mapping units 

that adequately reflect their taxonomy and 

interpretations.

To date, approximately 1,200 acres have been 

reclaimed and remapped. Annually, 200 to 250

acres are being reclaimed. Current evaluation

of the soils indicate several significant soil type

that can be identified at the soil series level 

of classification. The Redhills soil series was 

established in the Red Hills Mine area.

Prior to mining, the mining company was 

required to provide a detailed inventory of 

natural resources and detailed descriptions 

of how those resources would be effected 

s 

s 

or protected during 

mining, how the 

mining would be 

conducted, and how 

the land and other 

natural resources 

would be restored 

or reclaimed to 

productive and 

useable conditions after mining was completed. 

The mine is required to operate in compliance 

with many local, State, and federal laws and 

regulations, including those related to county 

road closures and relocations, surface- and 

ground-water quality and use, archeological 

and historical resources, wetlands, rare 

and endangered plants and animals, radio 

transmissions, solid waste disposal, and dam 

design.

Most of the mined land at the Red Hills Mine 

is being restored to loblolly pine forest, as 

requested by area landowners. The restoration 

includes small wildlife food plots in the upland 

forested areas. In the drainage bottoms, 

the restoration includes hardwood plantings, 

enhanced stream channels, small wetland 

areas, and ponds, which are important for local 

fish and wildlife resources. The mine company 

“Ultimately, this project will provide 

the documentation and baseline data 

to complete the soil mapping of other 

reclaimed mining areas in Mississippi 

and beyond.”

Helping People Understand Soils
10 The Coastal Plainer

has planted over 200,000 trees as part of 

the reclamation process. The removed soil 

materials are stored until the excavation of the 

lignite is complete and then are re-spread and 

contoured for reclamation purposes. The mine 

manages reclaimed land until it can be returned 

to the owner’s care, generally at least 7 years 

after all mining and reclamation is complete, as 

required by mining regulations. Approximately 

6,000 acres will be reclaimed during the lifetime 

of the Red Hills Mine, and more than 30,000 will 

be reclaimed in the Kemper County Mine, which 

is in the initial stages of development. 

Information from this project will assist in the 

mapping and reclassification of reclaimed 

areas. It will also aid in establishing guidelines 

for interpretations of these sites in the 

future. Ultimately, this project will provide the 

documentation and baseline data to complete 

the soil mapping of other reclaimed mining 

areas in Mississippi and beyond. 

The Grand Staircase

Overview of the Grand Staircase, showing locations of National Parks.

Bucket List Trip 2014: 

Zion and Grand Canyon 

National Parks

By Gregory R. Brannon, Soil Data Quality Specialist, Soil 

Survey Regional Office 7, Auburn Alabama; Sandy Page, 

Soil Scientist, Soil Survey Field Office 7–LOX, Loxley, 

Alabama; Jerome Langlinais, MLRA Soil Survey Project 

Leader, Soil Survey Field Office 7–LOX, Loxley, Alabama; 

and Joey Koptis, District Conservationist, Baldwin County, 

Alabama

On or around the last week of July, three soil 

scientists and a district conservationist from 

Soil Survey Region 7, accompanied by family 

members, embarked on a self-guided field trip 

of Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon, 

which they hiked from rim-to-rim. They studied 

soils, geomorphology, and vegetation patterns 

and relationships as they hiked the parks.

Zion National Park, Utah

The first part of this trip was spent in Zion 

National Park (NP), Utah. Zion NP and Grand 

Canyon NP are located on the western edge of 

the Colorado Plateau. Geologic erosion and 

uplift have created a regional feature called the 

Grand Staircase. The bottom layer of Zion, the 

Kaibab Formation, is the top layer of the Grand 

Canyon.

Most areas of Zion NP are sedimentary 

in nature, being formed during periods of 

deposition by water and wind. Uplift and erosion 

allowed the Virgin River and its tributaries to 

carve valleys and narrow canyons. 

Navajo Sandstone is a geologic formation in the 

Glen Canyon Group. It is part of the Colorado 

Plateau province of the United States and 

is spread across southern Nevada, northern 

Arizona, northwestern Colorado, and Utah.

Helping People Understand Soils
Soil Survey Region #7 11

Tortuous bedding planes of Navaho Sandstone. They show the eolian character of one of the largest desert sand dune 

complexes in the history of the planet. The desert existed from the late Triassic to early Jurassic. This picture was 

taken from the trail up to Angels Landing, a popular hiking destination at Zion National Park.

The trail up to Angel’s Landing. The lower part of the 

trail is in the Chinle Formation. A series of 21 

switchbacks, known as “Walter’s Wiggles,” are cut 

into the Moenave and Kayenta formations leading up 

to the Navaho Sandstone.

Navigating the last part of the trail to Angel’s Landing in 

Zion NP. Six people have died on this part of the trail 

since 2004. This part of the trail is on the Carmel 

Formation. The summit is 5,790 feet above sea level.

Helping People Understand Soils
12 The Coastal Plainer

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

The Grand Canyon was formed by downcutting 

by the Colorado River, which exposed the 

sedimentary layers that were earlier deposited 

on the Grand Canyon Supergroup. The 

downcutting occurred simultaneously with 

uplift of the Colorado Plateau, increasing the 

erosive power of the river and contributing 

greatly to the magnitude and grandeur of this 

natural wonder. 

The Grand Canyon exposes one of the world’s 

most complete records of geologic time, ranging 

in age from the 270 million year old caprock on 

the rims to the 1.84 billion year old rocks within 

the Inner Gorge at the bottom. Nearly 40 rock 

layers have been identified in the Canyon walls. 

The Canyon is 277 river-miles long, up to 18 

miles wide, and a mile deep. 

Our group hiked the Bright Angel Trail from the 

North Rim to the South Rim in 2 days for a total 

journey of over 25 miles. We had so much fun, 

we now hope to explore Yosemite National Park 

in 2015. 

The Grand Canyon looking south from the North Rim.

Hiking down the North Rim.

Helping People Understand Soils
Soil Survey Region #7 13

From the Field

By Caleb Gulley, MLRA Soil Survey Office Leader, Milan, 

Tennessee

MLRA Soil Survey Office 7-MIL stayed busy this 

past year. Two of our more unique activities 

were our extensive involvement with the 2014 

NCSS Southern Regional Conference and our 

sampling of a Histosol.

The 2014 Southern Regional Conference of 

the National Cooperative Soil Survey was 

hosted at Jackson, Tennessee. About 70 

people were in attendance, representing 

multiple State and federal agencies and 

universities. All staff members from MLRA 

Soil Survey Office 7–MIL in Milan, Tennessee, 

served as planning committee members, 

field tour developers, and support staff for 

the conference. The planning committee 

met several times throughout the year in an 

attempt to develop an agenda and field tour 

that were both appropriate and interesting. 

The theme for this year’s conference 

was “PEDS: Partnerships for Ecological 

Deliverables and Sustainability.” The field 

tour highlighted the ecological site inventory 

in the work area, research at the University of 

Tennessee’s Milan Experiment Station, and 

sand blows and fissures at the Tennessee 

Wildlife Resource Agency’s (TWRA) Bogota 

Wildlife Management Area. The features at the 

management area were caused by earthquakes 

at Reelfoot Lake in 1811–1812. The trip 

culminated in a boat tour of Reelfoot Lake. 

The 7-MIL Soil Survey Office had the 

opportunity to sample a Histosol in Henry 

County, Tennessee. The area is located on 

property owned by the Tennessee Valley 

Authority (TVA). The site has been submitted 

by TVA for enrollment in their Natural Area 

Program. Due to the rarity of the site’s 

characteristics, it may be placed in their Habitat 

Protection Program. The study of the site is 

a collaborative effort between NRCS, TVA, 

and the University of Tennessee—Knoxville. 

Ecologists from NRCS and TVA have assessed 

the site, and soil scientists from NRCS have 

collected and submitted soil samples to the 

Kellogg Soil Survey Laboratory. Core samples 

are scheduled to be collected by a paleoecologist from the University of Tennessee later 

in the year. 

Participants of the 2014 Southern Regional Cooperative Soil Survey Conference at Reelfoot Lake.

Helping People Understand Soils
14 The Coastal Plainer

Lower Mississippi Valley 

Water Table Study

By Burnell Muse, MLRA Soil Survey Office Leader, Denham 

Springs, Louisiana

In the shadow of SDJR, we are in the second 

phase of the Lower Mississippi Valley 

(LMV) water table study. The study is being 

conducted by NRCS with the intent of more 

accurately measuring the water table of loamy 

textured soils within the meander belts along 

the Mississippi River and determining if the 

redoximorphic features associated with these 

soils are the effect of the water table or are 

relic.

Phase one of the study focused mainly on 

the fine-silty Dundee soil series. Monitoring 

of these soils was completed in 2008 and 

2009. Phase two of the study began in the 

fall of 2010 as a collaborative effort between 

the MLRA soil survey offices at Denham 

Springs, Louisiana; Metcalfe, Mississippi; and 

Milan, Tennessee. Phase two is focused on 

four states: Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, 

and Tennessee. The-fine silty Commerce 

series is the main focus of phase two. A 

small percentage of Amagon series is being 

evaluated as well.

The study procedure consists of inserting 

automatic water data loggers (piezometers) 

at various depths in the soil. The depths are 

mainly at the contact to the argillic horizon, 

within the argillic horizon, and at 2 meters. 

More tubes are added in soils that have 

restricted layers. The Denham Springs MLRA 

soil survey office monitors three sites in West 

Baton Rouge and Pointe Coupee Parishes. 

Two or three piezometers are installed at each 

site. Data collected from the data loggers 

are uploaded to the SSRO–7 SharePoint 

site. The data will be used to refine NASIS 

interpretations for water depth and water 

movement. 

From left, Rolong Nelson, assistant state soil scientist, Arkansas; Burnell Muse, MLRA soil survey office leader, 

Denham Springs, LA; Brandon Waltman, soil scientist, Denham Springs, LA; and Dr. Kristofor Brye, professor, 

University of Arkansas.

Helping People Understand Soils
Soil Survey Region #7 15

 Regional Modeling Unit

Fact Sheet

 Four NRCS Regional Modeling Units established in 2014

 Aligned with NRCS Regional Conservationist areas

Coordinators Supervision

Northeast: Glenn Stanisewski, Amherst, MA (SSR-12) Soil Survey Regional Director (SSRD) at respective 

Central: Drew Kinney, Temple, TX (SSR-9) Soil Survey Regional Offices (SSRO) and

West: Carrie-Ann Houdeshell, Davis, CA (SSR-2) Lee Norfleet, Modeling Unit Team Leader, Resource

Southeast: Charlie Ogg, Auburn, AL (SSR-7) Assessment Division (RAD), Temple, TX

History and Development • Modeling began in Temple, TX in the 1960s with Dr. Jimmy Williams (USDA-ARS) in association with

Texas A&M Agri-Life, Blackland Research and Extension Center.

• Modeling program designed to answer the question “What are the effects of soil erosion on crop productivity?”

• Temple modeling group has supplied information to Farm Bills and RCAs since the early 1980s.

• APEX (Agricultural Policy Environmental Extender) is a cropland model and is built on the earlier

model EPIC (Erosion and Productivity Impact Calculator).

o Capable of simulating land management practices, cropping systems, grazing systems, and

the effects of conservation decisions.

o Works at a broad landscape scale; and at field, farm, and small watershed scales.

• APEX has evolved into a tool for hydrology, sediment yield, storm and flood routing, crop growth and

yield, nutrient routing, water yield, and other functions. In addition, APEX capabilities are able to

predict the impact of conservation practices on grazing lands.

Major Applications

• CEAP (Conservation Effects Assessment Project). Quantifies the environmental effects of conservation

practices and programs, and develops the science base for managing the agricultural landscape for

environmental quality. (http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/technical/nra/ceap/)

• State Resource Assessments. Documents the effects of conservation practices and systems at

various geographic levels so that better decisions can be made up front and risk is managed more

effectively. (http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/technical/nra/)

Modeling Units—Current Activities • APEX output relies on a number of soil properties via soil map unit input. For the model to make the

best predictions and assessments, soils data are obtained from NASIS. Modeling Unit Coordinators

are currently working on importing KSSL lab characterization pedons as model input.

• Regional expertise is developed as Modelers participate on MLRA Soil Survey Office Technical

Teams within their assigned region.

• Presently the two priority areas for CEAP Cropland Assessment Studies using the APEX model are

the California Bay Delta and the Northeast Arkansas/Southeast Missouri St. Francis River basin.

Modeling Units—Future Activities and Goals • Emphasize the importance of Soils information to achieve best conservation practices agency-wide.

• Attain full staff of three full-time employees per location. Future staff may come from all technical fields.

• Develop input databases and modeling techniques for multiple land uses.

• Work with Technical Centers and State Technical staff to:

o Tailor conservation practices and systems to soil landscapes.

o Develop cost effective practice suites that can be used at field level for program application.

o Develop benefit estimates for performance reporting.

Helping People Understand Soils
16 The Coastal Plainer

Nondiscrimination Statement

Nondiscrimination Policy

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 

prohibits discrimination against its customers, 

employees, and applicants for employment 

on the basis of race, color, national origin, 

age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, 

reprisal, and where applicable, political 

beliefs, marital status, familial or parental 

status, sexual orientation, whether all or part 

of an individual’s income is derived from 

any public assistance program, or protected 

genetic information. The Department prohibits 

discrimination in employment or in any 

program or activity conducted or funded by 

the Department. (Not all prohibited bases 

apply to all programs and/or employment 

activities.)

To File an Employment Complaint

If you wish to file an employment complaint, 

you must contact your agency’s EEO 

Counselor (http://directives.sc.egov.usda.

gov/33081.wba) within 45 days of the date 

of the alleged discriminatory act, event, or 

personnel action. Additional information can 

be found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/

complaint_filing_file.html.

To File a Program Complaint

If you wish to file a Civil Rights program 

complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA 

Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found 

online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_

filing_cust.html or at any USDA office, or 

call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You 

may also write a letter containing all of the 

information requested in the form. Send your 

Map showing the soil survey regions and regional offices and the modeling unit regions and modeling unit offices.

Helping People Understand Soils
Soil Survey Region #7 17

completed complaint form or letter by mail to 

U.S. Department of Agriculture; Director, Office 

of Adjudication; 1400 Independence Avenue, 

S.W.; Washington, D.C. 20250-9419; by fax 

to (202) 690-7442; or by email to program.

intake@usda.gov.

Persons with Disabilities

If you are deaf, are hard of hearing, or have 

speech disabilities and you wish to file either 

an EEO or program complaint, please contact 

USDA through the Federal Relay Service 

at (800) 877-8339 or (800) 845-6136 (in 

Spanish).

If you have other disabilities and wish to file 

a program complaint, please see the contact 

information above. If you require alternative 

means of communication for program 

information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, 

etc.), please contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 

(202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). 

Participants at the MO–15 soil survey workshop held May 18–21, 1998.

And One from the Past

The picture below was taken 16 years ago at 

a soil survey workshop hosted by the MLRA 

Regional Office in Auburn, Alabama (MO–15).

How many of these NRCS heros do you 

recognize? 

Helping People Understand Soils