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• <br /> • Table 1-2 <br /> 110 Map Unit Description—San Miguel Area,Colorado,Parts of Dolores,Montrose, <br /> and San Miguel Counties <br /> Map Unit Description <br /> The map units delineated on the detailed sod maps in a soil survey represent the <br /> soils or miscellaneous areas in the survey area.The map unit descriptions in this <br /> report, along with the maps, can be used to determine the composition and <br /> properties of a unit. <br /> A map unit delineation on a soil map represents an area dominated by one or more <br /> major kinds of soil or miscellaneous areas.A map unit is identified and named- <br /> according to the taxonomic classification of the dominant soils.Within a taxonomic <br /> class there are precisely defined limits for the properties of the soils.On the <br /> landscape,however,the soils are natural phenomena,and they have the <br /> characteristic variability of all natural phenomena.Thus,the range of some <br /> observed properties may extend beyond the limits defined for a taxonomic Bass. <br /> Areas of soils of a single taxonomic class rarely, if ever, can be mapped without <br /> including areas of other taxonomic classes.Consequently,every map unit is made <br /> up of the soils or miscellaneous areas for which it is named and some minor <br /> components that belong to taxonomic classes other than those of the major soils. <br /> Most minor soils have properties similar to those of the dominant soil or soils in the <br /> map unit,and thus they do not affect use and management.These are called <br /> noncontrasting,or similar,components.They may or may not be mentioned in a <br /> particular map unit description.Other minor components,however,have properties <br /> and behavioral characteristics divergent enough to affect use or to require different <br /> qb management.These are called contrasting, or dissimilar,components.They <br /> generally are in small areas and could not be mapped separately because of the <br /> scale used.Some small areas Of strongly contrasting soils or miscellaneous areas <br /> are identified by a special symbol on the maps. If included in the database for a <br /> given area,the contrasting minor components are identified in the map unit <br /> descriptions along with some characteristics of each.A few areas of minor <br /> components may not have been observed,and consequently they are not <br /> mentioned in the descriptions,especially where the pattern was so complex that it <br /> was impractical to make enough observations to identify all the soils and <br /> miscellaneous areas on the landscape. <br /> The presence of minor components in a map unit in no way diminishes the <br /> usefulness or accuracy of the data.The objective of mapping is not to delineate <br /> pure taxonomic classes but rather to separate the landscape into landforms or <br /> landform segments that have similar use and management requirements.The <br /> delineation of such segments on the map provides sufficient information for the <br /> development of resource plans.If intensive use of small areas is planned,however, <br /> onsite investigation is needed to define and locate the soils and miscellaneous <br /> areas. <br /> An identifying symbol precedes the map unit name in the map unit descriptions. <br /> Each description includes general facts about the unit and gives important soil <br /> properties and qualities. <br /> • <br /> • Natural Resources Web Soil Survey 5/4/2011 <br /> Conservation Service National Cooperative Soil Survey Page 1 of 9 <br />