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Preface
<br />Soil surveys contain information that affects land use planning in survey areas. They
<br />highlight soil limitations that affect various land uses and provide information about
<br />the properties of the soils in the survey areas. Soil surveys are designed for many
<br />different users, including farmers, ranchers, foresters, agronomists, urban planners,
<br />community officials, engineers, developers, builders, and home buyers. Also,
<br />conservationists, teachers, students, and specialists in recreation, waste disposal,
<br />and pollution control can use the surveys to help them understand, protect, or enhance
<br />the environment.
<br />Various land use regulations of Federal, State, and local governments may impose
<br />special restrictions on land use or land treatment. Soil surveys identify soil properties
<br />that are used in making various land use or land treatment decisions. The information
<br />is intended to help the land users identify and reduce the effects of soil limitations on
<br />various land uses. The landowner or user is responsible for identifying and complying
<br />with existing laws and regulations.
<br />Great differences in soil properties can occur within short distances. Some soils are
<br />seasonally wet or subject to flooding. Some are too unstable to be used as a
<br />foundation for buildings or roads. Clayey or wet soils are poorly suited to use as septic
<br />tank absorption fields. A high water table makes a soil poorly suited to basements or
<br />underground installations.
<br />The National Cooperative Soil Survey is a joint effort of the United States Department
<br />of Agriculture and other Federal agencies, State agencies including the Agricultural
<br />Experiment Stations, and local agencies. The Natural Resources Conservation
<br />Service (NRCS) has leadership for the Federal part of the National Cooperative Soil
<br />Survey.
<br />Information about soils is updated periodically. Updated information is available
<br />through the NRCS Soil Data Mart Web site or the NRCS Web Soil Survey. The Soil
<br />Data Mart is the data storage site for the official soil survey information.
<br />The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs
<br />and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where
<br />applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual
<br />orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an
<br />individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited
<br />bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means
<br />for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should
<br />contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720 -2600 (voice and TDD). To file a
<br />complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400
<br />Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250 -9410 or call (800) 795 -3272
<br />(voice) or (202) 720 -6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and
<br />employer.
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