NSSH Part 608

Soil Survey Area Names and Symbols (608.03)

1. Application of names.
   
   Soil survey areas receive a unique name and identification number that is used in the National Soil Information System (NASIS), in cooperative agreements, memoranda of understanding, all survey area publications, correlation documents, and other official reports and correspondence.
    
2. Registration.
   
   The state soil scientist and MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office Leader coordinate the soil survey area names and symbols with the National Soil Survey Center for registration in the National Soil Information System. The name is not to exceed 135 characters.
    
3. Identifying Soil Survey Areas in the Schedule.
    
   1. Soil survey areas use established conventions to identify soil survey areas in the Soil Survey Schedule. Each soil survey area receives a unique alpha-numeric identification code or “Area Symbol” that identifies the soil survey area data set in NASIS, as well as in the Soil Data Warehouse and Soil Data Marts.
      1. Soil survey areas that corresponds to a single county, parish, or independent city boundary: The symbol consists of the state abbreviation followed by the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) code for the county, parish, or independent city.
      2. For all other soil survey areas: Use the state abbreviation and assign a unique 600, 700, or 800 number in lieu of the FIPS code. The FIPS codes are in the Federal Information Processing Standards Publication Series of the National Bureau of Standards, U.S. Department of Commerce.
          
   2. Below are examples of names and symbols for soil survey areas that have differing boundary designations:
      1. MLRA Soil Survey Area corresponds to a single Major Land Resource Area. MLRA soil survey areas are identified by up to 7 characters; the prefix “SS” followed by the MLRA symbol and its subdivision, if necessary.
         • Southern Blue Ridge (SS0130B)
         • Red River Valley of the North (SS0056)
      2. MLRA Soil Survey Area corresponds to multiple Major Land Resource Areas.
         • Northern Coastal Plain and Northern Tidewater Area (SS0149A)
         • Southern California Mountains and Southern California Coastal Plain (SS0020)
      3. MLRA Soil Survey Area corresponds to parts of one or more Major Land Resource Areas.
         • Atlantic Coast Flatwoods and Tidewater Area, Southern Part (SS0153A-1)
         • Ontario-Erie Plain and Finger Lakes Region and Glaciated Allegheny Plateau and Catskill Mountains (SS0140-1)
      4. Soil Survey Area corresponds to a single county boundary.
         • Baldwin County, Alabama (AL003)
         • Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana (LA109)
      5. Soil Survey Area corresponds to two or more county boundaries.
         • Beaver and Lawrence Counties, Pennsylvania (PA603)
         • James City and York Counties and the City of Williamsburg, Virginia (VA695)
      6. Soil Survey Area includes only part of a single county.
         Select a name that clearly distinguishes the survey area from other survey areas in the county, or from adjoining counties. If a clear designation cannot be made, use the term “Area” to indicate that the survey area boundary does not include the entire county.
         • Nye County, Nevada, Southwest Part (NV785)
         • Socorro County Area, New Mexico (NM664)
      7. Soil Survey Area includes parts of two or more counties in one state.
         Use the name of a well-known place or geographic feature, and list the counties.
         • Jicarilla Apache Area, New Mexico, Parts of Rio Arriba and Sandoval Counties (NM698)
         • Wenatchee National Forest, Naches Area, Washington, Parts of Kittitas and Yakima Counties (WA680)
      8. Soil Survey Area includes all of one or more counties and part of another.
         • Soil Survey of Curry County and Southwest Part of Quay County, New Mexico (NM669)
         • Menifee and Rowan Counties and Northwestern Morgan County, Kentucky (KY632)
      9. Soil Survey Area includes parts of two or more counties in adjoining states.
         Note: In order to maintain acreage integrity for all states, separate Legend entries are made in the Soil Survey Schedule for survey areas that cross state boundaries.
         • Duck Valley Indian Reservation, Idaho and Nevada (ID677)
         • Duck Valley Indian Reservation, Idaho and Nevada (NV798)
         • Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina (TN640)
         • Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina (NC640)
      10. Soil Survey Area in a region with no counties.
          Use the name of a well-known place or geographic feature in the area.
          • San German Area, Southwestern Puerto Rico (PR787)
          • North Star Area, Alaska (AK642)

Limited and Denied Access Areas (608.04)

1. Limited Access Areas.
    
   1. Soil survey area coverage includes all lands (refer to part 608.02), and the goal of the National Cooperative Soil Survey is to survey all lands. Many survey areas include parts that have difficult or limited access to personnel conducting field operations, and occasionally landowners deny access to their property.
       
   2. Do not necessarily exclude land from a soil survey area based on difficult or limited access or because of difficulty in obtaining permission to gain access. Use all available resources, such as old soil survey maps (if available), geology and topographic maps, aerial photography, and other available remote sensing materials to apply common field procedures and techniques to delineate map units.
      1. For relatively small areas, mapping surrounding lands and projecting soil lines across the area of denied access may be feasible.
      2. For relatively large areas, more broadly defined map units may be appropriate. In these cases, describe the reduced reliability in the map unit description.
          
2. Surveying Denied Access Areas.
   
   State soil scientists, in consultation with the state conservationist and local cooperators, determine the feasibility of mapping areas of denied access. Reliability of the mapping for anticipated use and interpretations should be the final determining factor.
    
   1. Judgment should be used in deciding whether to attempt to gain permission to map areas of denied access. In some instances, such as areas restricted for national security purposes or where there is a desire by Native American officials for some tribal lands to remain unmapped, the decision may be made to not pursue the issue further.
       
   2. In situations other than those described in (1) above, use all reasonable means to obtain permission to map. Enlist the aid of community leaders, district cooperators and supervisors, county and state officials, and others, as appropriate.
       
   3. If reasonable efforts to gain access are unsuccessful, apply techniques and resources discussed above in part 608.04(a) to map the area.
       
3. Reporting Denied Access Areas.
    
   1. Delineate the area as a map unit with a name “Area not surveyed, access denied.”
       
   2. In the map unit description, tactfully describe the rationale for not mapping the area.
       
   3. Include the symbol and the acreage in the soil survey acreage table of the final report.
      1. Acreage is reported as mapping progress using standard progress reporting procedures.
      2. In rare instances where the area of denied access is very large, the soil survey area may be revised to exclude the unmapped area. Acres are not reported.
          
4. General Soil Maps.
   
   Whether or not areas are excluded from detailed mapping, do not exclude areas from the general soil map for the survey area and the U.S. General Soil Map (STATSGO2) database. Use standard procedures for delineating general soil map and STATSGO2 map units. The STATSGO2 map is the basis for the survey area general soil maps.

Determining Workloads (608.05)

1. The NRCS General Manual Title 340 describes agency policy for workload analysis. Other cooperating agencies have their own policy for workload analysis.
    
2. The workload analysis planning process.
   
   The workload analysis planning process considers the work to be done, estimates the amount of time required to complete each task, and provides a timetable for completing the work.
    
   1. A Long-Range Plan of Operations for initial soil survey projects (or update soil surveys requiring extensive revision) details the activities needed to complete the project in approximately 2 to 5 years. (See Exhibit 608-1).
       
   2. An Annual Plan of Operations for initial soil survey projects (or update soil surveys requiring extensive revision) is used to guide and provide specific focus to staff as the Long-Range Plan is being implemented. (See Exhibit 608-2).
       
   3. (3) A long-range plan for the MLRA Soil Survey Area considers all aspects of bringing all soil surveys in the area to a common standard to meet user needs. (See Exhibit 608-3 and Exhibit 608-4). In addition to the needs of the private lands in the area, it should include the needs identified by the cooperators responsible for the federal lands within the area so that a coordinated effort is achieved in all soil survey work.
       
   4. A Project Plan for an MLRA Soil Survey Area is used for planning to accomplish one or more of the highest priority needs within about a 2 to 5 year period. (See Exhibit 608-5).
       
   5. An Annual Plan of Operations (or Business Plan) is used to identify objectives, goals, responsibilities and timelines during a fiscal year.

Priorities for Soil Surveys (608.06)

1. State cooperative soil survey conferences, led by the State Soil Scientist, convene annually to discuss soil survey activities, consider the priorities of all cooperators, and recommend action. Other interested user groups recommend priorities, such as for special or interim soil reports. Considerations for preparing the priority list are:
   1. status of initial soil surveys and update soil surveys requiring extensive revision,
   2. NRCS needs for carrying out technical assistance programs and projects,
   3. cooperating agency needs for meeting their program and project needs,
   4. requests for soil surveys by local people,
   5. needs of federal partners on federal lands,
   6. needs for information that aids in land use planning and decisions,
   7. rapid land use changes in areas where critical soil problems are expected,
   8. contributions of funds or staffing,
   9. needs for tax evaluation, and
   10. other factors of specific local importance.
        
2. State soil scientists, in cooperation with lead scientists of cooperating partners, the MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office leader, and the MLRA Soil Survey Office leader work with the above information to evaluate the needs for each MLRA Soil Survey Area (see 610.03). Where federal lands are included within the MLRA soil survey area, it is important to coordinate with appropriate representatives of those agencies.
    
3. The MLRA Soil Survey Area Technical Team, made up of the MLRA Soil Survey Office staff, Soil Data Quality Specialists, Resource Soil Scientists, applicable NCSS partner soil scientists, and if needed, other discipline specialists, consolidate each state’s needs into a list for the MLRA Soil Survey Area.
    
4. The MLRA Management Team, consisting of the State Soil Scientists for each state serviced by the MLRA Soil Survey Office, and if applicable, Federal NCSS partners responsible for federal lands in the area, determine which of the identified needs are the highest priority. The MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office leader is also included in the process of priority setting. These are reviewed with the Board of Directors (or applicable subset of the Board) for concurrence. The Management Team then provides guidance and support to the MLRA Soil Survey Technical Team to incorporate the priorities into one or more individual project plans to be completed over about a 2 to 5 year period.
    
5. The long-range plan is revised periodically as work progresses and new information or unforeseen circumstances arise. Additional issues to be addressed may come from a variety of sources, such as Resource Soil Scientists, field offices, cooperators, customers, the MO, or State Soil Scientists. Reports from the Soil Data Mart or NASIS may also reveal issues and deficiencies to be prioritized and addressed. As identified projects are completed, the MLRA Management Team provides guidance as to the next priorities to be addressed by the MLRA Soil Survey Office staff and new project plans are developed.
    
6. Give consideration to the lead time required to prepare the geospatial data and analyze existing information.

Planning Workflow (608.07)

The MLRA project plan directs the use of resources over a period of about 2 to 5 years to accomplish identified activities. This is required for all MLRA soil surveys. The plan identifies the activities that are to be accomplished during the time period covered by the plan. The plan includes the responsibility for each activity, projected completion dates, and goals.

Exhibits 608-1 through 6 show sample formats for long-range plans, a project evaluation ranking procedure, project plans, and annual plans of operations for initial soil surveys or update soil surveys requiring extensive revision and for MLRA soil surveys. Adapt them to fit the needs identified for the soil survey area.

Part 610.02 contains information about workflow for updating by MLRA soil survey area.

Soil Survey Schedule (608.08)

1. Definition.
   
   The Soil Survey Schedule is a program management tool within the National Soil Information System (NASIS) for planning, managing, and tracking status, milestone events, and progress of the National Cooperative Soil Survey.
    
   1. Program managers use information in the Soil Survey Schedule to assess workloads, develop activity schedules and budgets, and plan for resources needed to complete the national soil inventory and related databases.
       
   2. The schedule lists all non-MLRA soil survey areas in NASIS, as defined in parts 608.02 and 608.03.
       
   3. Legends for each survey area contain administrative and other data that track the key business processes of the survey from field data collection through final publication.
       
   4. Various soil survey business areas populate progress in the schedule related to their individual areas of responsibility, and use information from the schedule to plan and manage their operations. See 608.08(b)(4) for a list of soil survey business areas.
       
2. Responsibilities.
   
   Data stewards for the various soil survey business areas are responsible for populating data elements and ensuring data quality in the Soil Survey Schedule. Soil survey business areas include all inventory-related activities at the field level, and support and enabling activities for generating soil survey products.
    
   1. The business area responsible for either initiating or completing a soil survey business process also is responsible for populating appropriate data elements and reporting progress associated with the process.
       
   2. Exhibit 608-7, Soil Survey Schedule Business Area Responsibilities, identifies broad soil survey business processes, along with associated data elements and the business area that is responsible for populating the schedule. Some data elements in Exhibit 608-7 indicate more than one responsible business area; for these situations, the appropriate business area program managers designate the responsible data steward.
       
   3. State and MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office program managers may delegate responsibility to populating some data elements to the field. For example, project soil survey offices may be designated to report mapping and compilation progress for their survey area.
       
   4. Designated business areas and key Soil Survey Schedule responsibilities are:
      1. State Offices – Legend administration, identify imagery, orthophotography, digital elevation models (DEM) and other base map materials, and coordinate mapping goals and progress reporting for soil survey areas with the MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office.
      2. MLRA Soil Survey Regional Offices – legend administration for MLRA soil survey areas, progress related to field reviews and correlations, and reporting compilation certification status.
      3. National Soil Survey Center – NASIS technical support, coordination with Information Technology Center, maintenance of area symbols and acreage, and soils hotline.
      4. National Office – policy and guidance for soil survey program, including fund allocations, progress reporting, and Soil Survey Schedule oversight.
      5. Digitizing Units – SSURGO digitizing and certification reviews.
      6. Digital Map Finishing Sites – digital map finishing for soil surveys.
      7. National Cartography and Geospatial Center – soil survey program support for imagery and orthophotography acquisition, map compilation materials, publication of soil survey products, distribution of SSURGO (Gateway), SSURGO and digital map finishing standards, status graphics, and digital elevation models and geospatial web services.
      8. Editors – English edit of manuscripts.
          
3. Accessing the Soil Survey Schedule.
    
   1. The Soil Survey Schedule and soil survey area legends are accessible through the conventional National Soil Information System interface.
      1. The interface provides authorized users with full capability to create, edit, and report data.
      2. Individuals accessing the data in this way need to be extremely careful not to populate or change data that falls under the responsibility of another business unit.
          
   2. Access is also available via a web-based application that provides authorized users with limited capability to manage data and generate programmed reports.
      1. Web access is at: http://ssschedule.nrcs.usda.gov.
      2. A web login and password can be obtained by contacting the soils hotline at (402) 437-5378 or by email at: hotline@lin.usda.gov.
          
4. Schedule Management.
   
   Exhibit 608-7 identifies soil survey business areas and related data elements, including key terminology and protocols, necessary for administration and maintenance of the schedule. Exhibit 608-7 provides an overview of the data elements and responsible soil survey business areas in the schedule.
    
5. Soil Survey Performance Measurement.
   
   The NRCS Performance Results System (PRS) is the official progress reporting instrument used by the agency to prepare national-level reports. Agency-accountable items such as soil mapping progress, first-time archival of SSURGO digitizing, and public release of soil surveys are assembled from the Soil Survey Schedule and the Soil Data Mart nightly and automatically uploaded to the PRS. Goals for these agency-accountable items are also taken from NASIS and recorded in the PRS.
   
   Other data from the Soil Survey Schedule is used to assess program performance and analyze budgets. Examples include signed memoranda of understanding, progress reviews and correlations completed, manuscripts edited, acres compiled and digitized, and the status of imagery and orthophotography acquisition. Both individual and business area performance can be analyzed.
    
   1. Performance Goals.
      1. At the beginning of the fiscal year, establish individual and team goals for soil survey business functions.
      2. In addition to initial and update soil surveys, mapping goals may be set for non-project survey areas based on anticipated requests for conservation planning. Refer to Exhibit 608-6 for more discussion about goal setting.
      3. State program managers and supervisors:
         • Base performance goals on the individuals’ job description, experience, training, complexity, and other factors;
         • Monitor progress throughout the year; and
         • Revise individual or team performance goals as needed, in consultation with the employee(s).
      4. Set performance goals for:
         • technical services and soil survey support activities;
         • mapping goals – do not include large water bodies (census water); however, report census water acres as a land category administrative action;
         • database development;
         • correlations; and
         • manuscript development.
            
   2. Progress and Progress Reporting.
      1. Soil survey progress records the inventory of the nation’s soil resources, development of related databases, soil survey products, and interpretative materials.
      2. Soil survey program managers are responsible for ensuring that progress is reported.
      3. Reportable items include all activities, including intermediate products that lead to a final product meeting National Cooperative Soil Survey standards.
         • acres mapped;
         • correlations completed;
         • acres compiled and digitized; and
         • manuscripts edited.
      4. Report progress in the Soil Survey Schedule as it occurs. As a minimum, report mapping progress quarterly, and all other progress monthly.
          
   3. Mapping Progress.
      1. Refer to Exhibit 608-6 for more discussion about reporting mapping progress.
      2. Discuss progress reporting issues with the Soil Survey Schedule manager in the Soil Survey Division Headquarters before revising.
         • For each soil survey area, enter mapping progress into the schedule by land category (refer to acreage accountability below).
         • The reporting date entered in the Legend Mapping Progress Table determines the fiscal year for which progress is counted.
         • Report progress as initial or update mapping.
         • Distinguish NRCS from cooperator personnel.
         • Enter each individual’s progress (preferable) or the project team’s as a whole.
         • Initial soil surveys are closely monitored (i.e., once-over surveys). Report initial mapping progress only once and never delete it from the system once it is reported, except for data entry errors that are immediately recognized and corrected.
         • Upon completion of the initial soil survey, all initial acres that are reported as progress should equal the land category acres and the sum of all land category acres should equal the soil survey area acres.
            
6. Legend Administration and Acreage Management.
   
   The National Soil Information System (NASIS) provides a variety of ways in which legends can be managed. Therefore, in order for the system to function optimally, a uniform approach is required.
   
   Soil survey area legends that are linked to Non-MLRA Soil Survey Areas provide data for the Soil Survey Schedule. The Schedule accommodates multiple legends for the same (spatial) survey area, or for overlapping survey areas; however, the schedule only maintains the official legend and any legacy legend(s) for survey areas. Copies of official legends can be linked to a locally created area type. However, these types of legends are not to be linked to the Non-MLRA Soil Survey Areas owned by Pangaea.
    
   1. Unique Spatial Areas.
      1. All survey areas represent a unique geographical (spatial) area, i.e., an entire county; they receive a unique area symbol and area name (see parts 608.02 and 608.03).
      2. Legends that represent the same geographical area use the same area symbol and area name.
      3. For survey areas having multiple legends, the soil survey area status identifies the most current legend, as discussed in 608.08(d).
      4. Exhibit 608-6 provides additional discussion and examples of various legend scenarios and protocols.
          
   2. Acreage Accountability.
      NRCS annual congressional appropriations are limited to non-federal lands, including Tribal and Trust Territories. The cost of soil survey activities by NRCS on federal lands must be reimbursed to the agency. However, the NRCS as federal lead for the National Cooperative Soil Survey maintains records of soil survey mapping for all lands of the nation.
      1. Seven land categories distinguish between non-federal and federal ownership. Additionally, federal lands are categorized according to the responsible federal land management agency.
         • Native American land
         • Other non-federal land
         • Bureau of Land Management
         • U. S. Forest Service
         • National Park Service
         • Other federal land
         • census water
      2. Refer to Exhibit 608-6 for definitions of the land categories and for additional discussion of acreage management and accountability.
          
   3. Acreage Allocation.
      Federal and private land ownership and their acreages constantly change. State program managers must periodically access land ownership for all soil survey areas.
      1. If ownership acres have changed in a soil survey area:
         • Re-allocate acreage assigned to the seven land categories.
         • Re-allocate progress assigned to each land category.
      2. The sum of all land category acres equals the state-total 1992 National Resource Inventory.
      3. To re-allocate acres for soil surveys with more than one legend or that partially overlap with another survey, refer to the discussion of acreage management and accountability in Exhibit 608-6.
          
   4. Acreage Base.
      County-based 1992 National Resources Inventory (NRI) data for total surface area (land and water) is used within NRCS for soil survey areas.
      1. Use the exact county-based figures or round to the nearest hundred.
      2. Coordinate acreage assigned to all survey areas with the National NASIS data steward at the National Soil Survey Center for inclusion in NASIS.
          
7. Soil Survey Area Status.
   
   The objective of the soil survey program is to complete the initial soil survey and to improve current interpretative and spatial soil survey information through an active evaluation and update program. The goal is to reduce the number of surveys that are out-of-date or that are designated as update needed at any given time. Refer to part 610 for additional discussion of updating soil surveys and for a sample evaluation sheet.
   
   Seven categories identify the operational activity status of soil survey areas and currency of published soil information for non-MLRA soil surveys. Program managers use status to identify workloads and ongoing field activities, for tracking progress, and for making graphic displays. The status assigned to soil survey areas containing federal lands is made in consultation with the federal partner agency.
   Soil survey area status categories and their definitions are:
    
   1. Non-project.
      1. Defined:
         • initial mapping incomplete;
         • no signed correlation document;
         • staffing not assigned to complete the initial mapping and field documentation within 3 to 5 years;
         • soil mapping on individual tracts, as requested for conservation and resource planning;
         • soil mapping and documentation meet NCSS standards, just like initial and update surveys;
         • “non-project” is the status designation assigned to survey area legends in the Soil Survey Schedule.
      2. Requirements:
         • a soil survey area handbook that includes a provisional descriptive legend (see part 627) containing a list of map units from within the MLRA and soil interpretations generated from NASIS;
         • field reviews held at least once every 3-5 years to ensure that mapping and interpretative materials meet National Cooperative Soil Survey standards;
         • technical assistance upon request.
            
   2. Initial.
      1. Defined:
         • a signed MLRA region-wide memorandum of understanding (MOU) and other local memoranda, as appropriate (see part 606);
         • staffing is assigned to complete the initial mapping and field documentation within 3 to 5 years;
         • “non-project” is changed to “initial” status on the existing Legend in the Soil Survey Schedule when the memorandum of understanding is signed and staffing is assigned.
      2. Requirements:
         • a long range plan details the activities needed to complete the project in approximately 2 to 5 years;
         • soils are mapped in contiguous blocks using map units from surrounding surveys within the MLRA;
         • a soil survey area handbook includes a descriptive legend (see part 627) and soil interpretations generated from NASIS as progressive correlation proceeds;
         • routine quality assurance reviews by the responsible MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office and field assistance by the appropriate entity;
         • progressive soil correlation with adjacent surveys within the MLRA;
         • high quality digital orthophotography base maps, digital elevation models (DEMS), and other base maps for digital soil survey mapping, and where needed, high quality imagery for field investigations;
         • mapping on hard copy aerial photography, subsequently compiling to orthophotography, and hand- or scan- digitizing are avoided if at all possible. Field mapping is done using electronic media and on-screen digitizing as much as possible to avoid these extra steps.
         • results in a signed correlation document.
            
   3. Published.
      1. Defined:
         • a traditional hard copy printed report, CD-ROM, DVD, web publication, or other media as agreed to by National Cooperative Soil Survey cooperators in the memorandum of understanding or project plan and issued by a federal or state agency that meets the current needs of users;
         • change the survey area status from “initial” to “published” on the existing Legend in the Soil Survey Schedule when the end publication product specified in the project plan is available.
      2. Requirements:
         • correlation document signed by the NRCS, based on Soil Taxonomy at the time the soil survey was published;
         • soil maps;
         • map unit and taxonomic unit descriptions;
         • soil interpretations generated from NASIS;
         • a populated, certified data set as part of the national soil database.
      3. Periodic updating – published surveys require various degrees of periodic updating:
         • when only new or revised soil interpretations are needed, retain “published” status;
         • add the interpretations supplement to the published report.
            
   4. Out-of-Date.
      1. Defined:
         • a published soil survey that no longer meets users’ needs and requires extensive revision to the soil maps as defined in part 610.04(a)(2)(i);
         • a comprehensive evaluation documents deficiencies for the entire survey area and National Cooperative Soil Survey cooperators agree on the evaluation;
         • the published soil survey is not targeted for immediate project soil survey activities.
      2. Requirement:
         • change the survey area status from “published” to “out-of-date” on the existing Legend in the Soil Survey Schedule.
            
   5. Extensive Revision.
      1. Defined:
         • a published soil survey that requires extensive revision, above and beyond normal MLRA soil survey project updating as described in part 610.04. Few surveys completed after about 1975 are expected to require this level of update;
         • an evaluation file identifies the needed revisions and maintenance;
         • The survey area has a signed MLRA Region-wide or local memorandum of understanding and staffing to complete the fieldwork within about 3 to 5years.
      2. Requirements:
         • written permission from the Soil Survey Division Director to conduct an extensive revision;
         • a long-range plan detailing all activities needed to complete the work within about a 5-year period;
         • change the survey area status to “extensive revision” on the existing Legend in the Soil Survey Schedule.
         • Legend management of the map units are the same as for initial soil surveys. Map units are added with a status of “provisional,” progress to “approved,” and then are eventually “correlated” when the spatial data is certified, the NASIS data is certified and both databases are ready to send to the Soil Data Warehouse;
         • Assign a status of “additional” to old map units that are replaced by new map units;
         • Refer to Exhibit 608-6 for additional guidelines on balancing land category acres and State National Resource Inventory acreage accountability.
      3. Additional characteristics of an extensive revision survey area include:
         • complete, systematically collected field data for the entire survey area;
         • re-mapping, as required, is based on the evaluation and memorandum of understanding;
         • a soil survey area handbook includes a descriptive legend (see part 627) and soil interpretations generated from NASIS;
         • routine quality assurance reviews are conducted by the responsible MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office, and field assistance by the appropriate entity;
         • progressive soil correlation within the context of the entire MLRA Soil Survey Area;
         • quality control functions are conducted by the MLRA Soil Survey Office;
         • updated correlation decisions are recorded in NASIS;
         • the most current Keys to Soil Taxonomy is used;
         • high quality digital orthophotography base maps, DEMs, and other base maps for digital soil survey mapping, and, where needed, high quality imagery for field investigations;
         • mapping on hard copy aerial photography, subsequently compiling to orthophotography, and hand- or scan- digitizing are avoided if at all possible. Field mapping is done using electronic media and on-screen digitizing as much as possible to avoid these extra steps;
         • updated maps, data, and interpretations are distributed through the Soil Data Mart and Web Soil Survey;
         • change the status of the legend to “published” when the final product specified in the memorandum of understanding is available.
            
   6. Update Needed.
      1. Defined:
         • a comprehensive evaluation documents deficiencies for the entire survey area and National Cooperative Soil Survey cooperators agree on the evaluation;
         • at least part of the soil survey area needs revision (primarily to the soil maps);
         • along with needed changes to the soil maps, the survey generally requires new or revised interpretations;
         • the published soil survey is not targeted for immediate soil survey update activities;
         • the needed revisions are primarily to the soil maps. See part 610.04(a)(2) for further discussion of each category:
           • update,
           • modernize the soil base map, or
           • supplemental soil mapping.
      2. Requirement:
         • change the survey area status from “published” to “update needed” on the existing legend in the Soil Survey Schedule.
            
   7. Update.
      1. Defined:
         • a soil survey with prior “published” or “update needed” status in which staffing is now available to complete the work;
         • change the survey area status from “published” or “update needed” on the existing legend in the Soil Survey Schedule to “update” when staffing from the MLRA soil survey office is assigned to complete the work as part of a project;
         • a new legend in the Soil Survey Schedule is not needed;
         • revised maps and data are periodically posted to the Soil Data Mart and Web Soil Survey.
      2. Requirements:
         • update activities neither require an memorandum of understanding nor result in a new correlation document;
         • an evaluation file identifies the needed revisions and maintenance;
         • correlation decisions that improve the coordination and joining of soil maps and data within the MLRA are recorded in NASIS;
         • legend management of the map units are the same as for initial soil surveys. Map units are added with a status of “provisional,” progress to “approved,” and then eventually are “correlated” when the spatial data is certified, the NASIS data is certified and both databases are ready to send to the Soil Data Warehouse;
         • revised or supplemental mapping progress is reported on the existing legend as “update mapping;”
         • a long-range plan of operations;
         • analysis of existing soil descriptions; laboratory data, and other field data to the extent practical;
         • complete, systematic collection of additional field data as required, are based on the disposition of existing data and the initial evaluation of update needed;
         • routine quality assurance reviews are conducted by the responsible MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office, and field assistance by the appropriate entity;
         • high quality digital orthophotography base maps, DEMs, and other base maps for digital soil survey mapping, and, where needed, high quality imagery for field investigations;
         • mapping on hard copy aerial photography, subsequently compiling to orthophotography, and hand- or scan- digitizing are avoided if at all possible. Field mapping is done using electronic media and on-screen digitizing as much as possible to avoid these extra steps;
         • distribution of updated maps, data, and interpretations through the Soil Data Mart and Web Soil Survey;
         • change the status to “published” when all work is complete.

Developing Other Schedules for Soil Survey Operations (608.09)

1. Soil Survey Operations.
   
   Schedules and timelines for soil survey activities are detailed in project plans of operations, annual plans of operation, and monthly or weekly schedules. Exhibit 608-1 identifies the basic activities that must be completed for initial surveys. Exhibit 608-4 is an example of potential activities that may be planned for MLRA soil surveys.
    
   1. Soil survey leaders schedule soil survey activities and coordinate routine work in consultation with the responsible state soil scientist and MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office. Quality control activities are carried out and documented by the MLRA Soil Survey Leader.
       
   2. MLRA Soil Survey Regional Offices schedule quality assurance reviews and field assistance visits in consultation with the MLRA Soil Survey Offices, State Offices, and National Cooperative Soil Survey partners.
       
2. Technical Soil Services.
    
   1. State offices and field offices develop annual plans of operation and monthly or weekly schedules, as appropriate, for technical soil services-related activities.
       
   2. Resource soil scientists and, in some instances, other soil scientists assigned to nearby soil survey project offices provide soil information as needed for conservation planning and other special local needs. These efforts ensure efficient use of soil scientist time and timely delivery of soil information.
       
3. Individual Schedules.
    
   1. Individual soil scientists prepare monthly or weekly schedules, as required by supervisors.
       
   2. These schedules include
      1. routine soil survey activities;
      2. training to be given and received;
      3. staff conferences; and
      4. information and public relations needs.

Status Maps (608.10)

Maps indicating the progress and status of soil survey operations and soil survey products are extremely useful management and public information tools. Maps may be on a national, regional, MLRA area, and state basis. The primary source of attribute data for these maps is the Soil Survey Schedule. The National Cartography and Geospatial Center (NCGC) maintains base map cartographic information and spatial data for soil survey areas.

(a) Responsibilities

The National Cartography and Geospatial Center (NCGC) is responsible for publication and distribution of status maps. The Geospatial Data Branch at the National Cartography and Geospatial Center maintains a digital file of soil survey area boundaries for all legends listed in the Soil Survey Schedule. States are responsible for assuring the accuracy and completeness of survey area boundaries, and for initiating revisions and corrections. The Geospatial Data Branch provides states with a 1:500,000 scale US Geological Survey base map containing survey area boundary coverage and coordinating instructions for revisions. The Soil Survey Schedule is the primary source of attribute data for status information. Part 608.08 identifies soil survey business areas that are responsible for data element population and maintenance of the Soil Survey Schedule.

(b) Availability

Visit the site at http://www.ftw.nrcs.usda.gov/status_data.html for maps in various formats that indicate the status of soil surveys and soil survey digitizing.

(c) Status of Soil Surveys Map

Maps indicating the progress and status of soil surveys and soil survey products are important management and public relations tools. Maps may be on a national, regional, MLRA region, and state basis.

1. Source Data.
    
   1. The primary source of attribute data is the Soil Survey Schedule. Part 608.08 identifies soil survey business areas that are responsible for populating and maintaining the Soil Survey Schedule.
       
   2. Base map cartography and spatial data for soil survey areas is maintained by the National Cartography and Geospatial Center (NCGC).
       
2. Responsibilities.
    
   1. The National Cartography and Geospatial Center:
      1. publishes and distributes status maps;
      2. maintains a digital file of soil survey area boundaries for all legends listed in the Soil Survey Schedule. Boundaries are taken from SSURGO data archived on the Soil Data Mart.
          
   2. State Soil Scientists:
      1. assure the accuracy and completeness of other survey area boundaries;
      2. initiate revisions and corrections.
          
3. Availability.
   
   Visit the NCGC site at http://www.ncgc.nrcs.usda.gov/ for maps in various formats that indicate the status of soil surveys and soil survey digitizing.
    
   1. Status of Soil Surveys Map.
      
      The status of soil surveys portrays a map of the status of all non-MLRA soil survey areas in the United States and its Trust Territories. This map is typically updated at the beginning of each fiscal year. Map legend categories include the status codes for survey areas, as defined in part 608.08, and other progress data in the Soil Survey Schedule.
       
      1. Standard map legend categories, colors, and a brief description.
         • Published (dark green): subset publication issued, and it meets user needs.
         • Initial, Field Mapping In-progress (yellow): memorandum of understanding signed for the initial subset comprehensive survey, project leader and staff assigned, mapping and related field activities underway.
         • Initial, Field Mapping Complete (light green): subset mapping and field data collection complete, correlation, manuscript development, and map finishing underway.
         • Extensive Revision, Field Work In-progress (light blue): long range plan of work developed for a previously published subset survey, project leader and staff assigned, field data collection and/or mapping underway.
         • Extensive Revision, Field Work Complete (orange): field data collection and/or subset mapping complete, correlation, manuscript development, and map finishing underway.
         • Out-of-Date (red): an evaluation documents that published report no longer meets user needs; extensive revision field work needed and will result in a new subset correlation and publication.
         • Update Needed (light goldenrod): an evaluation documents that parts (primarily maps) of the published report require revisions; plans for updating incomplete.
         • Update In-Progress (dark khaki): an evaluation documents that parts (primarily maps) of the published subset report require revisions; staffing assigned and work underway.
         • Non-project (white): plans for a comprehensive project survey incomplete.
      2. Additional information on the map includes:
         • Date: Status as of “mm/yy”
         • Legend Count and Percent: Total number of surveys in each legend status and percent of total area
            
   2. Status of Soil Survey Digitizing (SSURGO) Map.
      
      The Status of Soil Survey Digitizing (SSURGO) map portrays progress of the National Digitizing Initiative. Digital soil data for surveys under this initiative is a high priority for national and local users. This map is updated monthly by the National Cartography and Geospatial Center. The map shows progress toward SSURGO certification and archiving, as outlined in part 647. Surveys authorized as a digitizing initiative should be SSURGO certified within one to two years.
      
      Map legend categories cite milestone events in the SSURGO development process, and status reflects progress data recorded in the Soil Survey Schedule.
       
      1. The standard map legend categories, official ARC/INFO colors, and a brief description are:
         • Authorized Initiative (BURLYWOOD [a light brown]): soil survey funded for SSURGO development from special national allocations; or, the survey is a state priority without special national funding and authorized by the Director, Soil Survey Division.
         • Compilation in Progress (LIGHT SKY BLUE [a pale blue]): compilation of polygons and special features underway.
         • Compilation Complete (CYAN [a bright blue]): compilation of polygons and special features complete, and certified by the MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office.
         • Digitizing Complete (TOMATO [a pale orange red]): digital data capture complete for all spatial (area, point, linear) data. Survey ready for quality control review (check plot review and error correction).
         • Digital Review in Progress (GOLD [a dark yellow]): SSURGO review process underway. The spatial data, attribute data, metadata, correlation document, and compilation certification for a SSURGO initiative on file at an NRCS Digitizing Unit.
         • SSURGO Archived (GREEN YELLOW [a light green]): all digital data capture, attribute data, and metadata complete; survey passed a SSURGO certification review by an NRCS digitizing unit, and certified by an MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office and state conservationist; survey archived and available for distribution on the Soil Data Mart and Web Soil Survey.
      2. Additional information on the map includes:
         • Legend Title: “Initiative Status as of mm/dd/yy”
         • Count: Total number of authorized SSURGO initiatives in each legend status
         • Total: Total number of authorized SSURGO initiatives
            
   3. Other Status Maps.
      
      Program managers at the national, regional, MO region, or state levels may determine other types of soil survey status maps useful for management and information purposes within their operational area.

Long-Range Plan of Operations for Initial Soil Surveys and for Update Soil Surveys Requiring Extensive Revision (Exhibit 608-1)

Annual Plan of Operations for Initial Soil Surveys and for Update Soil Surveys Requiring Extensive Revision (Exhibit 608-2)

Example of Needs Identified for an MLRA Soil Survey Area Long-Range Plan (Exhibit 608-3)

Correlation Needs

Potential New Series

1. Non-mollic Sioux and Coe analogous to Langhei and Sisseton
2. Moderately well drained phases of Sioux and Coe
3. Shaly Divide, Marysland, and Wyrene
4. A phase of Wyard for coarse-loamy till areas
5. Series for shaly sands (e.g., shaly Hecla, Hamar, Venlo)
6. Two-story series for coarse-loamy till (e.g., Dickey, Towner, Swenoda, Lanona)
7. Colluvial soil analogous to Darnen for the coarse-loamy till
8. Other variants and out of date series

Classification Issues

1. Hapludoll vs Calciudoll
   1. Binford
   2. Brantford
   3. Sverdrup
2. Aquic or Oxyaquic
   1. Clontarf
3. Describe OSDs to 2 meters
4. Evaluate the use of spot symbols throughout the MLRA
5. Evaluate sandy-skeletal soils for loamy skeletal and sandy substratums
6. Evaluate the need for a fine textured Manfred
7. Out-of-date series

Soil-Landscape Issues

1. Evaluate use of upland sodium affected soils (e.g., Aberdeen) on floodplains
2. Evaluate use of Southam, Parnell, and Tonka on outwash plains
3. Evaluate use of Southam, Parnell, and Tonka on coarse loamy till plains
4. Evaluate use of Lindaas and Perella in depressions in lacustrine areas
5. Evaluate the use and develop mapping criteria for separating drainage phases of Maddock and Hecla
6. Evaluate the use and develop mapping criteria for separating drainage phases of Dickey, Towner, and Foldahl
7. Evaluate the need for separating till and lacustrine substratums (Towner, Swenoda, etc.)
8. Evaluate well drained outwash map units such as Renshaw and Brantford for correct drainage
9. Evaluate Barnes-Hamerly map units (Towner and Rolette Counties)
10. Evaluate Barnes-Buse and Svea-Buse map units in Cavalier and other counties
11. Evaluate selected map units in Lamoure County for proper drainage
12. Evaluate high terrace map units along the Sheyenne River in Ransom County to determine if they are till or outwash
13. Evaluate Edgeley map units in Lamoure and Dickey Counties
14. Evaluate the surface texture of Walsh in the Sheyenne River Valley
15. Evaluate the use and develop mapping criteria for separating Falsen and Lohnes
16. Define relevant slope groups for specific landscapes
17. Evaluate doughnut topography (composition, hydric soils, etc.)
18. Evaluate dissected topography (composition, etc.)
19. Evaluate high density pothole landscapes (composition, hydric soils, etc.)
20. Evaluate low-relief eroded landscapes (composition)
21. Evaluate small lake plains (upland soils) on till plain
22. Evaluate use of poorly and very poorly drained lacustrine soils (Fargo, Grano) in potholes on the till plain
23. Evaluate the potential of a till substratum under lacustrine soils in Ramsey and Towner Counties
24. Evaluate use of till substratum phases of Divide, Marysland, and Wyrene
25. Evaluate wooded map units (composition, components, O horizon)
26. Evaluate fluvial systems (consistent use of channeled map units, continuity of flood plains, frequency of flooding etc.)
27. Evaluate textures and drainage (somewhat poorly) in the Sheyenne River Valley
28. Evaluate stony phases (percent surface fragments, stony areas in Barnes County)
29. Evaluate the design of sand mantled till map units
30. Evaluate the design of till-outwash map units
31. Evaluate the need for identifying various till lobes/members (shaly till, fine till)
    1. evaluate the near surface stratigraphy (loam surface, clay loam parent material)
    2. evaluate possible lacustrine influence on natric soils
32. Evaluate linear, esker-like surface features to determine composition
33. Evaluate the spatial distribution of sodium affected soils (relationship with depth to shale, lacustrine soils)

Soil Data/Interpretation Issues

1. Document saturation/water tables on sands
2. Evaluate salinity levels (Vallers, saline-Parnell, etc.)
3. Evaluate saline undifferentiated map units (Vallers and Hamerly)
4. Establish reference components for land use (range versus crop, drained versus undrained)
5. Summarize ponding duration investigation
6. Summarize hydric soil investigation
7. WSG for sandy soils
8. Determine surface textures for coarse-loamy till
9. Evaluate soil lengths for MLRA map units
10. Document PIs
11. Evaluate eco-site for Stirum

Miscellaneous

1. MLRA manuscript
2. Complete the development of MLRA legends
3. Complete the placement of MLRA lines on SSURGO product
4. Complete the development of a seamless (perfect) join among counties
5. Update STATSGO for MLRA 55A and 55B

Example of a Project Plan Evaluation Ranking Procedure (Exhibit 608-4)

Rank each factor from 1 to 3, with 1 being low and 3 being high. Determine the overall priority ranking from the Key at the end.

A. Scientific Merit. How important is the Project for soil science and the soil resource inventory? Examples: updating or investigating taxonomic classifications; revising series concepts; updating or correcting pedon descriptions; sampling to fill data voids for series.

B. Agency Merit. How important is the Project for NRCS or Partners programs? Included here are all the Farm Bill programs, conservation planning, state cost-share, etc. Examples: K factors (affects HEL and CRP), hydric soils (wetlands), prime farmland issues, suitability groups.

C. External Merit. How important is the Project for external customers, either government or private?

D. Financial/Partnership Inputs. Are there inputs from other sources or partners, such as funding, staffing, equipment, or technical support?

E. Synergy. Does the Project serve or support another project or proposal?

F. County Soil Survey Deficiencies. Does the Project address deficiencies identified in the county soil survey evaluations and/or digital flags?

G. Efficiency. How much “bang for the buck” is in this project? Evaluate, in part, on the ratio of acreage affected to time required to complete.

Key:

1. If (G=3) and (D=3) and (2 or more of A or B or C or F = 3) OR Score = 3 on 3 of A, B, C, or F Then Priority = High
2. If (D=1) and (G=1) and (none=3) and (composite score <11) Then Priority = Low
3. All other; Priority = Medium

Example of a Project Plan (Exhibit 608-5)

PROJECT PLAN
Evaluation of MLRA 55A Map Unit F144B

Objective

Evaluate map unit composition of eroded fine-loamy glacial till found on 3-6 percent slopes in cropland. From determined composition percentages, a map unit name will be developed and an MLRA Symbol assigned. A new map unit will potentially be correlated across MLRA 55A.

Justification and Significance

The eroded fine-loamy till landscape on 3 to 6 percent slopes is a common feature throughout MLRA 55A (see figure 1). Two map units have been used to identify this terrain in the past. These map units are Barnes-Buse 3-6% slopes and Svea-Buse 3-6% slopes. Experience in the field suggests that these two map units may not correctly represent the terrain and further study is needed. This correlation is significant as the above map units exist in thirteen of sixteen counties in MLRA 55A. These map units encompass a total of 580,000 acres (85% on cropland) across MLRA 55A and include the Benchmark soils such as the Barnes Series and Svea Series. These soils are among the most productive in the state and are extremely important to conservation planning (e.g. RUSLE II, wind erosion). Future work will potentially include additional investigations on other map units related to the eroded study, the progression of erosion to the landscape, the impact of erosion on the North Dakota Soil Productivity Index, and the impact on MLRA 55B.

Potential Reportable Acres: 25,000 acres

Figure 1. Landscape of Barnes-Buse loams, 3-6% slopes.

Background

Anthropogenic influences, most commonly traditional cultivation practices in the last 50 years, have had a negative impact to the fine-loamy till landscapes found on 3 to 6 percent slopes located across MLRA 55A. Continuous tillage to cropland has accelerated machine, water and wind erosion and progressively altered dynamic soil properties commonly found on undisturbed landscapes. In addition to eroding the tops of rises, the deposition of calcareous material has affected the down slope portion of productive agricultural lands. Erosion has noticeably affected cropped landscapes to a point where past soil correlations may no longer be correct. An investigation on these types of landscapes and associated map units is needed in order to truly represent what is happening on the ground.

Benefits

Completion of this project will end in better identifying a soil-landscape relationship found extensively throughout MLRA 55A. Soils found on this landscape include Benchmark Soils such as the Barnes Series and Svea Series. Spatial and tabular data available to users will be updated. Updated soil interpretations for these cropped landscapes can lead to better conservation practices being implemented in MLRA 55A.

General Procedure

Locate the eroded fine-loamy till landscapes found on 3 to 6 percent slopes in cropland across MLRA 55A and identify map units used. Choose representative map units to investigate. Complete detailed transects of the eroded landscape, focusing on eroded areas and depositional areas. Select random transects to input into TRANSWIN. Determine composition percentages and develop map unit name and assign MLRA Symbol. Identify map unit trends across MLRA 55A. Correlate the map unit across MLRA 55A.

Needs

Equipment used for this project will include:

• ATV
• Bucket auger
• ArcMap GIS 9.2
• LE 1600 Tablet PC
• Transect forms
• TRANSWIN

Duration

Personnel

• Lance Duey (Soil Scientist): Conducting Field Investigation and Summary
• Earnie Jensen (MLRA Soil Survey Leader): Quality Control
• Joe Brennan (Soil Scientist/GIS): Assisting in GIS Applications/Use/Training
• Mike Ulmer (Senior Regional Soil Scientist): Quality Assurance
• County Field Offices: District Conservationists will be contacted prior to working in a county

Contact Person

Earnie Jensen
MLRA Soil Survey Leader
USDA-NRCS
706 8th Ave SE, Suite 1
Devils Lake, ND 58301
Tele: (701) 662-6283 ext. 135
Earnie.jensen@nd.usda.gov

I. Office Preparation and Investigation

1. Reviewing Existing Correlation Documentation
    
   1. Historical transect data will be evaluated using TRANSWIN (North Dakota NRCS Soil Transect Program).
       
   2. Review correlation decisions of the eroded fine-loamy till, 3-6% slopes in MLRA 55A.
       
   3. Choose map units which will be investigated during the project.
       
2. Review of Spatial Data
    
   1. Evaluate the existing MLRA Legend, and non-updated County Legends. Choose map units to be queried using GIS (see chart 1).

Chart 1: MLRA 55A Eroded B-slope Fine-loamy till Map Units

2. Using ArcMap GIS 9.2, query the eroded fine-loamy till map units, 3-6% slopes and develop a physiographic map of MLRA 55A (see figure 2).

Figure 2. Locations of All Eroded Fine-loamy till, 3-6% slope (cropland and rangeland).

 

3. Review spatial distribution for trends such as map unit clustering and voids.
   1. Map units are heavily populated in the Eastern half of MLRA 55A because Eastern counties have had MLRA Legend updates
   2. Map units are thinly populated in the Western half of MLRA 55A because Western counties have not been updated to a MLRA Legend
   3. Bottineau County and Pierce County are void of eroded, fine-loamy till 3 to 6 percent slope map units because Bottineau County did not recognize an eroded fine-
      loamy till map unit on 3 to 6 percent slopes. The eroded fine-loamy till map unit was correlated on 3 to 9 percent slopes. Additional investigation needs to be conducted in Pierce County
       
4. Identify map units that exist only on cropland.
    
5. Choose map units in cropland across MLRA 55A that correctly represent the landscape and investigate each using techniques outlined in the project plan.

3. Office Evaluation of Ortho-Imagery Photo Tones (see figure 3)

Figure 3. Analysis of Ortho-Imagery Photo Tones

 

1. Analyze photo tones of selected map units and choose areas for transecting.
    
2. Conclude that three photo tones influence the landscape
   1. Black = Possible zones of wetness or potholes
   2. Grey tones = Possible zones of deposition and other
   3. White tones = Possible zones of erosion
       
3. Determining Photo-Tone Coverage
   1. What percentage of the map units are white tones?
   2. What percentage of the map units are black tones?

Who: Duey, Jensen, Brennan
When: Spring 2007
Quality Control: Jensen
Quality Assurance: MO-7 Staff
 

II. Field Investigation

1. Transecting
    
   1. Choose 10 representative map units and investigate black, grey, and white photo tones.
       
   2. Determine areas to transect.
       
   3. Identify soil series and record stops on TRANSWIN Field Form (MO-7 SSFG, Part D-2 Appendix B – Version 3.0 4/01).
       
   4. Example of data to be collected:
      • Bk depth and thickness
      • Bt depth
      • Bw depth
      • E depth and thickness
      • C depth and texture
      • 2C depth and texture
      • Depth to redox
      • Color of redox features
      • Percent redox
      • Color of soil matrix
      • Landscape position
      • Soil Series
      • Slope shape & percent
      • Surface texture
      • Surface carbonates depth & thickness
      • Mollic epipedon thickness
      • Surface carbonate thickness

Who: Duey
When: Summer/Fall 2007, Spring 2008
Quality Control: Jensen
Quality Assurance: MO-7 Staff
 

III. Summary of Field Investigation

1. Review data collected in the field
    
   1. Check for inconsistencies, patterns, and/or voids in collected data.
       
   2. Collect additional data if needed.
       
2. Review Ortho-Imagery
    
   1. Review transects determine if black, grey, and white areas were represented in all 10 sites.
       
   2. Compare identified Soil Series to ortho-imagery photo tone.

Who: Duey
When: Fall 2007
Quality Control: Jensen
Quality Assurance: MO-7 Staff
 

IV. Additional Field Investigation

1. Application of Transects to Photo-Tone
    
   1. Select 20 additional sites across the MLRA and apply knowledge gained from landscape transects.
       
   2. Using photo tone of the Ortho-imagery to identify the soil series

Who: Duey
When: Spring/Summer 2008
Quality Control: Jensen
Quality Assurance: MO-7 Staff
 

V. Correlation Process

1. Component Determination using TRANSWIN
    
   1. Major Component(s)
       
   2. Minor Component(s)
       
2. Assigning Map Unit Name and Symbol
    
   1. Revise or create new Reference Components
      1. Changes to WEG (e.g., 5 changes to 4L)
          
   2. Select a new map unit name if needed
       
   3. Select a new MLRA Symbol if needed
       
   4. Add the new MLRA map unit to the MLRA Legend
       
   5. Spatially assign MLRA Symbol to counties where the eroded, fine-loamy till on 3 to 6 percent slopes landscape occur
       
3. Component Data will be entered in NASIS at Level II
    
   1. Populate Data Map unit(s) at Level II
       
   2. Validate Data Map unit(s)

Who: Duey, Jensen
When: Winter/Spring 2008-2009
Quality Control: Jensen
Quality Assurance: MO-7 Staff
 

VI. SSURGO Download

1. Download map unit changes to SSURGO

Who: MO-7 Staff
When: Winter 2008

______________________________
MLRA Soil Survey Leader Signature


______________________________
MO-7 Leader Signature

Annual Plan of Operations for an MLRA Soil Survey (Exhibit 608-6)

Soil Survey Schedule Guidelines (Exhibit 608-7)

This exhibit provides additional guidance for administering the Soil Survey Schedule. It is primarily intended for soil survey program managers and Soil Survey Schedule data stewards. It is divided into major soil survey program business areas for ease of reference. Schedule data elements relevant to the business areas are listed and discussed. Also refer to Exhibit 608-7, a quick reference companion which provides a snapshot of business area responsibilities.

Definitions of data elements are in NASIS, and therefore, are NOT repeated in this document. Additional explanations are provided for some data elements.

I. LEGEND ADMINISTRATION and ACREAGE MANAGEMENT

Timely administration of Legends and acreage accountability are critical functions to the schedule’s usefulness as a management tool. Legends serve as “place-holders” to project future needs, identify progress, and track milestone events leading to completion of soil survey products for a survey area.

Guiding Principles for Soil Survey Schedule Administration and Maintenance:

1. The Soil Survey Schedule database is imbedded in the NASIS database, and therefore is a multi-user soil survey database. It is the official reporting instrument for production soil survey activities of the National Cooperative Soil Survey.
    
2. Administration is the responsibility of state offices; updating maps and data is the responsibility of soil survey business area data stewards.
    
3. Data for Soil Survey Schedule are maintained in legends linked to (Non-MLRA) soil survey areas owned by Pangaea.
    
4. Schedule can accommodate multiple legends for a survey area. All geographic areas of the Nation are covered in at least one soil survey area, with at least one legend.
    
5. Data entries may be maintained continuously, but as a minimum, are current at the end of each month. Mapping progress may be reported continuously, but as a minimum, is reported at the end of each quarter.

1. ADMINISTRATIVE Data Elements:
    
   • Area Name. This data element applies to both Area Table and Legend Area Overlap Table.
   • Area Symbol. This data element applies to both Area Table and Legend Area Overlap Table.
   • Area Acres
   • Soil Survey Area Status
   • MLRA Office
   • MOU Agency Responsible
   • Legend Description
   • Geographic Applicability. This data element specifies the currency of soil survey information, including both attribute and spatial data.
   • Legend Certification Status
   • Export Certification Status
   • Product Availability Status
      
2. ACREAGE MANAGEMENT
   
   Protocols for Acreage Management of (Non-MLRA) Soil Survey Legends:
   
   Seven land categories are used to identify the ownership of all lands of the United States and its Trust Territories. The land categories are: Native American Land, Other Non-federal Land, Bureau of Land Management, U. S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Other Federal Land, and Census Water. Accordingly, acreage is assigned in each non-MLRA soil survey area legend, subject to the following conventions:
    
   1. Land categories reflect current land ownership as it occurs in the survey area.
       
   2. The sum of all land category acres from all legends in a state equals the 1992 NRI acres for the state.
       
   3. Land category acres are balanced across legends that cover the same geographic area, such that each acre is recorded only once.
       
   4. Survey areas that cover parts of two or more states will have a separate legend for each state. One legend will be completely populated with map units and the legend area overlaps for the entire survey area, but will have land category acres, goals, and progress for only one state. Legends for adjacent states will not have map units or legend area overlaps, but will have land category acres, goals, and progress appropriate for that state. Area acres will be for the whole survey area, and will be recorded as the same in each survey area.
       
   5. Acres are recorded to the actual acre, or rounded to 100 acres.
       
   6. Areas in Alaska identified as “Alaska Native Lands”, or in Hawaii as “Hawaiian Homelands” are included in the meaning of Native American Land.
       
   7. Census Water applies to all contiguous water polygons that are 40 acres in size or larger. If a water polygon is less than 40 acres in size in the survey area, but extends into an adjoining survey area such that the total extent in both survey areas is more than 40 acres, then the water qualifies as Census Water. Census Water acreage is NOT to be part of mapping goals; it is administratively managed in NASIS to account for total survey acres and progress.

   Legend Scenarios and Protocols:
    

   1. Survey Areas With One Legend. Only one legend is linked to a (Non-MLRA) soil survey area in NASIS, and no other survey areas have been established that coincide graphically with any part of the survey area. The actual (or best estimate) land category acres are recorded in the Legend Land Category Breakdown table. The sum of all acres recorded in the table are to equal the survey area acreage.
       
   2. Survey Areas With Two or More Legends. These areas typically have an older out-of-date legend and a newer update or published legend. Acres in the Legend Land Category Breakdown table should be re-balanced such that the older legend shows zero acres in each land category. The newer legend should reflect the actual (or best estimate) of land category acres in the Legend Land Category Breakdown table, thus land category acres will be recorded only once in the survey area. Mapping progress should be retained in both the older and newer legend, as appropriate (see section on mapping goals and progress). With the creation of the Soil Data Warehouse, there is no need to copy and paste legends. Surveys areas with two legends can be avoided by managing one legend and prior to Update work, send the legend to the SDW for archive. The SDW will date stamp and version the legend. Managing one legend decreases the burden of managing multiple legends.
       
   3. Survey Areas That Partly Coincide With Another Survey Area. These areas typically consist of an update survey area that covers part of an older survey area, or an update survey that covers two or more previous survey areas. Acres in the Legend Land Category Table should be re-balanced in all affected survey area legends such that current land category acres are recorded in the newest legend and subtracted from older legends. The sum of land category acres in the newest legend will equal the survey area acreage. The resulting sum of land category acres in each of the other affected legends will equal less than their respective survey area acreage. Mapping progress should be retained in both older and newer legends, as appropriate (see section on mapping goals and progress).

II. MAPPING GOALS and PROGRESS

Goals and progress are recorded in the Legend Mapping Goals and Legend Mapping Progress tables for each legend. Goals and progress may be recorded for each individual project member (preferred), or for the project staff as a whole. Use the following protocols:

1. Project Staff. First, enter individual project member names or a name for the entire project staff in the Legend Staff table before entering goals or progress.
    
2. Goals. Enter fiscal year goals in the Legend Mapping Goals table at the beginning of each fiscal year.
    
3. Progress. Enter mapping progress and show the effective progress reporting date in the Legend Mapping Progress table under the appropriate land category. NOTE: The reporting date determines the fiscal year for progress reporting. Show initial and update mapping under NRCS or cooperator columns, as appropriate. Update acres may be reported in any legend where update activity has occurred.
    
4. Progress. Once mapping progress has been reported in a legend, that progress should not be moved to another legend, unless an error was made in data entry. However, in order to show the current progress for all land categories, progress may need to be re-allocated among land categories within the same legend to reflect any changes in land ownership. NOTE: For situations where land category acres have been re-balanced across legends, acres of mapping progress reported for a land category may be more than the land category acres shown for that legend, and in some cases the land category acres may even be zero.

1. GOAL SETTING
    
   • Fiscal Year
   • Staff Member
   • Staff Member Job Title
   • Initial NRCS Acres Goal
   • Initial Cooperator Acres Goal
   • Update NRCS Acres Goal
   • Update Cooperator Acres Goal
      
2. REPORTING MAPPING PROGRESS
    
   • Progress Reporting Date
   • Initial NRCS Acres
   • Initial Cooperator Acres
   • Update NRCS Acres
   • Update Cooperator Acres
   • Staff Member

INITIAL ACRES. This refers to mapping a soil survey area and reporting progress for the first time. The cumulative initial acres reported for a completed survey area always equals 100% of the survey area acres. Applies to all lands of the Nation, and mapping by both NRCS and cooperator personnel. Applies to mapping at any order of detail or scale. Typically, reported only for surveys having a non-project or initial status, but may apply to surveys with update or maintenance status where areas that were not mapped during the initial survey are mapped and reported for the first time. Initial Acres are reported only once for a given geographic area. All subsequent mapping on the same ground is reported as update acres.

UPDATE ACRES. This refers to re-mapping, or updating on parts or all of a survey area and reporting progress on acres previously reported. The cumulative update acres for a survey area may exceed 100% of the survey area acres. Applies to all lands of the nation, and mapping by both NRCS and cooperator personnel. Applies to mapping at any order of detail or scale. Typically reported for surveys having an update status, but may report for surveys with any status. Applies to reporting progress for surveys in update status including activities that involve systematic transects or field investigations to determine map unit composition, without line changes to polygons (re-mapping).

III. IMAGERY, ORTHOPHOTOGRAPHY, and MAP COMPILATION

These data elements are primarily the responsibility of state offices in their administrative and liaison capacity between MLRA Soil Survey Regional Offices and National Cooperative Soil Survey partners within a state. Field imagery, orthophotography, and map compilation materials may be needed for project survey operations, or SSURGO initiatives.

Acquisition of field imagery, orthophotography, and map compilation materials is coordinated with the National Cartography and Geospatial Center. Development of new imagery and orthophotography, along with related funding and cost-share issues, is coordinated with the National Office. The primary source of new orthophotography development is through the National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP).

1. FIELD MAPPING IMAGERY
    
   • Field Imagery Needed
   • Field Imagery Ordered
   • Field Imagery Received
      
2. ORTHOPHOTOGRAPHY
    
   • DOQs Needed
   • DOQs Ordered
   • DOQs Received
      
3. MAP COMPILATION
    
   • Compilation Materials Needed
   • Compilation Materials Ordered
   • Compilation Materials Received

IV. INITIAL and UPDATE SURVEY OPERATIONS

These data elements relate most directly to production soil survey operations, and therefore, are the responsibility of MLRA Soil Survey Regional Offices. Data elements relative to the memorandum of understanding for project areas and product types are jointly shared by state offices and MLRA Soil Survey Regional Offices.

1. ADMINISTRATIVE and FIELD ACTIVITIES
    
   • MOU Signed
   • MOU Projected Completion
   • Project Scale. Standard National map scales are 1:12,000 in quarter quad format or 1:24,000 in full quad format. Puerto Rico is approved for 1: 20,000 and Alaska is approved for 1: 25,000; any other scale and/or format must be approved by the Director, Soil Survey Division, prior to development of the long range plan for the survey area.
   • Initial Field Review Completed. This date is consistent with the Initial Field Review Report.
   • Final Field Review Completed. This date is consistent with the Final Field Review Report.
   • Correlation Date
   • English Edit Site
   • Digital Map Finishing Site
      
2. MAP COMPILATION
    
   • Compilation Started
   • Compilation Percent
   • Compilation Completed
   • Compilation Certification
      
3. MAP FINISHING
    
   • Map Finish Method. Choices are digital (preferred) and manual.
   • Map Finish Started
   • Map Finish Percent
   • Map Finish Completed
   • Map Finish to NCGC
   • Map Finish at NCGC
   • Maps Sent to Printer
      
4. MANUSCRIPT and PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
    
   1. Manuscript Technical Edit and Review
      • Technical Edit Completed
      • Technical Review Completed
   2. English Edit
      • English Edit Received
      • English Edit Started
      • English Edit Completed
      • Manuscript Received at NCGC
      • Manuscript to Printer
   3. Products Data Elements:
      • Product Type. Six final product types are available from a choice list. All that apply for a survey area are identified according to their publication date. Choices are:
        • Interim Report
        • Soil Attribute/Spatial on CD-ROM
        • Soil Survey Report on CD-ROM
        • Three Ring Bound Manuscript
        • Traditional Bound Manuscript
        • Web Publication
      • Product Description
      • Scheduled Delivery (date)
      • Actual Delivery (date)
      • Availability Status

V. NATIONAL DIGITIZING INITIATIVE

Background. In FY 1995, the Soil Survey Division began a special funding initiative to digitize high priority soil surveys. The driving force for this initiative was an Executive Order in 1990, whereby the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) established the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) which promotes the development, coordination, and use of geospatial information on a national basis. Within the FGDC National Spatial Data Infrastructure, the USDA, and specifically the NRCS, has responsibility to develop digitizing standards and to digitize the nation’s soil resources. Digitizing standards and specifications for Soil Survey Geographic Databases (SSURGO) are outlined in part 647.

A 1996 Quality Improvement Team (QIT) sponsored by the Soil Survey Division recommended establishment of digitizing units as part of the national infrastructure needed to complete the digitizing of all soil surveys. In FY 1997, eight digitizing units were established to digitize high priority surveys and to review the digital data and assure that SSURGO certification standards are met. Also, in FY 1997, Congress began providing special funding to accelerate digitizing of all published soil surveys. This funding is part of a national effort to complete digital soils and digital orthophotography for the entire country, and is provided to NRCS as part of the conservation operations budget.

SSURGO Initiatives. Published surveys that were a high priority for field office and USDA service center GIS implementation were the early focus for SSURGO development using the special national allocations. As more of these were completed initial and update surveys with a correlation, and other published surveys became a higher priority and progressive digitizing of on going surveys was consider in funding requests. In FY 2007 with most published soil surveys completed emphasis and funding shifted to initial soil surveys and new digital soil survey mapping techniques. Substitutions for funded surveys may be made at any time, upon request to the Soil Survey Program Manager; the substituted survey should be of similar size and/or value as the original funded survey.

SSURGO Operations. The Soil Survey Division coordinates with NCGC in managing the National Digitizing Initiative. Surveys for special SSURGO Initiative funding are prioritized by states and coordinated for funding. Allocations are based on business area responsibility for SSURGO development; states have responsibility for recompilation of soil survey maps; MLRA Soil Survey Regional Offices have soil business responsibility for correlation, for map compilation quality assurance, and for digitizing quality assurance; and digitizing units have responsibility for digitizing and for certification review. The dataset is archived in the Soil Data Warehouse and delivered via the Soil Data Mart, Web Soil Survey and Geospatial Data Gateway. Quality assurance of the SSURGO product is completed at the National Cartography and Geospatial Center.

SSURGO Certification. After SSURGO data has passed a certification review by the digitizing unit, and all paper work and quality assurance is completed by the MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office, the survey is certified as meeting SSURGO standards by the responsible MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office leader and the state conservationist.

SSURGO Progress Reporting. Progress and status for SSURGO initiatives are tracked continuously in the Soil Survey Schedule. A status map, Status of Soil Survey Digitizing (SSURGO), is produced monthly from progress data in the schedule; refer to part 608.10(d). Business areas with responsibilities for SSURGO development also have responsibility to populate the appropriate data elements in the schedule for survey legends designated as part of the SSURGO initiative; refer to Exhibit 608-7, Soil Survey Schedule Business Area Responsibilities. Data stewards are designated to insure timely and accurate progress reporting in the schedule. The schedule data elements specific to the National Digitizing Initiative are identified below:

1. ADMINISTRATIVE
   
   These schedule data elements are the responsibility of the National Office, ONLY. Access is through the Soil Survey Schedule web application, or through the conventional NASIS interface.
    
   • SSURGO Initiative. This data element must be designated as “yes” in order for digitizing units and NCGC to have legend access for data entry through the Web.
   • Digitizing Unit. Designation is from a choice list of all the digitizing units. Web access for digitizing units is only through designation of this data element and identification of the survey as a SSURGO initiative.
   • Compilation Funding Year
   • Digitizing Funding Year
      
2. MAP COMPILATION
   
   These schedule data elements for survey legends designated as a SSURGO initiative are the responsibility of the state receiving compilation funds under the special national initiative, or from local sources. Access to the schedule is through the regular NASIS permissions.
    
   • Compilation Started
   • Compilation Percent
   • Compilation Completed
   • Compilation Certification
      
3. DIGITIZING, CERTIFICATION, and ARCHIVING
   
   These data elements are the primary responsibility of the digitizing units and the National Cartography and Geospatial Center. If actual digitizing is not done by the designated digitizing unit, states have responsibility to populate digitizing started, digitizing percent, and digitizing completed prior to sending the job to the digitizing unit for certification review.
    
   • Digitizing Started. Except for surveys in initial, update or extensive revision status for which progressive digitizing is underway, the correlation document, compilation certification, and attribute data are on file at the office doing the digitizing, or correspondence granting an exception is on file from the MLRA office.
   • Digitizing Percent
   • Digitizing Completed. Quality control work by the state or the digitizing unit, and quality assurance by the MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office, is normally done after the digitizing is complete, and before the SSURGO review is started.
   • SSURGO Digital Review Started
   • SSURGO Certification Date
   • SSURGO Archived

Soil Survey Schedule Business Area Responsibilities (Exhibit 608-8)

I. LEGEND ADMINISTRATION and ACREAGE MANAGEMENT

A. Administration

NASIS Table Name	Data Element	State Office	MLRA Office	NSSC	NHQ	DU	DMF	NCGC
area	area_name	X	-	X	-	-	-	-
area	area_symbol	X	-	X	-	-	-	-
area	area_acres	X	-	X	-	-	-	-
legend	soil_survey_area_status	X	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend	mlra_office	-	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend	mou_agency_responsible	X	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend	legend_description	X	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend	legend_suitability_for_use	X	-	-	-	-	-	-
legend	legend_certification_status	X	-	-	-	-	-	-
legend product	product_availability_status	X	-	-	-	-	-	-

B. Acreage Management

NASIS Table Name	Data Element	State Office	MLRA Office	NSSC	NHQ	DU	DMF	NCGC
legend area overlap	area_overlap_acres	X	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend land category breakdown	legend_land_category_acres	X	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend land category breakdown	legend_land_category	X	X	-	-	-	-	-

II. MAPPING GOALS and PROGRESS

A. Goal Setting

NASIS Table Name	Data Element	State Office	MLRA Office	NSSC	NHQ	DU	DMF	NCGC
legend staff	staff_member_name	X	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend staff	staff_member_job_title	X	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend mapping goal	stafff_member_name	X	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend mapping goal	fiscal_year	X	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend mapping goal	initial_nrcs_acres_goal	X	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend mapping goal	initial_cooperator_acres_goal	X	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend mapping goal	update_nrcs_acres_goal	X	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend mapping goal	update_cooperator_acres_goal	X	X	-	-	-	-	-

B. Reporting Mapping Progress

NASIS Table Name	Data Element	State Office	MLRA Office	NSSC	NHQ	DU	DMF	NCGC
legend mapping progress	staff_member_name	X	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend mapping progress	progress_reporting_date	X	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend mapping progress	intitial_nrcs_acres	X	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend mapping progress	initial_cooperator_acres	X	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend mapping progress	update_nrcs_acres	X	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend mapping progress	update_cooperator_acres	X	X	-	-	-	-	-

III. IMAGERY, ORTHOPHOTOGRAPHY, and MAP COMPILATION

A. Field Imagery

NASIS Table Name	Data Element	State Office	MLRA Office	NSSC	NHQ	DU	DMF	NCGC
legend	field_imagery_needed	X	-	-	-	-	-	-
legend	field_imagery_ordered	-	-	-	-	-	-	X
legend	field_imagery_received	X	-	-	-	-	-	-

B. Orthophotography

NASIS Table Name	Data Element	State Office	MLRA Office	NSSC	NHQ	DU	DMF	NCGC
legend	doqs_needed	X	-	-	-	-	-	-
legend	doqs_ordered	-	-	-	X	-	-	X
legend	doqs_received	X	-	-	-	-	-	-

C. Compilation Materials

NASIS Table Name	Data Element	State Office	MLRA Office	NSSC	NHQ	DU	DMF	NCGC
legend	compilation_materials_needed	X	-	-	-	-	-	-
legend	compilation_materials_ordered	-	-	-	-	-	-	X
legend	compilation_materials_received	X	-	-	-	-	-	-

IV. PROJECT and UPDATE SURVEY OPERATIONS

A. Administrative and Field Activities

NASIS Table Name	Data Element	State Office	MLRA Office	NSSC	NHQ	DU	DMF	NCGC
legend	mou_signed	X	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend	mou_projected_completion	X	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend	project_scale	X	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend	initial_field_review_completed	-	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend	final_field_review_completed	-	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend	correlation_date	-	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend	dmf_site	-	-	X	X	-	X	-
legend	english_edit_site	-	X	X	X	-	-	-

B. Map Compilation

NASIS Table Name	Data Element	State Office	MLRA Office	NSSC	NHQ	DU	DMF	NCGC
legend	compilation_started	-	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend	compilation_percent	-	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend	compilation_completed	-	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend	compilation_certification	-	X	-	-	-	-	-

C. Map Finishing

NASIS Table Name	Data Element	State Office	MLRA Office	NSSC	NHQ	DU	DMF	NCGC
legend	map_finish_method	-	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend	map_finish_started	-	X	-	-	-	X	-
legend	map_finish_percent	-	X	-	-	-	X	-
legend	map_finish_completed	-	X	-	-	-	X	-
legend	map_finish_to_ncgc	-	X	-	-	-	X	-
legend	maps_to_printer	-	-	-	-	-	-	X

D. Manuscript and Product Development

1. Technical Edit and Review

NASIS Table Name	Data Element	State Office	MLRA Office	NSSC	NHQ	DU	DMF	NCGC
legend	technical_edit_completed	-	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend	technical_review_completed	-	X	-	-	-	-	-

2. English Edit

NASIS Table Name	Data Element	State Office	MLRA Office	NSSC	NHQ	DU	DMF	NCGC
legend	english_edit_site	-	X	X	-	-	-	-
legend	english_edit_received	-	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend	english_edit_started	-	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend	english_edit_completed	-	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend	text_received_at_ncgc	-	-	-	-	-	-	X
legend	text_to_printer	-	-	-	-	-	-	X

3. Products

NASIS Table Name	Data Element	State Office	MLRA Office	NSSC	NHQ	DU	DMF	NCGC
legend product	product_type	X	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend product	product_description	X	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend product	product_scheduled	-	X	-	-	-	-	-
legend product	product_delivered	X	-	-	-	-	-	X
legend product	product_availability_status	X	-	-	-	-	-	-

V. National Digitizing Initiative

A. Administrative

NASIS Table Name	Data Element	State Office	MLRA Office	NSSC	NHQ	DU	DMF	NCGC
legend	ssurgo_initiative	-	-	-	X	-	-	-
legend	digitizing_unit	-	-	-	X	-	-	-
legend	compilation_funding_year	-	-	-	X	-	-	-
legend	digitizing_funding_year	-	-	-	X	-	-	-

B. Map Compilation

NASIS Table Name	Data Element	State Office	MLRA Office	NSSC	NHQ	DU	DMF	NCGC
legend	compilation_started	X	-	-	-	-	-	-
legend	compilation_percent	X	-	-	-	-	-	-
legend	compilation_completed	X	-	-	-	-	-	-
legend	compilation_certification	-	X	-	-	-	-	-

C. Digitizing, Certification, and Archiving

NASIS Table Name	Data Element	State Office	MLRA Office	NSSC	NHQ	DU	DMF	NCGC
legend	digitizing_started	-	-	-	-	X	-	-
legend	digitizing_percent	-	-	-	-	X	-	-
legend	digitizing_completed	-	-	-	-	X	-	-
legend	ssurgo_dig_review_started	-	-	-	-	X	-	-
legend	ssurgo_certification	-	-	-	-	X	-	-
legend	ssurgo_archived	-	-	-	-	-	-	X

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