Soil Resources Inventory

Sound soil resource management is essential to preserving our natural resources, systems and processes. Soil is defined as the unconsolidated portion of the earth's crust modified through physical, chemical, and biotic processes into a medium capable of supporting plant growth. It has three components: mineral, organic and pore space containing air and water. Soil functions both to support plant growth as well as limit accelerated erosion.

The NPS Inventory and Monitoring Program is obtaining soil surveys on Park Units through agreements with other federal agencies such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and with private contractors. Soil resource surveys include the following:

·         information on soil physical, chemical, and biological properties

·         erosion potentials (water & wind)

·         soil - vegetation relationships via ecological site descriptions

·         soil engineering information

·         climatic information

·         soils map

·         soil -water relationships

·         geomorphic information

·         soil taxonomic classifications

·         soil interpretations

·         locally derived tables

·         glossary of terms