The original linework was drawn and verified in the field using 1 by 3 degree topographic quadrangles as the mapping base. Linework from these basemaps was digitized and merged to form a seamless statewide coverage. Soil map units are linked to attributes in the Map Unit Interpretations Record relational data base which gives the proportionate extent of the component soils and their properties.
STATSGO was designed primarily for regional, multicounty, river basin, State, and multistate resource planning, management, and monitoring. STATSGO data are not detailed enough to make interpretations at a county level. This soil survey product is not designed for use as a primary regulatory tool in permitting or citing decisions, but may be used as a reference source. The use of these data is not restricted and may be interpreted by organizations, agencies, units of government, or others; however, they are responsible for its appropriate application. Federal, State, or local regulatory bodies are not to reassign to the Natural Resources Conservation Service any authority for the decisions that they make. The Natural Resources Conservation Service will not perform any evaluations of these maps for purposes related solely to state or local regulatory programs.
When STATSGO data are overlayed with other data layers, such as land use data, caution must be used in generating statistics on the co-occurence of the land use data with the soil data. The composition of the STATSGO map unit can be characterized independently for the land use and for the soil component, but there are no data on their joint occurrence at a more detailed level. Analysis of the overlayed data should be on a map polygon basis.
The minimum area depicted is approximately 10,000 acres. The total number of delineations is 2,310. Delineations depict the dominant soils making up the landscape. Other dissimilar soils, too small to be delineated, are present within a delineation.
Digital enlargements of these maps to scales greater than at which they were originally mapped can cause misinterpretation of the data. If enlarged, maps do not show the small areas of contrasting soils that could have been shown at a larger scale. The depicted soil boundaries, interpretations, and analysis derived from them do not eliminate the need for onsite sampling, testing, and detailed study of specific sites for intensive uses. Thus, these data and their interpretations are intended for planning purposes only.
Attribute data for some data elements may be incomplete or missing. Where data are unavailable, a mask should be used to exclude the area from analysis.
Digital data files are periodically updated. Files are dated and users are responsible for obtaining the latest version of the data.
The actual composition and interpretive purity of the map unit delineations were based on random transect and remote sensing of landforms and vegetation patterns.
Specific limits were established on the classification of soils and the design and name of map units. These limits are outlined in U.S. Department of Agriculture. 1975. Soil Taxonomy: A basic system of soil classification for making and interpreting soil surveys. Soil Conserv. Serv., U.S. Dep. Agric. Handb. 436.; U.S. Department of Agriculture. 1992. Keys to Soil Taxonomy. SMSS Technical Monograph No. 19. Soil Surv. Staff, Soil Conserv. Serv.; U.S. Department of Agriculture. 1993. National Soil Survey Handbook, title 430-VI. Soil Surv. Staff, Soil Conserv. Serv.; and U.S. Department of Agriculture. 1993. Soil Survey Manual. Soil Surv. Staff, U.S. Dep. Agric. Handbook 18.
Adherence to National Cooperative Soil Survey standards and procedures is based on peer review, quality control, and quality assurance. Quality control is outlined in documents that reside with the Natural Resources Conservation Service state soil scientist.
The map unit ID uniquely identifies each closed delineation, map unit. Each map unit ID is linked to a map unit name. The map unit ID is also the key for linking information in the Map Unit Interpretations Record tables.
Map Unit Delineations are described by the Map Unit Interpretations Record data base. This attribute data base gives the proportionate extent of the component soils and the properties for each soil. The data base contains both estimated and measured data on the physical and chemical soil properties and soil interpretations for engineering, water management, recreation, agronomic, woodland, range and wildlife uses of the soil.
The Soil Map Unit Interpretations Record data base consist of the following relational tables:
codes (data base codes) - stores information on all codes used in the data base comp (map unit component) - stores information which will apply to a specific component of a soil map unit compyld(component crop yield) - stores crop yield information for soil map unit components forest (forest understory) - stores information for plant cover as forest understory for soil map unit components interp(interpretation) - stores soil interpretation ratings (both limitation ratings and suitability ratings) to soil map unit components layer (soil layer) - stores characteristics which apply to soil layers for soil map unit components mapunit (map unit) - stores information which applies to all components of a soil map unit plantcom (plant composition) - stores plant symbols and percent of plant composition associated with components of soil map units plantnm (plant name) - stores the common and scientific names for plants used in the data base rsprod (range site production) - stores range site production information for soil map unit components taxclass (taxonomic classification) - stores the taxonomic classification for soils in the data base windbrk (windbreak)- stores information on recommended windbreak plants for soil map unit components wlhabit(wildlife habitat) - stores wildlife habitat information for soil map unit components woodland (woodland) - stores information on common indicator trees for soil map unit components woodmgt (woodland management) - stores woodland management information for soil map unit components yldunits (yield units) - stores crop names and the units used to measure yield.
U.S. Department of Agriculture. 1992. Keys to Soil Taxonomy. SMSS Technical Monograph No. 19. Soil Surv. Staff, Soil Conserv. Serv.
U.S. Department of Agriculture. 1993. National Soil Survey Handbook, title 430-VI. Soil Surv. Staff, Soil Conserv. Serv.
U.S. Department of Agriculture. 1993. Soil Survey Manual. Soil Surv. Staff, U.S. Dep. Agric. Handbook 18.
U.S. Department of Agriculture. 1993. National Soil Survey Handbook, title 430-VI. Soil Surv. Staff, Soil Conserv. Serv.
U.S. Department of Agriculture. 1994. State Soil Geographic (STATSGO) Data Base: Data use information. Soil Conserv. Serv.
U.S. Department of Agriculture. State Soil Survey Database Data Dictionary. Soil Conserv. Serv.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, nor any of its agencies are liable for misuse of the data. It is also not liable for damage, transmission of viruses, or computer contamination through the distribution of these data sets. The U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)