"This data set is a digital general soil association map developed by the National Cooperative Soil Survey. It consists of a broad based inventory of soils and nonsoil areas that occur in a repeatable pattern on the landscape and that can be cartographically shown at the scale mapped. The soil maps for STATSGO are compiled by generalizing more detailed soil survey maps. Where more detailed soil survey maps are not available, data on geology, topography, vegetation, and climate are assembled, together with Land Remote Sensing Satellite (LANDSAT) images. Soils of like areas are studied, and the probable classification and extent of the soils are determined."
"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.
Additional political, watershed, or other boundaries may be intersected with the soil data. Although the composition of each political and watershed unit may be described in terms of the STATSGO map units, information is not available to assign the components to the boundary units with full accuracy. As with the land use categories, the analysis should be restricted to the classified components.
The approximate minimum area delineated is 625 hectares (1,544 acres), which is represented on a 1:250,000-scale map by an area approximately 1 cm by 1 cm (0.4 inch by 0.4 inch). Linear delineations are not less than 0.5 cm (0.2 inch) in width. The number of delineations per 1:250,000 quadrangle typically is 100 to 200, but may range up to 400. 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.
Feature 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."
DATA DISCLAIMER
This data set was compiled by Bernardin, Lochmueller and Associates, using data believed to be accurate; however, a degree of error is inherent in all data. This product is distributed "AS-IS" without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to warranties of suitability of a particular purpose or use. No attempt has been made in either the designed format or production of these data to define the limits or jurisdiction of any federal, state, or local government. These data are intended for use only at the published scale or smaller and are for reference purposes only. They are not to be construed as a legal document or survey instrument. A detailed on-the-ground survey and historical analysis of a single site may differ from this data.
CREDIT
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service should be acknowledged as the data source in products derived from these data.
"The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service should be acknowledged as the data source in products derived from these data."
"Attribute accuracy is tested by manual comparison of the source with hard copy plots and/or symbolized display of the map data on an interactive computer graphic system. Selected attributes that cannot be visually verified on plots or on screen are interactively queried and verified on screen. In addition, the attributes are tested against a master set of valid attributes. All attribute data conform to the attribute codes in the signed classification and correlation document and amendments and are current as of the date of digitizing."
"Certain node/geometry and topology (GT)-polygon/chain relationships are collected or generated to satisfy topological requirements. (The GT-polygon corresponds to the soil delineation). Some of these requirements include- chains must begin and end at nodes, chains must connect to each other at nodes, chains do not extend through nodes, left and right GT-polygons are defined for each chain element and are consistent throughout, and the chains representing the limits of the file (neatline) are free of gaps. The tests of logical consistency are performed using vendor software. The neatline is generated by connecting the explicitly entered four corners of the digital file. All data outside the enclosed region are ignored and all data crossing these geographically straight lines are clipped at the neatline. Data within a specified tolerance of the neatline are snapped to the neatline. Neatline straightening aligns the digitized edges of the digital data with the generated neatline (i.e., with the longitude/latitude lines in geographic coordinates). All internal polygons are tested for closure with vendor software and are checked on hard copy plots. All data are checked for common soil lines (i.e., adjacent polygons with the same label). Quadrangles are edge matched within the state, merged into a statewide data sets, and then edge matched to adjacent state data sets. Edge locations do not deviate from centerline to centerline by more than 0.01 inches."
"A map unit is a collection of areas defined and named the same in terms of their soil and/or nonsoil areas. Each map unit differs in some respect from all others in a survey area and is uniquely identified. Each individual area is a delineation. Each map unit consists of one to 21 components.
In those few areas where detailed maps did not exist, reconnaissance soil surveys were combined with data on geology, topography, vegetation, climate, and remote sensing images to delineate map units and estimate the percentages of components. The STATSGO map unit components are soil series phases, and their percent composition represents the estimated areal proportion of each within STATSGO map unit. The composition for a map unit is generalized to represent the statewide extent of that map unit and not the extent of any single map unit delineation. These specifications provide a nationally consistent representation of STATSGO attribute data.
The actual composition and interpretive purity of the map unit delineations were based on statistical analysis of transect data. The composition was largely determined by measuring transects on detailed soil survey maps. The number of transects used was proportional to the relative size, number, and complexity of the delineations. The combined data on the length of the map units crossed by the transects were used to determine the percentages of the different soil and nonsoil areas in each map unit.
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 accuracy of these digital data is based upon their compilation to base maps that meet National Map Accuracy Standards. The difference in positional accuracy between the map unit boundaries in the field and their digitized map locations is unknown. The locational acuracy of soil delineations on the ground varies with the transition between map units. For example, in areas where changes in soils, climate, topography, and geology occur subtly across a portion of a state, the transition between soil map unit boundaries will be gradual. Where these features change abruptly, such as from an area of foothills to a lake plain, the transition will be very narrow. Soil delineation boundaries were digitized within 0.01 inches of their locations on the digitizing source. The digital map elements are edge matched between data sets. The data along each state boundary are matched against the data for the adjacent state. Edge locations generally do not deviate from centerline to centerline by more than 0.01 inch."
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) - store 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
Fields, codes, and tables are described in full detail in the STATSGO users guide, along with appropriate use and analysis techniques.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
The product is provided "AS IS", without any other warranties or conditions, expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, warranties for product quality, or suitability to a particular purpose or use. The risk or liability resulting from the use of this product is assumed by the user. Bernardin, Lochmueller and Associates shares no liability with product users indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages whatsoever, including, but not limited to, loss of revenue or profit, lost or damaged data or other commercial or economic loss. Bernardin, Lochmueller and Associates is not responsible for claims by a third party. The maximum aggregate liability to the original purchaser shall not exceed the amount paid by you for the product.