Soils

Many digital soils data sets are derived from hardcopy maps contained in county soil surveys produced by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), formerly the Soil Conservation Service (SCS). For more information, see County Soil Surveys: Guidelines for Digitizing. Minnesota soil information is also available from the NRCS Minnesota Office.

Metadata:
Statewide 100 Meter EPPL7/EPIC2000 Data Set - a statewide data set that consists of approximately 400 raster-formatted data layers. It is available on a single CD-ROM in either EPPL7 or ERDAS format. The data themes cover a wide range of physical and biological variables along with administrative, political, sociodemographic, and transportation data. The data collection unit for most of the variables is the 40-acre parcel. Files have been subdivided into 100-meter by 100-meter grid cells and spatially corrected to provide improved geographic reference. However, this processing step does not improve the original 40-acre resolution accuracy. The data set is designed for use in regional and statewide planning, not for site-specific decision making. This dataset is effectively the MLMIS100 county data set appended into a statewide coverage. There is also a Twin Cities Metropolitan Area 30-meter EPPL&/EPIC2000 Data Set.

The following are examples of soils data layers included in the statewide data set:

Minnesota Soils Atlas information:
acidic soil, available phosphorus and potassium, available water to depth of five feet, depth to bedrock (does not include rock outcrops), drainage class, erodibility (K-factor), hydrologic groups, landform description, landscape position, permeability rate, pH, shrink-swell potential, slope class, soil type, texture

Nonatlas sources:
engineering class, flood potential, sedimentation, water erosion, wind erosion

Pollution Control Agency data:
soil materials, vadose zones materials

SSURGO: Soil Survey Geographic Data Base
This data set is a digital soil survey and generally is the most detailed level of soil geographic data developed by the National Cooperative Soil Survey. The information was prepared by digitizing maps, by compiling information onto a planimetric correct base and digitizing, or by revising digitized maps using remotely sensed and other information. This data set consists of georeferenced digital map data and computerized attribute data. The map data are in a 7.5-minute quadrangle format (3.75-minute for Sherburne County) and include a detailed, field verified inventory of soils and nonsoil areas that normally occur in a repeatable pattern on the landscape and that can be cartographically shown at the scale mapped. A special soil features layer (point and line features) is optional. This layer displays the location of features too small to delineate at the mapping scale, but they are large enough and contrasting enough to significantly influence use and management. The soil map units are linked to attributes in the Map Unit Interpretations Record relational database, which gives the proportionate extent of the component soils and their properties. To download SSURGO files in ARC/INFO coverage, ARC export, or DLG3 format, go to: National SSURGO Database. For more information, refer to the following metadata records:

STATSGO: State Soil Geographic Data Base
This 1:250,000-scale data set represents generalized soil survey data at the soil association level, designed for broad planning and management uses, covering state, regional, and multi-state areas. This data set is available on CD-ROM (ARC/INFO, DLG, or GRASS format) for $50 from the Natural Resources Conservation Service at 1-800-672-5559 or no charge via National STATSGO Database. For more information, refer to the STATSGO metadata.

Other Information Resources:

GIS Soil - An interface that allows the user to browse a soils map sheet displayed over a Digital Orthophoto Quadrangle (DOQ), make queries of map unit attributes, and create custom maps from database queries. A prototype interface has been developed for portions of Scott County, Minnesota using software created as part of the ForNet project.