For immediate release

From the ground down: Updated soil survey of Spokane County now available

SPOKANE, Wash. (July 17, 2012) – It’s not a gossip tabloid, but it sure dishes the latest “dirt” on Spokane County.

It’s called a soil survey. And thanks to a recent update by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, foresters, farmers, residents, builders, land managers and others will now have the latest information on what lies beneath their feet – the soil.

The Spokane County soil survey area encompasses over 1.1 million acres of agricultural, forest, range and urban lands within three Major Land Resource Areas (MLRA): Palouse and Nez Perce Prairies (MLRA 9), Northern Rocky Mountain Valleys (MLRA 44A) and Northern Rocky Mountains (MLRA 43A).

The updated survey is an extensive revision that will replace the current Spokane County publication released in 1968 that was based on fieldwork from 1955 through 1961 with an agricultural interpretive focus.

Although the soils have not changed over the last 40 years, shifts in land use and management, advancement of soil science, research and technology and an increased demand from customers for current and accurate soil information have dictated the need for up-to-date soil data and interpretations.

“Knowing the physical characteristics and capacity of the soil are integral in making good land management decisions,” said NRCS State Soil Scientist Kevin Sullivan. “The updated information in this survey provides more accurate, detailed and accessible soils information for nearly all of Spokane County.”

The updated Spokane County Soil Survey is now available online through the Soil Data Mart (http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov) and Web Soil Survey (http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app). This data will also be available at the Spokane Field office.

-30-

An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

 

Helping People Help the Land

316 W. Boone, Suite 450
Spokane, WA  99201
509-323-2900

< Back to... News Releases

< Back to... News