Layers   Tools
Watershed
Digital Raster Graphic (DRG)
Lafayette
LULC
Historical(1970-1980's)
2001
Soil Type
SSURGO
STATSGO
Measure distance: Select the line tool button, click on Google Earth at several points, click on Calculate Distance button. When done click Clear.
Measure Area: Select the line tool, click on several points in Google Earth to create a polygon, click the Calculate Area button. When done click Clear.
Result:
Line Tool  
 
Elevation
 

Exploring Soil Coverage


Overview
There are two sources of information on soil types in the area of the watershed: STATSCG and SURRGO. They are developed by the US Department of Agricultural (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). You can visit USDA-NRCS websites (U.S. General Soil Map and Soil Survey Geographic) to read more about soil classification datasets and their information sources.

Your Task
Work with the two soil type coverage layers (See Soil Type in Layers section at the bottom left of this page) to answer the following questions. Download and open this WORD file and use it as a template to record your answers.
  1. How many soil types are there in the watershed according to SSURGO and STATSGO?
    List the different soil types for SSURGO and STATSGO.
  2. What is the dominant soil type in the watershed according to SSURGO and STATSGO?
  3. What can you say about the differences in soil classification between STATSGO and SSURGO?

    Not Mandatory for Freshmen
  4. One of the most important soil physical properties is the “Saturated hydraulic conductivity, Ks”; use your hydrology textbook (or any online resources) to find out what Ks represent.
  5. Use your hydrology textbook (or any other online resources) to estimate Ks (or its range) for the silt-loam soil type.

Once finished, click Next to continue.

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