NJDEP projected NRCS data to New Jersey State Plane Feet, NAD83. For related NJDEP processing, refer to NJDEP Production Processing in the Data Quality Section of this file.
Completed county soils data sets were downloaded from the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Soil Data Mart (<http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov>), as ARCINFO coverages. These coverages were projected from New Jersey State Plane Meters to New Jersey State Plane Feet by the NJDEP, and attributed as described in "The Metadata Notes Concerning the NJDEP Production Process" listed in the data quality section (Process Step) of this file. For any questions regarding the NJDEP production process, please refer to listed responsible NJDEP process contact.
This document is based on original county metadata files available at the Soil Data Mart. Users are encouraged to review those metadata files for county specific information.
Only a few attributes from the complete soil data base have been added to these shapefiles. Complete Microsoft Access county data bases can be downloaded from the Soil Data Mart site (<http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov>).
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 and include a detailed, field verified inventory of soils and non-soil 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 National Soil Information System relational database, which gives the proportionate extent of the component soils and their properties.
NJDEP:
Data Distribution Agreement (NJDEP) Agrees to abide by the terms and conditions of the following:
I. Description of Data to be Provided
The data provided herein are distributed subject to the following conditions and restrictions:
Subject Data Layers
For all data contained herein, (NJDEP) makes no representations of any kind, including, but not limited to, the warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular use, nor are any such warranties to be implied with respect to the digital data layers furnished hereunder. NJDEP assumes no responsibility to maintain them in any manner or form.
II. Terms of Agreement
1. Digital data received from the NJDEP are to be used solely for internal purposes in the conduct of daily affairs.
2. The data are provided, as is, without warranty of any kind and the user is responsible for understanding the accuracy limitations of all digital data layers provided herein, as documented in the accompanying Data Dictionary and Readme files. Any reproduction or manipulation of the above data must ensure that the coordinate reference system remains intact.
3. Digital data received from the NJDEP may not be reproduced or redistributed for use by anyone without first obtaining written permission from the NJDEP. This clause is not intended to restrict distribution of printed mapped information produced from the digital data.
4. Any maps, publications, reports, or other documents produced as a result of this project that utilize NJDEP digital data will credit the NJDEP's Geographic Information System (GIS) as the source of the data with the following credit/disclaimer:
"This (map/publication/report) was developed using New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Geographic Information System digital data, but this secondary product has not been verified by NJDEP and is not state-authorized."
5. Users shall require any independent contractor, hired to undertake work that will utilize digital data obtained from the NJDEP, to agree not to use, reproduce, or redistribute NJDEP GIS data for any purpose other than the specified contractual work. All copies of NJDEP GIS data utilized by an independent contractor will be required to be returned to the original user at the close of such contractual work.
Users hereby agree to abide by the use and reproduction conditions specified above and agree to hold any independent contractor to the same terms. By using data provided herein, the user acknowledges that terms and conditions have been read and that the user is bound by these criteria.
NRCS:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service should be acknowledged as the data source in products derived from this data. Natural Resources Conservation Service is not responsible for NDEP Production Processing.
This data set is not designed for use as a primary regulatory tool in permitting or citing decisions, but may be used as a reference source. This is public information and may be interpreted by organizations, agencies, units of government, or others based on needs; however, they are responsible for the 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.
Photographic or digital enlargement 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. Digital data files are periodically updated. Files are dated, and users are responsible for obtaining the latest version of the data.
Contact NJDEP Metadata and Process Contact with any questions regarding NJDEP production processing.
This soil survey depicts information about the kinds and distribution of soils on the landscape. The soil map and data used in the SSURGO product were prepared by soil scientists as part of the National Cooperative Soil Survey.
Soil scientists identify small areas of soils or miscellaneous (non-soil) areas that have properties and behavior significantly different than the named soils in the surrounding map unit. These minor components may be indicated as special features. If they have a minimal effect on use and management, or could not be precisely located, they may not be indicated on the map.
Specific National Cooperative Soil Survey standards and procedures were used in the classification of soils, design and name of map units, and location of special soil features. These standards are outlined in Agricultural Handbook 18, Soil Survey Manual, 1993, USDA, SCS; Agricultural Handbook 436, Soil Taxonomy, Soil Survey Staff, 1975, USDA, SCS; and all Amendments; Keys to Soil Taxonomy, Soil Survey Staff, (current issue); National Soil Survey Handbook, title 430-VI, (current issue).
The actual composition and interpretive purity of the map unit delineations were based on data collected by scientists during the course of preparing the soil maps. Adherence to National Cooperative Soil Survey standards and procedures is based on peer review, quality control, and quality assurance. Quality control is outlined in the memorandum of understanding for the soil survey area and in documents that reside with the Natural Resources Conservation Service state soil scientist. Four kinds of map units are used in soil surveys: consociations, complexes, associations, and undifferentiated groups.
Consociations - Consociations are named for the dominant soil. In a consociation, delineated areas are dominated by a single soil taxon and similar soils. At least one half of the pedons in each delineation are of the same soil component so similar to the named soil that major interpretations are not affected significantly. The total amount of dissimilar inclusions of other components in a map unit generally does not exceed about 15 percent if limiting and 25 percent if non-limiting. A single component of a dissimilar limiting inclusion generally does not exceed 10 percent if very contrasting.
Complexes and associations - Complexes and associations are named for two or more dissimilar components with the dominant component listed first. They occur in a regularly repeating pattern. The major components of a complex cannot be mapped separately at a scale of about 1:24,000. The major components of an association can be separated at a scale of about 1:24,000. In each delineation of either a complex or an association, each major component is normally present, though their proportions may vary appreciably from one delineation to another. The total amount of inclusions in a map unit that are dissimilar to any of the major components does not exceed 15 percent if limiting and 25 percent if non-limiting. A single kind of dissimilar limiting inclusion usually does not exceed 10 percent.
Undifferentiated groups - Undifferentiated groups consist of two or more components that do not always occur together in the same delineation, but are included in the same named map unit because use and management are the same or similar for common uses. Every delineation has at least one of the major components and some may have all of them. The same principles regarding proportion of inclusions apply to undifferentiated groups as to consociations.
Minimum documentation consists of three complete soil profile descriptions that are collected for each soil added to the legend, one additional per 3,000 acres mapped; three 10 observation transects for each map unit, one additional 10 point transect per 3,000 acres.
A defined standard or level of confidence in the interpretive purity of the map unit delineations is attained by adjusting the kind and intensity of field investigations. Field investigations and data collection are carried out in sufficient detail to name map units and to identify accurately and consistently areas of about 5 acres.
Completed county data sets were downloaded from the Soil Data Mart at <http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov>, as ARCINFO coverages. Each County coverage was projected from New Jersey State Plane Meters, NAD83, to New Jersey State Plane Feet, NAD83, using the ARCINFO PROJECT command. Polygon topology was re-created using the BUILD command with the POLY option.
Separate databases and ACCESS 2002 data base templates were also downloaded for each county from the NRCS site, and processed according to NRCS directions. The MAPUNIT table from the ACCESS base created was converted to an EXCEL file, and then to a DBASE IV file. The MAPUNIT.dbf was then converted to an INFO file , MAPUNIT.lut, using the DBASEINFO command. The DROPITEM command was used to drop all items except MUKEY,MUSYM, MUNAME, MUKIND and LKEY from the MAPUNIT.lut. Once the extra items were dropped, the MAPUNIT.lut was joined to the coverage .pat of each county using the JOINITEM command with MUKEY as the JOIN field. The projected coverage, with the additional attributes, was converted to a shapefile for distribution.
Map Unit Delineations are described by the National Soil Information System database. This attribute database gives the proportionate extent of the component soils and the properties for each soil. The database 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 National Soil Information System database contains static metadata. It documents the data structure and includes such information as what tables, columns, indexes, and relationships are defined as well as a variety of attributes of each of these database objects. Attributes include table and column descriptions and detailed domain information.
The National Soil Information System database also contains a distribution metadata. It records the criteria used for selecting map units and components for inclusion in the set of distributed data.
Special features are described in the feature table. It includes a feature label, feature name, and feature description for each special and ad hoc feature in the survey area.
U.S. Department of Agriculture. (current issue). Keys to Soil Taxonomy. Soil Surv. Staff, Soil Conserv. Serv.
U.S. Department of Agriculture. (current issue). National Soil Survey Handbook, title 430-VI. Soil Surv. Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
U.S. Department of Agriculture. 1993. Soil Survey Manual. Soil Surv. Staff, U.S. Dep. Agric. Handb. 18.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, nor any of its agencies are liable for misuse of the data, for damage, for transmission of viruses, or for computer contamination through the distribution of these data sets. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)
See also NJDEP Use Constraints
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service
732-246-1171 ext 170 ron.taylor@nj.nrcs.usda.gov