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 Hydric soils
 

Greater Delta Soil SurveyPhoto of field in Great Delta soil survey area

The Greater Delta Soil Survey is an update of the Salcha-Big Delta Area Soil Survey, which was completed in 1973.  The survey area is located in the Tanana Valley of interior Alaska.  It includes about 550 square miles of land along the Richardson Highway.  The survey is 3 to 10 miles wide and 90 miles long.  It extends south from Eielson Air Force Base along the Richardson Highway to the Gerstle River.

2004-2007 Activity

A new soil survey for the Greater Delta area was implemented in 2004.  This update was required due to the changes that have taken place since the Salcha-Big Delta Area Soil Survey was completed, such as increases in population and agricultural production, as well as changes in soil mapping concepts during the 30-year interim.  Preliminary mapping was accomplished using data from the 1973 survey as well as aerial photography, satellite imagery (including color infrared), and various other types of spatial information.   After receiving permission from various landowners, soil scientists spent the last three field seasons (June - September) making observations about soil, landforms, hydrology, and vegetation in the survey area.  Field crews completed field work for the survey in September, 2007.

Planned 2008 Activities

The final survey will be published by September, 2008. This information will be available on Web Soil Survey and Soil Data Mart. Preliminary data may be available upon request from the Fairbanks NRCS field office. Updates on the progress of the Grater Delta soil survey will be posted to this site on a regular basis.

Map of Greater Delta Soil Survey area

  

Contacts

Joe Moore
State Soil Scientist
USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service
800 W. Evergreen St., Suite 100
Palmer, AK, 99645
Phone (907) 761-7759    Fax (907) 761-7790
Email: Joseph.Moore@ak.usda.gov
Web site: http://www.ak.nrcs.usda.gov

Chris Savastio
Soil Scientist
USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service 
590 University Ave, Suite B
Fairbanks, AK  99701
Phone (907) 479-3159 ext. 115   Fax: (907) 479-6998
Email: Chris.Savastio@ak.usda.gov


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