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Who benefits from soil surveys? We all do! When we better understand the soil under our feet, beneath our homes, around our schools and developments and supporting our communities, we have a better chance of not destroying an essential natural resource.
As more people realize that conservation is in our own hands, requests for soil survey information are increasing. Urban planners, state and local governments and private citizens are using the soil survey information to determine if land is suitable for building, farming, ranching, grazing, commercial developments and many engineering and conservation applications.
Soil Survey information helps:
- Homeowners - can determine the type of soil and land usage found on their existing site or a prospective new site. This allows them to make good building decisions and provides information for growing trees and plants.
- Developers - can determine whether or not the soil in a proposed development area is adaptable for their intended use.
- Community planners -understanding soils can help cities and counties with development of park areas, recreation areas, community gardens, green belts, lawns, septic absorption fields, and other uses.
- Farmers - can use soil information to identify important farmlands, estimate potential crop production, and better estimate the nutrient needs of their crops and take early precautions against sensitive land areas.
- Ranchers - can better manage pasture land and rangeland for better forage production and can better protect surface and ground water from contamination.
- Teachers and educators - with more pertinent soil information educators can better teach about the conservation of our natural resources.
- Engineers - use soil surveys to determine the suitability and limitations of soils for roads, pipelines, buildings, landfills/lagoons, recreation areas and many other uses.
- Realtors - can use soil information to determine soil related hazards or limitations that affect home/building sites.
- Foresters - can use soil surveys to look at the soil properties, such as slope, wetness, and soil depth of management areas. The more information forest managers have about their soils, the better they will be able to plan and manage their forests for the greatest economical and environmental benefit.
- Others - use soil information to help solve environmental problems and use soils survey information to support site evaluations and assessments.
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