CT ECO Basic Data Guide

Soils

Example of Soil map units labeled with their map symbols

Description

The Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) database provides information on the location, distribution, and characteristics of various kinds of soils on the landscape as part of the National Cooperative Soil Survey. For additional documentation including a description of the map legend for Soils, refer to the CT ECO Complete Resource Guide for Soils.

All soil information included in the CT ECO maps and map viewers is from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Web Soil Survey (WSS), which is based on information originally published on Soil Survey quarter quadrangle maps that cover Connecticut. Refer to the NRCS publication, Soil Survey of the State of Connecticut, for a complete description of each soil map unit.

Purpose

The survey was made to provide information about the soils and miscellaneous areas in the survey area. The information includes a description of the soils and miscellaneous areas and their location and a discussion of their suitability, limitations, and management for specified uses. Interpretations are dynamic and periodically revised to reflect improved soils data, new technology and the needs of the soil survey users. In Connecticut, there are approximately 70 soil properties and 90 interpretations that are contained within the soils database.

Use Limitations

This data set is not designed for use as a primary regulatory tool in permitting or siting 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.

Dataset Information

  • Status - This information is updated as needed. The previously published county soil surveys (published between 1962 and 1981) are superseded by this official soil information. County soil surveys are for historical use only.
  • Date of Data - The original data was collected from published surveys from 1962 to 1981, field mapping from 1985 through 2001 and additional attribute documentation to 3/23/2007.
  • Map Scale and Accuracy - 1:12,000 (1 inch = 12,000 feet). Minimum delineation is 3 acres in size.

Additional Documentation

  • Soils - CT ECO Complete Resource Guide
  • Soil map unit list - CT ECO Basic Data Guide that lists soils present in Connecticut.
  • Soil Survey of the State of Connecticut - Complete description of individual soil map units. (4 mb)
  • Soil map unit GIS Metadata – Contains technical documentation describing the Soil map units data and the data sources, process steps, and standards used to collect, digitize, and store this information in a geographic information system (GIS).
  • Soil interpretation GIS Metadata – Contains technical documentation describing the data table that defines soil interpretation such as Hydric Soils, Inland Wetland Soils, and Potential for Subsurface Disposal Systems. This lookup table is related to the soil map unit data and used to create the various soil interpretations included in CT ECO.

Originators

GIS Data Download