Using Soil Surveys Can Ease Flood Losses

August 2008

Minimizing or avoiding some kinds of flood damage can be as simple as using the information from a free soil survey, says Mike Sucik, state soil scientist with the US Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

“Soil surveys contain information that help land owners plan appropriate uses for their land. Flooding frequency is one key question the soil survey tries to answer for people,” said Sucik.

He also says soil surveys provide information builders, buyers and developers can use to make better real estate decisions and reduce the number of homes and businesses being built in flood-prone areas.

Sucik, who has served as Iowa’s NRCS state soil scientist for nine years, says soil surveys help people use the land wisely.

Soil surveys allow decision-makers to see below the earth’s surface and help them understand what uses best suit their land. If there is a problem with soil stability, for example, developers may decide not to build at the location because it is not economical to develop.

Soil surveys offer a comprehensive look at land and its potential uses on a countywide basis. The paper version of a county soil survey can weigh a hefty eight pounds, but is worth the effort to read and use, says Sucik. Each publication includes predictions of soil behavior for erosion, basement shrink-swell potential, septic tank suitability, potential for ground water contamination, wetness, slope, suitability for building sites and road construction strength.  

They are free of charge on the web; free print and CD or DVD copies may also be available from local NRCS offices.

“Any of our county offices can help customers interpret soil survey data on land they are interested in,” said Paul Miller, district conservationist for NRCS in Polk County. “Land around Ankeny, for example, has a high water table. Building a basement or septic system into a lot with a high water table can be expensive. Some customers have looked at their soil survey information and left our office happy. Others have not.”

Janell McIntyre, owner of McIntyre Real Estate in Shenandoah, says she loves using the soil survey CDs. “From my office,” McIntyre said, “I can access data from many counties in multiple states. I use soil survey data to help my customers make informed pricing decisions whether they are buying or selling. It’s a key component of my real estate business.”  

Sucik says the Corn Suitability Rating (CSR) is one of the most popular survey features. County assessors use the CSR, a rating used to predict crop-growing success, to help determine property taxes and land values on agricultural land. Homeowners use the surveys to help identify varieties of trees, shrubs and other plants that are best suited for their soil.

NRCS, in partnership with Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship-Division of Soil Conservation (IDALS-DSC) and local county governments have developed comprehensive soil surveys of all 99 Iowa counties. Each soil survey is labor- intensive, can cost over $300,000 and take up to eight years to complete.   

Sucik says the first soil surveys date to the 1900s.

“While the soils don’t change,” said Sucik,”our need for more information about the soils does change. We are slowly updating soil surveys across the state to reflect different land uses and to get more information out of the soils data that people can use.”

NRCS works with landowners to help them protect and conserve Iowa’s natural resources including soil, water and wildlife habitat.

To access your county’s soil survey, visit http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/ or visit your local NRCS office.

-- 30 --

<Back to Iowa NRCS News