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Mapping Stripmine Land for the Belmont County Soil Survey
Belmont Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) entered a cooperative agreement with the division in March 2007 to begin updating soil maps in the county’s soil survey book and in digital soils data available online since 2003.
These two sources currently do not accurately reflect soil characteristics or interpretations for the 10 percent of the county that has been affected by surface mining since the county’s soil survey was completed in 1977.
SWCD and county offices are contributing $20,000, about one-half of the estimated cost, for the first phase of the project. This agreement reflects a new approach to updating soils information for the division, in project phases that can be competed in about a year and that result in deliverables that will benefit the SWCD and local government before the final phase of the project is completed.
Phase I
Create a digital data layer for use in geographic information systems that identifies areas in Belmont County where surface mining or subsequent reclamation has altered soils as mapped in the Soil Survey of Belmont County, Ohio
The digital data layer will include information that:
- differentiates between areas where rock and soil materials were excavated and where these materials were deposited.
- includes slope data
- identifies streams and ponds that have been altered or created within areas affected by surface mining activity since soil maps were prepared for the publication.
Phase one will be a compilation of data from remote sensing sources that include aerial photography, digital elevation models (DEM’s), ODNR-DMRM coal mining permit shape files and scanned copies of engineering plans.
Contact Information
To inquire about updating soil surveys: Aaron.Lantz@dnr.state.oh.us
Belmont County project details: Neil.Martin@dnr.state.oh.us
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