Laserfiche WebLink
are called contr ,or dissimilar, components.They gene,II re in small areas and <br /> could not be mapped separately because of the scale used.Some small areas of strongly <br /> contrasting soils or miscellaneous areas are identified by a special symbol on the maps. If <br /> included in the database for a given area,the contrasting minor components are identified <br /> in the map unit descriptions along with some characteristics of each.A few areas of minor <br /> components may not have been observed, and consequently they are not mentioned in the <br /> descriptions,especially where the pattern was so complex that it was impractical to make <br /> enough observations to identify all the soils and miscellaneous areas on the landscape. The <br /> presence of minor components in a map unit in no way diminishes the usefulness or <br /> accuracy of the data.The objective of mapping is not to delineate pure taxonomic classes <br /> but rather to separate the landscape into landforms or landform segments that have similar <br /> use and management requirements.The delineation of such segments on the map provides <br /> sufficient information for the development of resource plans. If intensive use of small areas <br /> is planned, however,onsite investigation is needed to define and locate the soils and <br /> miscellaneous areas. An identifying symbol precedes the map unit name in the map unit <br /> descriptions. Each description includes general facts about the unit and gives important soil <br /> properties and qualities. Soils that have profiles that are almost alike make up a soil series. <br /> All the soils of a series have major horizons that are similar in composition,thickness,and <br /> arrangement. Soils of a given series can differ in texture of the surface layer, slope, <br /> stoniness, salinity, degree of erosion, and other characteristics that affect their use. On the <br /> basis of such differences,a soil series is divided into soil phases. Most of the areas shown on <br /> the detailed soil maps are phases of soil series.The name of a soil phase commonly <br /> indicates a feature that affects use or management. For example,Alpha silt loam, 0 to 2 <br /> percent slopes, is a phase of the Alpha series. Some map units are made up of two or more <br /> major soils or miscellaneous areas.These map units are complexes,associations, or <br /> undifferentiated groups. A complex consists of two or more soils or miscellaneous areas in <br /> such an intricate pattern or in such small areas that they cannot be shown separately on the <br /> maps.The pattern and proportion of the soils or miscellaneous areas are somewhat similar <br /> in all areas.Alpha-Beta complex,0 to 6 percent slopes, is an example. An association is <br /> made up of two or more geographically associated soils or miscellaneous areas that are <br /> shown as one unit on the maps. Because of present or anticipated uses of the map units in <br /> the survey area, it was not considered practical or necessary to map the soils or <br /> miscellaneous areas separately.The pattern and relative proportion of the soils or <br /> miscellaneous areas are somewhat similar.Alpha-Beta association,0 to 2 percent slopes, is <br /> an example. An undifferentiated group is made up of two or more soils or miscellaneous <br /> areas that could be mapped individually but are mapped as one unit because similar <br /> interpretations can be made for use and management.The pattern and proportion of the <br /> soils or miscellaneous areas in a mapped area are not uniform.An area can be made up of <br /> only one of the major soils or miscellaneous areas, or it can be made up of all of them.Alpha <br /> and Beta soils,0 to 2 percent slopes, is an example. Some surveys include miscellaneous <br /> areas.Such areas have little or no soil material and support little or no vegetation. Rock <br /> outcrop is an example. Additional information about the map units described in this report <br /> is available in other soil reports,which give properties of the soils and the limitations, <br /> capabilities,and potentials for many uses.Also,the narratives that accompany the soil <br /> reports define some of the properties included in the map unit descriptions. <br /> Page 3 of <br /> C1 T7 UP E`"'ERETT j 3200 radar Street j Everett. W'.A 98201 425-257-8810 I everettwa.g , "-� <br />