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Soil Surveys

Contents:
Description of the Maps
How to Find the Maps
California Soil Surveys in the SDSU Library

See also: Map Collection | Map Basics


Description of the Maps

Soil surveys classify, map, and describe soils. Modern soil surveys are comprised of three basic components: text, maps, and tables. The text of the survey provides general information on the climate, geology, and topography of the area. Soil surveys can be performed at different scales, but the county soil survey is the most common. A typical county soil survey contains two types of maps: one general overview soil map for the entire county and a series of detailed soil maps providing complete coverage of the entire county at a larger scale.

The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) (formerly the Soil Conservation Service) is the division of the USDA that is in charge of the completion of modern soil surveys of every county in the United States. At this time, most counties in the U.S. have had soil surveys completed, although earlier surveys need updating. For a PDF map showing the status of published soil surveys, see Status of Soil Surveys.

There are a number of useful resources available online, including:

Soil taxonomy : a basic system of soil classification for making and interpreting soil surveys 2nd edition (1999). Also available in the library (Gov Pubs / US A 1.76:436/999).

Soils and Soil Types from the Natural Resources Conservation Service includes some online maps of the United States showing distribution of soils

How to find the maps

USDA Soil Surveys are located in the United States Goverment Publications collection (3rd floor, Love Library). Assistance is available during reference hours at the reference desk (1st floor, Library Addition) by coming in person or by calling (619) 594-6728.

We own a limited number of the surveys for selected western states (AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, TX, UT, WA, WY). They are at call numbers beginning with A 57.38:. Some are available in paper and some are on microfiche.

To find the particular survey you are looking for, see the list of Published Soil Surveys to find the appropriate survey. Then use the library catalog, the PAC, to get the call number. For example, a word search on "San Diego and soil survey" brings up Soil survey, San Diego area, California [by Roy H. Bowman and others at various locations in the library. Not all the soil surveys are listed in the PAC. Please ask a librarian if you need assistance.

California Soil Surveys in the SDSU Library

See also the List of Published Soil Surveys - California, which includes surveys not owned by SDSU library.

Survey, Date Location Call #
Alameda, Eastern Part 1966 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:Al /3
Alameda, Western Part 1981 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:Al 1/3
Amador Area 1961 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:Am/3
Antelope Valley Area 1969 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:An 8
Butte Valley, Tule Lake Area 1993 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:Si 8/2/Port.
Colorado River Indian Reservation, AZ - CA Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:C 71/2
Contra Costa 1977 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:C 76
Eastern Stanislaus Area 1957 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:Ea 9
El Cajon Area 1930 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:930/ no.15 (2 c)
El Dorado Area 1974 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:El 2
Eastern Fresno Area 1971 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:F 89
Imperial 1981 Gov Pubs Micro/US A 57.38:Im 7
Kern NW Part 1988 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:K 45 N.West
Kern SE Part 1981 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:K 45
Kings 1986 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:K 58/2
Lake 1989 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:L 14/8
Los Angeles W., San Fernando Valley Area 1980 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:L 89a
Marin 1985 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:M 33/12
Mariposa 1974 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:M 33/2
Mendocino E, Trinity SW 1991 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:M 52/4
Merced County, Western Part 1990 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:M 53/6
Modoc, Altrus Area 1980 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:M 72
Monterey 1978 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:M 76/8
Napa 1978 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:N 16
Nevada Area 1975 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:N 41
Oceanside Area 1929 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:929/ no.11
Orange, Riverside 1978 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:Or 1/3 (2 c.)
Paso Robles 1928 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:928/no.34
Riverside, Cochella Valley 1980 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:R 52/2
W. Riverside 1981 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:W52 r
Sacramento 1993 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:Sa 1
San Benito 1969 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:Sa 5
San Bernardino Mojave River 1986 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:Sa 5b/4
San Bernardino, Southwestern 1980 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:Sa 5b/2
San Diego Area 1973 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:Sa 5d (2 c.)
San Joaquin 1992 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:Sa 5j/4
San Luis Obispo 1928 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:928/no.29
San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles 1983 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:Sa 5 1/3
San Mateo, San Francisco 1991 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:Sa 5m/2
N. Santa Barbara 1972 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:Sa 5b
Santa Barbara S. Coastal 1981 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:Sa 5b/3
Santa Cruz 1980 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:Sa 5c/3
Santa Ynez Area 1927 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:927/no.15
Shasta Area 1974 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:Sh 2/2
Sierra Valley 1975 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:Si 1
Siskiyou Central 1983 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:Si 8
Solano 1977 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:So 4
Sonoma 1972 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:So 5/3
Surprise Valley, Home Camp Area 1974 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:Su 7
Sutter 1988 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:Su 8/6
Tahoe Basin 1974 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:T 13
Tehama 1967 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:T 23
Trinity, Weaverville Area 1998 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:T 73
Tulare, Central 1982 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:T 82/2
Ventura Area 1970 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:V 56
Yolo 1972 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:Y 7
Yuma-Wellington Area AZ - CA 1980 Gov Pubs/US A 57.38:Y 9/2

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