Welcome

|PAGE UPDATED ON April 14th, 2012|

Announcements - In Reverse Chronological Order

MAPSS is cohosting the 2012 Northeast Regional Cooperative Soil Survey Conference with a special invitation for a Field Trip for MAPSS members. The field trip will visit several parent materials from glacigenic environments, including eolian wind-blown loess, ablation till within glacial end moraines, lodgment till, and several others in the vicinity of Baxter State Park. This Technical Tour (Field Trip) will be held on Wednesday, 20 June and is open for MAPSS members to attend.

The 2012 NECSS Conference will be held in Orono 18-21 June, 2012. Registration for the technical tour will also make available a Tuesday afternoon concurrent meeting session designed to be of interest to consulting soil scientists. Please see the Conference website and agenda for more information about the tour itinerary and agenda content.

If you wish to stay at hotels listed on the website, they are honoring lower room rates for the “Soils Conference” participants until 15 May.

Registration is $75 in advance, $100 “at the door” and includes optional attendance at the Tuesday afternoon meeting, the Technical Tour on Wednesday, lunch Wednesday, and a lobster bake banquet Wednesday evening. Note: For MAPSS members Technical tour only registration, please do not register through the website. If you wish to attend, please send a check for $75 per attendee (and their names) to Gary Fullertonby 31 May.

Full and Associate Member directories have been updated. Please verify the accuracy of your data; if further changes are needed, please email web master Chris Dorion.

Changes to the MAPSS Guidelines: The Membership voted to suspend the section on Oxyaquic Conditions, pending field trials set to begin during the early summer of 2012. These field studies will evaluate the relationship between drainage class & hydrology, redoximorphic features indicative of saturation, and timing of the growing season.

"SOIL WETNESS Soil wetness refers to the duration, depth and oxidation state of a seasonal high water table [AND]. There are two kinds of seasonal water tables which soil mappers should identify when working in the field. One is associated with a water table that becomes at least partially devoid of oxygen resulting in the formation of redoximorphic features. These soils are mapped according to soil drainage classes as described below. The other kind is associated with a water table that does not become devoid of oxygen so that redoximorphic features do not form. These soils however have other morphological indicators of soil wetness. They should be mapped according to the discussion of Soils With Oxyaquic Conditions below. Soils With Oxyaquic Conditions Some soils have a seasonal high water table which does not result in the development of redoximorphic features because they do not become devoid of oxygen. Since soils with oxygenated water react similarly to those that have an anaerobic water table for most uses and management purposes, it is important to identify and map them. These soils are typically located in either cool climates (coastal, high elevations or northern parts of the State) on long sloping landforms, particularly those formed by lodgment till or where the slope levels out at the base of a long slope. They are most common where there are both cool temperatures and wetter positions in the landscape. Cool temperatures reduce microbial activity and long sloping landforms provide for oxygenated water. These soils may have redoximorphic features in dense parent material but commonly lack them in the soil horizons above the pan. In order to determine the depth to the seasonal high water table it is necessary to look for other morphological indicators of wetness within the soil and take into consideration a number of other site-related factors. These soils should be mapped as variants of the soil series that they are most similar to and would react like, for use and management. For instance, if a soil classifies as being moderately well drained according to depth and type of redoximorphic features, but has evidence of oxyaquic conditions consistent with the depth to a seasonal high water table of a somewhat poorly drained soil, it should be mapped as a somewhat poorly drained variant of the wetter soil series. Indicators of Soils With Oxyaquic Conditions Soils with oxyaquic conditions commonly (but not always):

• 1. are in slight to strongly concave positions in the landscape but may be on a uniform slope.
• 2. have a very stony to rubbly surface that may be covered with organic duff.
• 3. have vegetation that is shallow rooted but not because of dense till, bedrock, very coarse textured soil horizons, or a seasonal water table with redoximorphic features present.
• 4. have thickened organic horizons as compared to better drained soils in the vicinity
• 5. have an A or thickened A horizon where better drained soils in the vicinity do not have an A or have a thin A horizon.
• 6. are less well developed than better drained soils in the vicinity. Commonly, they will classify as Inceptisols while better drained soils in the vicinity will classify as Spodosols or have spodic properties.
• 7. have evidence of organic matter streaking or different shades of olive and brown in the B horizon (poly value and/or poly chromatic).
• 8. have vegetation that is hydrophytic or the vegetation is upland but has evidence of stress such as tree roots growing along the ground surface, multi- stems and/or buttressing.
• 9. have a large contributing (upslope) watershed to create the groundwater table and for the hydraulic gradient necessary to push it along."

The MAPSS Annual Meeting was held on Friday, March 16th at University of Southern Maine - Portland campus. Meeting Agenda and registration form should be downloaded. The registration deadline is MARCH 7th.

The MAPSS Technical Committee proposed the following changes to the MAPSS Drainage Key, which were approved by the Memberhsip at the Annual Meeting:

1. Under PD criteria, “…a Bh or Bhs horizon that is value 3 or less and chroma 3 or less, ….” [changing from chroma 2 to chroma 3]

2. Adopting a new format for PD and VPD that follows the style of the keys found in Keys to Soil Taxonomy, Eleventh Edition, 2010.

3. Removing the “p” from “Ap” horizon (an “A” horizon by definition includes Ap horizons and all other subordinate distinctions)

4. Converting inch measurements to metric as the primary standard, but still retaining the inches in parentheses.

The full minutes of the MAPSS Technical Committee can be downloaded here. The Technical Committee is comprised of Christopher Dorion (Chair), George Bakajza, Greg Granger, Steve Howell, Tony Jenkins, Dave Marceau, Dave Rocque, Johanna Szillery, and Dave Turcotte.

The MAPSS Annual Meeting program has been awarded 6 contact hours for Site Evaluators, Certified System Inspectors, and Certified System Installers. James A. Jacobsen, Project Manager, Webmaster, Division of Environmental Health, Drinking Water Program, Subsurface Wastewater Unit

The January, 2012 ACOE Regional Supplement has several changes. Download the 2 page document here.

Job Openings.... There are soils-related job openings across the U.S. Contact: info@mapss.org and your inquiry will be redirected to the appropriate source.

NCSS Newsletter Issue #58 can be downloaded here.

West Virginia Storm Water Management Workshop is scheduled for June 1-2, 2012. Download the Agenda and Registration Form. The workshop focuses on stormwater law and provides CEUs for licensed soil scientists.

MAPSS Executive Committee Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 25 at 4:30pm. This will be a conference call-in meeting, largely focused on firming up the Annual Meeting Agenda, approving expenditures for the meeting, Scholarship/Education Committee update, Newsletter update, and Nominating Committee update. Please let me know if you plan to call in. As we’ll be voting/approving financial matters, Executive Committee representation is important. Thank you! Johanna Szillery, MAPSS President.

Solicitation of articles for the MAPSS Newsletter. Please e-mail submissions of articles, photos, interesting soils-related work, or announcements to Amy Jones .JPEG and MS Word file types preferred.

The MAWS Annual Meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, March 29th. Check the MAWS website for updates.

Notice from Jay Clement, Senior Project Manager, US Army Corps of Engineers We still see some reports from some wetland scientists that use boiler plate language to the effect that "the wetlands were delineated in accordance with the 1987 Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual". The standard throughout New England is use of the '87 Manual AND the Regional Supplement. If delineators are using the supplement, they need to document it; if they are not, their delineations are not meeting standard and they face the risk of the Corps and/or the DEP rejecting the delineation. Both the manual and the supplement may be accessed off our web site. For more information please call the: Maine Project Office, (207)623-8367.

November issue of the NCSS newsletter can be downloaded using Adobe Reader. The link is here.

Soil Workshops - Registration deadline is January 4th for Soil Surveying, GPS, GIS, and Fundamentals in Soil Science are available here, and here and and here.

MDEP and the LURC invite interested consultants to submit qualifications within the fields of sound assessment and analysis, soil suitability assessment and analysis, and erosion and sediment control plan review and assessment. The Department and LURC intend to establish a list of pre-qualified consultants to provide outside peer review services, on an as-needed basis. posted 11OCT2011

A day-long workshop focusing on: High Intensity Soil Mapping in complex, glaciated landscapes and Site Evaluator Soil Pit Classification and Wetland Delineation in pit & mound microtopography, alluvial/riverine plains, and disturbed logging areas, with the 2011 US ACOE wetland determination data forms will take place on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2011 [8:30 am to 3:30 pm] at the UNIVERSITY OF MAINE FOREST on the PENOBSCOT RIVER’S floodplain, terrace, marine plain, and adjacent till-mantled lowlands

Sponsored by:

• The Maine Association of Professional Soil Scientists

• the Natural Resource Conservation Service

• University of Maine Forest Management

• the Maine Association of Wetland Scientists

• the Maine Association of Site Evaluators

Download the workshop announcement.

Download the Agenda and Registration forms.

CEU's for New Hampshire soil and wetland scientists are now self reporting each biennial period. For more information on this new system, go to the New Hampshire Joint Board.

6 CEU hours will be granted to Maine Licensed Site Evaluators. Staff from DHHS will be present at the workshop.

6 Contact Hours will be granted to Maine Licensed Plumbing Inpsectors.

Download the PowerPoint presenation Seasonal Water Table and Temperature Relationships in Calcareous Till and Residual Soils of Central Maine. Once you have downloaded the .PPT file and opened it, adjust the slide window upward, and you can read the accompanying "Notes" for each slide.

The Full Member and Associate Member Directories were updated today. In order to be listed, one's membership dues for 2011 must be current. Please review for accuracy by linking to the "Directory of Members" at left and following the instructions.

Please read the position paper from MAPSS regarding LD 947, “An Act to Encourage Professionals to Move to the State”

Please read the position paper from MAPSS regarding LD 904, “An Act To Make Changes to Boards and Commissions Concerning Membership, Appointments and Terms”

The future of soil science in the U.S. was analyzed by staff from the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) in a white paper that all soil scientists should take the time to carefully read. There are many insightful recommendations that MAPSS could adopt. Here's the PDF report Securing a future for soil science – A white paper

The MAPSS Executive Committee will be holding a teleconference meeting on Thursday, March 31, from 4-5:15pm. For more information, please contact MAPSS President Johanna Szillery.

Spring 2011 jobs announcements can be viewed here.

The MAPSS Annual Meeting was be held on Wednesday, March 16th, 2011, at the Wells Conference Center, University of Maine, Orono. Download the PDF Agenda. You must pre-register by Wednesday, March 2 to reserve lunch.

• The New Hampshire Board of Licensure for Natural Scientists has granted 1.0 CEU for New Hampshire Soil Scientists; 1.0 CEU for New Hampshire Wetland Scientists; 3.0 PDH's for Maine Licensed Site Evaluators for the full day meeting.

NHANRS, the New Hampshire Association of Natural Resource Scientists will be holding a workshop on Thursday, March 24th titled: "Scenic and Recreational Values of Wetlands". Link to additional information here.

The Maine Association of Wetland Scientists is holding its annual meeting on March 24th, 2011 at the Maple Hill Farm Conference Center, in Hallowell, Maine.

SSSNNE Winter Workshop - Human Disturbed Soils: Describing and SS Mapping and ACOE Hydric Soil Updates -- Friday, February 11, 2011 -- Ashland, NH. For more information, link to: SSSNNE

A recently added Google Earth hot-link enabling the spatial data set for the North Maine Woods soil survey documentation, including each soil series' Type Locality, the sampled pedon, full lab data, and soil description.

The Maine Association of Wetland Scientists is holding the VERNAL POOL ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION, PART 2, on Wednesday, December 8th, in Augusta. Download the PDF Agenda. You must RSVP by Friday, December 3rd, to Sarah Watts.

The 2010 MASE / MAPSS Field Day is scheduled for Thursday, September 30th, 2010

• When: Thursday, September 30th, 2010. Begins at 8am, finishes mid-afternoon.
• Where: Andy's Agway (off Route 5), Dayton, Maine.
• Cost: $20 for MASE & MAPSS members, $25 all others Free for Students Enrolled in College Soils Classes.
  • *PAY AT THE DOOR, BUT RSVP BY MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27th.
• Schedule: 8am to 12:noon --> Test Pit Review (at leisure). 10am to 12:noon --> NRCS Discussion of MAPSS Test Pits. 12:noon to 1pm --> Lunch (Pizza, Soda, & Chips). 1:pm to mid-afternoon --> Powerpoint Presentation of Test Pits.

*Full day attendance at this workshop provides 6.0 PDH’s to Licensed Site Evaluators.
Be sure to email or call Gary Fullerton at gfullerton@sebagotechnics.com or 856-0277 x256 if you want lunch!!!

Driving Directions:

• From Exit 36 (Saco) on the Maine Turnpike: Take the first right after coming through the toll booth, and at the stop sign take a left onto the Industrial Park Road. Go one-quarter mile to the light and turn right onto Route 112. Go two and a half miles and turn left onto Louden Road (look for the white vinyl fence on left. The road will be right after it). Follow Louden Road for two miles and at the stop sign, turn right onto Route 5. Go two miles and look for the Andy's Agway DOT sign; River Road will be on the left. The store is just over a mile down the road on the left.

• From Exit 32 (Biddeford) on the Maine Turnpike: After going through the toll booth, turn right onto Route 111 until you reach the junction of Routes 111 and 35. Turn right onto Route 35 at the light. Follow Route 35 to the stop sign at the junction of Route 5. Turn right onto Route 5 and go two and a half miles and look for the Andy's Agway DOT signs. River Road will be on the right. The store is just over a mile down the road on the left.

• From Sanford/Springvale/Route 4 and the Kennebunks: Follow Route 111 East (in center of Alfred) for 6 miles to the junction of Route 35, then turn left. Follow directions to Route 5 as stated above.

Cool Climate Soil, Hydrology & Site Evaluator Soil Pit Classification Field Workshop at Saddleback Ski Resort in Rangeley, Maine is scheduled for WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1st, 2010.
The above photo shows a high elevation (CRYIC) rock outcrop - Saddleback Soil (Lithic Humicryod) complex. The photo at right shows Saddleback Lake and views to the north.
Download the Workshop description and Workshop registration form.	Lodging information in the Rangeley area can be found here. There will be a social gathering, dinner, and campfire on Tuesday evening, August 31st in Rangeley. We have reserved the group camping area at Rangeley Lake State Park. Details can be found here. Download the "Who Should Attend" professionals' information sheet NH Certified Soil Scientists - 2.0 CEU's NH Certified Wetland Scientists - 2.0 CEU's Foresters - 6.5 Category 1 CFE's Maine CEO/LPI - 6.0 CEU's Maine Site Evaluators - 6.0 PDH's

The FULL MEMBER and ASSOCIATE MEMBER directories are now in HTML format. Please link to them using "Directory of Members" link at left. Please scroll to your individual data cells and note any changes / additions / corrections, and then e-mail them to Chris Dorion, Webmaster.

Publication of Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the United States Version 7.0 is now available in electronic format. Download it here.

Fall 2010 Soil Courses at UMaine - Orono:

• PSE 442 - Pedology, the Science of Soil Morphology, Genesis and Classification (3 credit hours); this class will meet twice a week.
• PSE 444 - Field Soil Morphology and Classification (1 credit hour); this is an all-field course and will meet once a week for half a day. If anyone is interested but doesn't have the prerequisites, please contact Ken Stratton who can potentialy let them into the course by permission.
• EES397 - New Online Course Offering – Fall 2010 - Soils and Environmental Change - EES 397- Topics in Ecology and Environmental Sciences Conservation and Management

Winter 2010 edition of The Lay of the Land is posted. Use link at left "Archived Newsletters".

MAPSS Annual Meeting was held on Tuesday, March 16th, at the Senator Inn in Augusta. Download the agenda. The New Hampshire Board of Natural Scientists has granted 1.0 CEU for NH Wetland Scientists and 1.0 CEU for NH Soil Scientists.

BAD E-MAIL ADDRESSES
Please contact: Gary Fullerton if your e-mail address changes and you wish to remain on the MAPSS bulk e-mail notification list. This is the primary means of communication now.

The 11th edition of Keys to Soil Taxonomy, as well as a summary of all changes for this new version of the Keys, are available at the NRCS website.

The 2009 MAPSS Guidelines are now uploaded. Use the link at left "Publications + MAPSS Guidelines" to download the PDF files.

The 2009 Executive Committee was elected at the Annual Meeting on March 10th. Use the link to the left for the new E.C. and Committee Chair list and e-mail contacts.

Why soil is important: that 10 inch thick Ap horizon is all that separates us from starvation. See the review of Dirt the Movie

Check out the Chesuncook soil monolith at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History (scroll down to Image #11) in Washington, D.C. MAPSS raised over $10,000 for the monolith display.

Coarse fragment descriptions in the National Soil Survey Handbook have been updated.
Please check out this link to coarse fragment descriptions.

Maine Catena Key Update (spring, 2008)

• Boothbay is now limited to MWD
• Pushaw added as an aquept (SPD) to the Boothbay catena
• Ricker now limited to cryic areas
• Knob Lock replaces Ricker in frigid areas
• Moosabec replaces Waskish as sphagnofibrists in the Northeast
• Meadowsedge replaces Rifle as Euic Frigid Typic Haplohemists in the Northeast
• Do NOT use the Peru soil series in the Marlow catena; use Dixfield
• Do NOT use any mesic soil series in Maine
• In the old soil surveys, Buxton soils on a B-slope are now Lamoine soils

MOOSABEC soil series adopted in Maine

The MOOSABEC series has replaced the Waskish series. These are very poorly drained organic soils. For more information, visit the links in the left navigation column SOIL DATA and head to the OSD descriptions.

KNOB LOCK soil series adopted in Maine

"The Knob Lock series consists of very shallow and shallow, well drained to excessively drained organic soils on mountains and hills. They formed in thin organic deposits underlain in most places by a very thin mineral horizon over bedrock. TAXONOMIC CLASS: Dysic, frigid Lithic Udifolists" (Official Series Description)
Note that this soil series is in the frigid temperature regime. Ricker soils are now limited to the cryic temperature regime.
For more information, visit the links in the left navigation column SOIL DATA and head to the OSD descriptions.

MAPSS Display Board
MAPSS has overhauled the MAPSS display board. If you need it for a presentation, please contact Johanna Szillery, Education Chair.

Please use the link in the left navigation window "Past Events & Workshops - RESULTS (Write-ups, Comments, and Photos Albums are HERE)" to access MAPSS' archives of past workshops, meetings, and conferences.