Articles:
New Soil Data Access Web Site: A new NRCS Web site that allows customers direct query access to the Soil Data Mart database was placed online in March 2007. "Soil Data Access" is a suite of Web services and applications, the purpose of which is to delivering soil survey spatial and attribute data that are not being met by the current Soil Data Mart or Geospatial Data Gateway download capabilities.National Technical Committee for Hydric Soils (NTCHS)Announces New Members: Dr. Randy Dahlgren, Professor of Soil Science and Biogeochemistry at the University of California at Davis, has replaced Dr. Herb Huddleston of Oregon State University, who retired in 2006. Dr. Steven Monteith, MLRA Soil Survey Project Leader for the Mississippi Delta, is headquartered at the NRCS Delta Conservation Demonstration Center in Metcalf, Mississippi. He is replacing Mike Lilly, who retired in 2006. Bill Ypsilantis, Soil Condition and Health Specialist and Acting Soil Lead for the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), is located at the National Science and Technology Center in Denver, Colorado. Bill is replacing BLM member Bill Volk, who retired in May 2007.
California Soil Scientist Named National Park Service Liaison: Sue Southard, USDA Soil Scientist in Davis, California, has been selected for a newly created position as liaison for soil survey work on National Parks throughout the Nation.
Language Matters: There must be some value in getting the name of NCSS cooperators right.
Web Soil Survey Improved and Now Online: A much-loved site by NSCSS members, the newest version of Web Soil Survey (2.0) appeared online May 29, 2007. Since its beginning, the WSS has attracted a wide array of online visitors from all over the world. During the first few months of its existence in 2005, the site averaged about 1,000 visitors per day. It is now averaging about 3,500 visitors per day. Improvements include improved navigation and refinements in area selection and data presentation.
NGDC Develops New Communications Options: Two new methods of sharing information and ideas about digital soil mapping have been established by National Geospatial Development Center (NGDC). First, a DSM listserv was developed to facilitate discussion. Second, a Microsoft Share Point Site has been created. Both are hosted by West Virginia University and are open to the entire NCSS partnership, which includes NSCSS members.
Issues of this newsletter are available on the USDA-NRCS Soils website. Under Quick Access, click on NCSS, then on Newsletters, and then on the desired issue number. NSCSS members are invited to submit stories for this newsletter to Stanley Anderson, National Soil Survey Center, Lincoln, Nebraska. Phone-402-437-5357; FAX-402-437-5336; email-stan.anderson@lin.usda.gov.
