Soils of the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway

GIS Specialist Grand Teton National Park

This file contains soils for the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway digitized at Grand Teton National Park from the map contained in the source document. Data were originally digitized in GRASS in 1994, and later converted to Arc/Info format. The original document describes procedures and results of the soil survey conducted from 1990 to 1991 for Grand Teton in cooperation with the Soils and Watershed Section of Yellowstone National Park. In carrying out this survey, soil scientists observed the variability of soil types throughout the survey area by describing soil profiles in representative sites. Sites were chosen based on spatial differences in the five soil forming factors: climate, vegetation, parent material, topography, and length of soil development. Aerial photographs, vegetation maps, topographic maps and geology maps were used to isolate areas of similar soil forming factors. Soil characteristics were described using techniques outlined by the Soil Conservation Service, and classified taxonomically using national guidelines. Classification types applied in this survey differ from those in Yellowstone National Park, as well as from those of the Soil Conservation Service. This difference precludes edge-matching success between these three areas. Some soils were sent to soil testing laboratories for chemical and physical characterization to assure accurate information was available for complete descriptions. Soil boundaries were delineated on air photographs, using prominent natural features as reference points to ensure accuracy. Areas of one type of soil, or a grouping of two or more closely associated soils is called a map unit. Soil interpretation ratings for map units are designed to be used when specific information is needed about soils of a given location. The survey used is in draft form, pending final approval by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly the Soil Conservation Service).