Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) Soil Survey Offices

The increasing demand to deliver new and improved soil survey data to a diverse clientele has driven the need for a new organizational and technical infrastructure. Analysis of soils in a limited context such as a county or state will no longer be adequate. Predictions of behavior of soils across entire soil landscapes will be integrated with other factors, such as climate, land-use, and demographics. The use of geospatial technologies combined with the soil scientists understanding of soils in the ecosystem will be used to develop soil survey products and services to meet this demand.

As part of this new organizational structure for soil survey, Ohio is covered by eight MLRA Soil Survey Offices (SSO). Two offices are headquartered in Ohio, one in Findlay and one in Marietta. The goal of each office is to bring the soil survey information up to a common standard and to develop a nationally consistent, seamless, digital soil survey. Many of the soil surveys in Ohio are 30 years old or older. Soil survey information must be continually upgraded to meet customer needs. All lands will be mapped and updates will be done on a continuous basis. The SSOs are responsible for conducting soil surveys for their assigned geographic areas. The areas are often multi-county and cross state lines. The offices are permanent, which reduces relocation costs and increases productivity by allowing staff who are expert in the soils and landscapes of an area to stay in that area. Soil mapping is a science based on information and techniques learned through experience in a particular area. The more that is learned about an area the better the professional judgment of the soil scientist.

Map of MLRA SSO's in Ohio

Soil Survey Office Directory

Map of Major Land Resource Areas in Ohio

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