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Geographic Information Systems
59 Woodfin Pl.
Asheville, NC 28801
Buncombe County Soil Survey Online
Soils information for Buncombe County is now available on-line. The soil survey was recently completed and the soils maps and data are available on the internet. The traditional final product of first generation soil survey mapping has been the soil survey publication. Each publication included soil map unit description, series descriptions, tables of information (attributes), and maps. The new soil survey is a digital product named SSURGO. Electronic files may be downloaded from the Soil Data Mart. A web-based application, the Web Soil Survey, has also been made available for public use. It consists of the newest NRCS SSURGO soils data, along with information from other federal data sources such as the US Geological Survey and the US Census Bureau. These generally include an orthophotographic background, roads, streams, coordinates, and other data for orientation and location purposes.
The Buncombe County soil survey is not yet published. The soil survey publication is in draft format and will be available as an interim product once the manuscript has been typeset. The soils maps have been digitized. The official source of soil data is the Soil Data Mart. The SSURGO tabular and/or spatial data may be downloaded from:
NRCS - SSURGO Tabular and/or Spatial Data: Buncombe County
A web-based set of data is also available. Interpretations and data may be accessed at:
NCRS - Commonly Used Soil Properties by Report: Buncombe County
The Web soil Survey is accessed from:
NRCS - Web Soil Survey
The data on these sites are the most current available. Copies of the soil survey will be available in 2008/2009 from the Soil and Water Conservation District Office.
For further information, contact the NRCS field office at (828) 254-0916, ext. 3 or the Soil Survey at (828) 254-0916, ext. 6.