The Web Soil Survey (WSS) provides soil data and information produced by the National Cooperative Soil Survey. It is operated by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and provides access to the largest natural resource information system in the world. NRCS has soil maps and data available online for more than 95 percent of the nation’s counties and anticipates having 100 percent in the near future. The site is updated and maintained online as the single authoritative source of soil survey information.
Soil surveys can be used for general farm, local, and wider area planning. Onsite investigation is needed in some cases, such as soil quality assessments and certain conservation and engineering applications. The web soil survey site can also be used to measure distance as well as acreage for areas of interest. The address for the online Web Soil Survey is http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov.
For additional information or to obtain a free Walker County soil survey book please call our office.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Steven C. Minkin Paleozoic Footprint Site Update
Cindy Wallace was on a field trip with her son, Gavin, to one of the world's richest sites for Coal Age fossils, the former Union Chapel surface coal mine located near Sumiton in Walker County.
While Gavin scoured the rock piles for fossils, Wallace used a tiny watch screwdriver and a rock to chip at a piece of slate. When the layers broke apart, it revealed the hand-sized tracks of Attenosaurus subulensis, a wolf-sized salamander that was the largest terrestrial creature living during the period prior to the emergence of the dinosaurs.
"It has some of the best preserved tracks of the Attenosaurus that have been found," said Carl Sloan, secretary of the Alabama Paleontological Society, which has been instrumental in the discovery, preservation and fossil collection at the Union Chapel Mine site.
Jun Ebersole, the collections manager of McWane Science Center, agreed.
"The tracks are some of the best ever found in the state," he said.
At the time the Attenosaurus was prowling Walker County, the area was an alluvial plain of tropical forest and tidal flats on the coast of an ancient ocean. The remains of the lush tropical forests accumulated in thick blankets of peat which were then covered over and buried. Over time, under pressure and heat, the peat was transformed into the coal deposits the region is known for.
The Union Chapel Mine site was discovered in 1999 by a high school science teacher, Ashley Allen, who found a treasure trove of fossil impressions of plants and animals from the Coal Age in the area.
The mine was due to be covered over under the requirements of the Mining Reclamation Act until a coalition of amateur fossil hunters waged a campaign to have it preserved.
Currently owned by the state of Alabama, the site, now known as the Steven C. Minkin Paleozoic Footprint Site, has produced thousands of plant fossils and animal and insect tracks. The Paleontology Society manages access to the site, and visitors are allowed to keep fossils unless they are deemed to be significant enough to merit further study or inclusion in a museum collection. Wallace's find is headed for the McWane Center collection.
Wallace had taken her 12-year-old son, Gavin, on the expedition with Fresh Air Family, an organization that leads parents and children on outdoor explorations around the state.
But for Cindy Wallace, the Attenosaurus tracks were her first find.
"It was my very first fossil," Wallace said.
For more information regarding the Stephen C. Minkin fossil site please refer to an article from Outdoor Alabama at the following website:www.outdooralabama.com/outdoor-alabama/tracks.pdf.
While Gavin scoured the rock piles for fossils, Wallace used a tiny watch screwdriver and a rock to chip at a piece of slate. When the layers broke apart, it revealed the hand-sized tracks of Attenosaurus subulensis, a wolf-sized salamander that was the largest terrestrial creature living during the period prior to the emergence of the dinosaurs.
"It has some of the best preserved tracks of the Attenosaurus that have been found," said Carl Sloan, secretary of the Alabama Paleontological Society, which has been instrumental in the discovery, preservation and fossil collection at the Union Chapel Mine site.
Jun Ebersole, the collections manager of McWane Science Center, agreed.
"The tracks are some of the best ever found in the state," he said.
At the time the Attenosaurus was prowling Walker County, the area was an alluvial plain of tropical forest and tidal flats on the coast of an ancient ocean. The remains of the lush tropical forests accumulated in thick blankets of peat which were then covered over and buried. Over time, under pressure and heat, the peat was transformed into the coal deposits the region is known for.
The Union Chapel Mine site was discovered in 1999 by a high school science teacher, Ashley Allen, who found a treasure trove of fossil impressions of plants and animals from the Coal Age in the area.
The mine was due to be covered over under the requirements of the Mining Reclamation Act until a coalition of amateur fossil hunters waged a campaign to have it preserved.
Currently owned by the state of Alabama, the site, now known as the Steven C. Minkin Paleozoic Footprint Site, has produced thousands of plant fossils and animal and insect tracks. The Paleontology Society manages access to the site, and visitors are allowed to keep fossils unless they are deemed to be significant enough to merit further study or inclusion in a museum collection. Wallace's find is headed for the McWane Center collection.
Wallace had taken her 12-year-old son, Gavin, on the expedition with Fresh Air Family, an organization that leads parents and children on outdoor explorations around the state.
But for Cindy Wallace, the Attenosaurus tracks were her first find.
"It was my very first fossil," Wallace said.
For more information regarding the Stephen C. Minkin fossil site please refer to an article from Outdoor Alabama at the following website:www.outdooralabama.com/outdoor-alabama/tracks.pdf.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Recent outdoor classroom activities
The Walker County Soil and Water Conservation District in partnership with The Natural Resources Conservation Service, The Walker County Forestry Planning Committee, The Alabama Forestry Commission, Alabama Power and The Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries has conducted two different outdoor classrooms in the past week.
The first outdoor classroom event was held on May 14, 2010, with the second through fifth grade students at T.R. Simmons School. This classroom was held at the nature trail at T.R. Simmons. There were 3 learning stations where students learned what watershed they live in as well as how pollutants can contaminate our water supply, they also learned about wildlife habitat and the difference between forest fires and controlled burns.
The second outdoor classroom event was held on May 20, 2010, with the second grade students from Valley School at the Clear Creek Recreation Area. There were 4 learning stations at this event. The stations were the same as the T.R. Simmons event with the addition of a station where the students were able to see water quality tests being performed.
The students at both events were very attentive and asked alot of great questions. The weather was great for both events with the presenters having as much fun as the students!
The first outdoor classroom event was held on May 14, 2010, with the second through fifth grade students at T.R. Simmons School. This classroom was held at the nature trail at T.R. Simmons. There were 3 learning stations where students learned what watershed they live in as well as how pollutants can contaminate our water supply, they also learned about wildlife habitat and the difference between forest fires and controlled burns.
The second outdoor classroom event was held on May 20, 2010, with the second grade students from Valley School at the Clear Creek Recreation Area. There were 4 learning stations at this event. The stations were the same as the T.R. Simmons event with the addition of a station where the students were able to see water quality tests being performed.
The students at both events were very attentive and asked alot of great questions. The weather was great for both events with the presenters having as much fun as the students!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
State land judging contest
Congratulations to the Curry High School land judging team for placing 5th in the state land judging contest that was held on April 16, 2010 in Lineville, AL.
Local FFA livestock, forestry and tractor driving competition
Curry High School, Oakman High School and Carbon Hill School recently participated in the annual livestock, forestry and tractor driving competitions that were held on April 23, 2010. The livestock competition was held at the farm of Dorman Grace. Mr Grace has held the livestock competition at his family farm for the last 15 years. The Curry High School team won the livestock competition as well as having Jamie Campbell on their team who was the high point scorer for this competition. The forestry competition was held at the Walker County Lake. This competition is held at different locations each year which allows the students an opportunity to judge different types of forest land. The Curry High School team won the forestry competition as well as having Riley Goforth on their team who was the high point scorer for the competition. The tractor driving competition was held at Curry High School. This competition will be alternated between the schools that participate in the yearly competition. The Curry High School team won the tractor driving competition as well as having Chase Hammock on their team who was the high point scorer.
After the competitions, all participates, judges and volunteers met back at the Alabama Cooperative Extension System office for lunch and for the winners to be announced. Lunch was provided by the Walker County Forestry Planning Committee. Additional agencies that assisted with the competition were the Alabama Forestry Commission, Natural Resource Conservation Service and the Walker County Soil and Water Conservation District. We would also like to offer a special thanks to Danny Cain and Russ Runyan.
After the competitions, all participates, judges and volunteers met back at the Alabama Cooperative Extension System office for lunch and for the winners to be announced. Lunch was provided by the Walker County Forestry Planning Committee. Additional agencies that assisted with the competition were the Alabama Forestry Commission, Natural Resource Conservation Service and the Walker County Soil and Water Conservation District. We would also like to offer a special thanks to Danny Cain and Russ Runyan.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Blue bird houses now available
We now have blue bird houses for sale at the Walker County Soil & Water Conservation office. The houses are $12.00/each and will offer a great conservation opportunity for you to enjoy with your children or grandchildren. Each house comes as a kit containing six pre-cut pieces that are ready to join with no tools, nails or hardware being required. Simply follow the picture instructions to slide the pieces together. It's up to you if you would like to paint the exterior of the bird house. The door will easily remove to clean out the house. We will also provide an informational sheet regarding the suggested placement of the house. If you have any questions or would like additional information please call our office at (205) 387-1879.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Bonnie plants 3rd grade cabbage program
The Walker County Soil and Water Conservation District along with the Natural Resources Conservation Service were pleased to assist Bonnie plants with their 3rd grade cabbage program this year by delivering cabbage plants to all 17 elementary schools in Walker County. The WCSWC District would like to thank Bonnie Plants and Heath Davis the local station manager for Bonnie Plants for providing this experience to our youth. It was very rewarding to see the excitement of the students when they received their plant. Each year, Bonnie Plants distributes free cabbage plants to third graders across the country to foster an interest in gardening and the environment. Cabbages are delivered to students whose teachers have signed up to participate. Students in these third grade classrooms each get their very own cabbage to plant, take care of and harvest. The cabbages produce oversized heads, making the process even more exciting for kids. As part of the program, Bonnie gives a $1,000 award to one student in each state. Through the annual Cabbage Program, Bonnie hopes to share their love of gardening, as well as inspire kids to develop an interest in nature and the outdoors. Now entering in its 9th year, the program has been an exciting and rewarding venture. For more information regarding this program please visit Bonnie's website at http://www.bonnieplants.com/CabbageProgram/tabid/81/Default.aspx
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