A 1:12,000 Scale Soil Survey of New York City.

The most populous city in the United States, New York, covers roughly 194,000 acres of land area over three physiographic provinces, with a relatively high amount , 27%, of (recreational) open space (NYC Department of City Planning, 2010). A 1:12000 scale soil survey, with a minimum size delineation of 1.5 acres, was recently completed for New York City by the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service. Soils formed in human transported materials (HTM) were mapped to the series level; artifact content was used in differentiation. Citywide, 32 series in HTM were identified and mapped, in addition to 38 soil series in naturally deposited materials (e.g., glacial till and outwash). Over 100 pedons were sampled for complete characterization by the Kellogg Soil Survey Laboratory. The soils in the city exhibit a wide range in physical, chemical and mineralogical properties, and can be depicted as spanning a continuum of anthropogenic disturbance. The spatial extent of the important soil types, their land use, and an overview of their dynamic soil properties, including soil organic carbon stocks, will be discussed.

In addition to providing a unique and valuable resource inventory, information from the survey has useful applications for storm water management, restoration efforts, park and open space management, and urban soil education.