MLRA Explorer 1

MLRA Explorer Tutorial and Sample Report

The MLRA Explorer brings to the World Wide Web the 2006 version of Agricultural Handbook 296, Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin. A map interface allows the user to search for one or more Major Land Resource Area(s). Based on the MLRA(s) that the user selects via the map interface a printable report can be generated. The report can contain: an overview of the LRR containing the MLRA(s); the narrative text (pertaining to physiography, geology, climate, water, soils, biology and landuse), maps and photos contained in Agricultural Handbook 296. The other components of Agricultural Handbook 296; such as a listing of the MLRAs by LRR, references, appendices, etc., are accessible via the Supporting Documentation button on the opening screen of the application. The entire handbook is available in PDF format at: http://soils.usda.gov/survey/geography/mlra/index.html

1. Accessing the application: Choosing a Region from the Opening Splash Screen .......................... 2 2. Selecting the MLRA(s) upon which to base the Report ............................................................ 3 3. Application Tools ............................................................................................................... 8 4. Creating a Report based on the Selected MLRA(s)................................................................ 11 5. A Sample Report ............................................................................................................. 12

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1. Accessing the application: Choosing a Region from the Opening Splash Screen To gain access to the application, pick a geographic region from which to select MLRAs. (1) Click on the SELECT A REGION button on the opening splash screen to expand the (2) drop-down menu and select one of the regions listed.

Opening Splash Screen Region Selection Menu Result: Map Display Window Note: While using the application the user can change the region via the SELECT A REGION button found on the toolbar.

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2. Selecting the MLRA(s) upon which to base the Report Before a report can be generated the user must select one or more MLRA(s). Seven tabs give the user access to several different methods with which to select MLRAs. (The LRR/MLRA selection method is the default.)

Two of the methods allow selection of a single MLRA while the other methods can result in the selection of one or more than one MLRA: The user can directly select a specific single MLRA either by clicking on the map (via the Interactive Click Select method) or by specifying an LRR and then choosing an MLRA from a list (via the default LRR/MLRA search method). Multiple or single MLRAs can be selected based on the geographic intersection of MLRA boundaries with: - an LRR boundary - an interactively-drawn rectangle - a state or a county - Bureau of Land Management lands - National Park Services lands - U.S. Army lands - USDA Forest Service lands - EPA ecoregions - USFS ecoregions - a HUC-8 watershed - a PLSS parcel Following are examples of how to execute 4 of the MLRA selection methods.

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Selection method example 1: LRR/MLRA selection method (1) Left-click on the LRR/MLRA tab if necessary (it is the default).

(2) Choose either an LRR, or an LRR and an MLRA, and then (3) click the Select MLRAs button.

The map zooms to the selected MLRAs, which are outlined in yellow. In this example a single MLRA was selected.

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Selection method example 2: Interactive selection method and Area Select result (1) Left-click on the Interactive tab

(2) Left-click the Area Select button and then (3) in the map display window left-click-and-drag to define a rectangular area of interest.

Selected MLRAs are outlined in yellow.

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Selection method example 3: MLRA selection based on intersection with a county (1) Left-click on the State/County tab

(2) Choose either a state, or a state and a county, and then (3) click the Select MLRAs button.

The map display zooms to the extent of the selected MLRAs. The selected MLRAs are outlined in yellow. The select-feature, in this case a county, is outlined in blue.

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Selection method example 4: MLRA selection based on intersection with a PLSS land parcel

(1) Left-click the PLSS selection method tab.

Then (2) select a state and a principal meridian, (3) designate a township and range, and then (4) click the Select MRLAs button.

The selected MLRA(s) will be outlined in yellow. The designated PLSS parcel select-feature will be highlighted in blue (center-left in this example).

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3. Application Tools The MLRA Explorer application contains tools and functions meant to improve the overall performance and usability of the application and to supplement the MLRA search methods.

Pan: The Pan tool allows the user to click-and-drag the map view.

ZoomIn/Out: The ZoomIn/Out tools are self-explanatory. The user can zoom either by simply clicking within the map display window or by holding down the mouse button and dragging an extent rectangle around a desired area.

Full Extent: The Full Extent tool returns the user from a zoomed-in extent back to the extent of the currently selected region.

Zoom To Selected MLRAs: The Zoom To Selected MLRAs tool returns the user from a modified map extent (zoomed-in/out, panned) to the extent of the selected MLRA(s).

Identify: The Identify tool provides the user with a menu giving access to identifying attributes for all displayed layers (except for the relief, and the hydrology layers).

Help Tutorial: The Help Tutorial button opens the application help tutorial / sample report in a separate browser window.

Clear Map: The Clear Map button clears the selected MLRA(s) and the Select Feature from the map display window, leaving the user at the same map extent.

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Layers: The Layers menu provides the user with an organized display for identifying both the layers available and the layers already visible in the map display window. While interacting with the Layers list the MLRA Selection Methods are not available. Left-clicking on the Layers button expands the list. Click the X to close it.

After a layer is selected or de-selected, the user must then click on the Redraw button in order to refresh the map display window. To activate the County/Parish layer and the Relief layer, the user needs to simply click on the check box next to the layer. To activate the HUC-8 and PLSS layers, the user must first click the check box next to Additional layer… and then click the radio button next to the desired layer. For the FEDERAL LANDS: Bureau of Land Management, National Parks, US Army, USDA Forest Service, and the ECOREGIONS: EPA ecoregions, Forest Service ecoregions, the user needs to first click on the check box next to Additional layer…, then click on the radio button next to the desired drop-down menu, expand that drop-down menu, then select the desired layer. Note: The Relief layer is a product of a map service that we do not control; we cannot guarantee it will always be operational. If you experience a significant delay in the redrawing of the map display window, this means the relief service is down and you need to restart the application and proceed again without activating the Relief layer.

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Legend: Left-clicking on the Legend button activates the Legend. Only the layers displayed in the map display area are listed in the Legend. The Legend window can be repositioned by click-dragging it. Click the X or the Legend button to close it.

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4. Creating a Report based on the Selected MLRA(s) Once one or more MLRAs have been selected via one of the selection methods, the user can then create a printable report containing the information found in Agricultural Handbook 296.

Select report components by clicking on the check boxes. Then click on the Create Report button to generate the report. The report appears in a separate window in .pdf format, and from there can be printed or downloaded.

First page of the resulting report.

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5. A Sample Report The following pages contain a sample report that was generated by the MLRA Explorer application. For MLRA 43B – Central Rocky Mountains, the sample report contains all narrative components from Agricultural Handbook 296, Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin, as well as the Overview section of Land Resource Region E. (Included in the reports that are generated by the MLRA Explorer are Water Use and Land Use charts. These are not included in the published version of Agricultural Handbook 296.)

Major Land Resource Regions Custom ReportData Source: USDA Agriculture Handbook 296 (2006)

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Land Resource Regions andMajor Land Resource Areasof the United States, theCaribbean, and the Pacific Basin

MLRA Explorer Custom Report

E - Rocky Mountain Range and Forest Region43B - Central Rocky Mountains

Major Land Resource Regions Custom ReportData Source: USDA Agriculture Handbook 296 (2006)

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E - Rocky Mountain Range and Forest Region

Figure E-1: Location of Land Resource Region E

LRR OverviewThis region (shown in fig. E-1) is in Montana (28 percent), Colorado (20 percent), Idaho (16

percent), Wyoming (13 percent), Utah (10 percent), Oregon (5 percent), Washington (4 percent),and New Mexico (3 percent). It makes up 236,510 square miles (612,875 square kilometers).

This region is characterized mainly by rugged mountains, but it has some broad valleys andremnants of high plateaus (fig. E-2). The average annual precipitation ranges from 9 inches (230millimeters) in some of the valleys to 63 inches (1,600 millimeters) on some of the mountainpeaks. The average annual temperature ranges from 32 to 50 degrees F (0 to 10 degrees C). Thefreeze-free period is 65 days or less in the high mountains, where freezing temperatures occurevery month of the year. Some areas on the highest mountains are covered by glaciers. The groundis permanently frozen in these areas. The freeze-free period on the foothills in the southern part ofthe region is as long as 190 days.

The total withdrawals of freshwater in this region average about 11,680 million gallons per day(44,210 million liters per day). About 10 percent is from ground water sources, and 90 percent isfrom surface water sources. About 93 percent of the water is used for irrigation.

The soils in this region are dominantly Alfisols, Entisols, Inceptisols, and Mollisols. Thedominant suborders are Ustepts, Ustolls, and Xerolls in valleys and on the lower mountain slopes

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and Cryalfs and Orthents on the upper mountain slopes and crests. The soils in the regiondominantly have a frigid soil temperature regime, an ustic soil moisture regime, and mixedmineralogy.

About 60 percent of the land in this region is federally owned. The mountain slopes generallyare forested, and the valleys are dominated by shrubs and grasses. Grazing is the leading land usein the valleys and mountains, but timber production is important on some of the forested mountainslopes. Recreation is an important use throughout the region. Some of the valleys are irrigated, andsome are dry-farmed. Grain and forage for livestock are the main crops. Beans, sugar beets, peas,and seed crops are grown in areas where soils, climate, and markets are favorable. The major soilresource concerns are water erosion; steep slopes; shallow, rocky soils; and a short growingseason.

E-2: An area of Rocky Mountain National Park in Land Resource Region E

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MLRA 43B - Central Rocky Mountains

Figure 43B-1: Location of MLRA 43B in Land Resource Region E

IntroductionThis area (shown in fig. 43B-1) is in Montana (38 percent), Idaho (32 percent), and Wyoming

(30 percent). Also, it is in a small area in Utah (82 square miles, or 213 square kilometers). Itmakes up about 75,915 square miles (196,715 square kilometers). The towns of Butte, Anaconda,and Deer Lodge, Montana, Ketchum, Idaho, and Jackson and Thermopolis, Wyoming, occur in thisMLRA. Interstates 90 and 15 cross this area in Montana. This MLRA is made up of the RockyMountains. It has numerous national forests, including the Clearwater, Nez Perce, Bitterroot,Salmon, Challis, Payette, Boise, Targhee, and Sawtooth National Forests in Idaho; the Lolo,Deerlodge, Beaverhead, Flathead, Helena, Bitterroot, and Gallatin National Forests in Montana;and the Bighorn, Shoshone, Bridger, and Teton National Forests in Wyoming. Many wildernessareas are in these national forests. Three of the largest are the Selway-Bitterroot, Frank ChurchRiver of No Return, and Sawtooth Wilderness Areas in Idaho. Part of the Wind River IndianReservation is in the part of this MLRA in Wyoming. The Fossil Buttes National Monument andYellowstone and Teton National Parks are in this MLRA.

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PhysiographyMost of this area is in the Northern Rocky Mountains Province of the Rocky Mountain System.

Most of the southeastern part in Wyoming is in the Middle Rocky Mountains Province of the samedivision. This MLRA is characterized by rugged, glaciated mountains, thrust- and block-faultedmountains, hills, plateaus, and valleys. Steep-gradient rivers have cut deep canyons. Lakes arecommon, especially in glaciated areas. Most mountain peaks reach an elevation of 6,000 to 8,000feet (1,830 to 2,440 meters), but peaks exceeding 10,000 feet (3,050 meters) are not uncommon.The highest points in Montana and Wyoming are in this MLRA. These are Granite Peak, whichreaches an elevation of 12,799 feet (3,902 meters), and Gannett Peak, which reaches an elevationof 13,804 feet (4,208 meters).

The extent of the major Hydrologic Unit Areas (identified by four-digit numbers) that make upthis MLRA is as follows: Lower Snake (1706), 19 percent; Upper Snake (1704), 13 percent;Missouri Headwaters (1002), 13 percent; Bighorn (1008), 12 percent; Kootenai-PendOreille-Spokane (1701), 10 percent; Upper Yellowstone (1007), 9 percent; Missouri-Marias(1003), 8 percent; Middle Snake (1705), 6 percent; Great Divide-Upper Green (1404), 3 percent;Powder-Tongue (1009), 3 percent; Missouri-Musselshell (1004), 2 percent; Bear (1601), 1 percent;and Saskatchewan (1001), 1 percent. The Continental Divide runs through this area. Theheadwaters of the Columbia and Missouri Rivers are in this MLRA. Rivers draining the westernslope of the Continental Divide in this area drain into the Pacific Ocean, and rivers on the easternside drain into the Gulf of Mexico.

GeologyA variety of rock types from many different geologic eras are exposed in the Rocky Mountains.

The rock types include igneous, metamorphic, limestone, and sandstone in the Belt Mountains ofMontana; granite in Idaho; and quartzite and argillite in the Beaverhead Mountains andsedimentary rocks in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming. Glacial till and outwash are in mostmountain valleys. Recent alluvium commonly covers the glacial deposits on the valley floors.

ClimateThe average annual precipitation is 25 to 60 inches (635 to 1,525 millimeters) in most of this

area, but it is as much as 121 inches (3,075 millimeters) at the higher elevations west of theContinental Divide and is 9 to 25 inches (230 to 635 millimeters) in the valleys and lowerelevations at the edges of the area. Summers are typically dry, except for brief but intenseconvective thunderstorms that occur during most afternoons in the mountains. Most of theprecipitation during fall, winter, and spring is snow. The average annual temperature is 24 to 49degrees F (-4 to 9 degrees C). It is less than 38 degrees F (3 degrees C) in most of the area. Thefreeze-free period averages 105 days and ranges from 10 to 200 days. It is longest in the lowervalleys and shortest in the mountains. Freezing temperatures occur every month of the year in themountains, and some peaks have a continuous cover of snow and ice.

WaterThe total withdrawals average 1,415 million gallons per day (5,355 million liters per day).

About 17 percent is from ground water sources, and 83 percent is from surface water sources.Moderate precipitation and many perennial streams and lakes provide ample surface water. About75 percent of the water used within this area is diverted from streams and used to irrigate haymeadows. Some of the water is used by the mining and logging industries or for public supplies intourist centers. The surface water is of good quality. This area supplies water to the adjoiningMLRAs for irrigation and other uses. Springs in the valleys provide some water for domestic useand for livestock.

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Shallow wells in the alluvium and glacial outwash on valley floors provide water for domesticuse, livestock, and some irrigation. Elsewhere, the supplies of ground water are small and mostlyuntapped.

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MLRA 43B Water Use by Category

PercentCategory (Surface,Ground): Public Supply (1.0, 0.7), LiveStock (0.3, 1.4),

Irrigation (78.0, 12.8), Other (3.7, 2.1)

SoilsThe dominant soil orders in this area are Inceptisols, Alfisols, and Mollisols. The soils in the

area dominantly have a frigid or cryic soil temperature regime and an ustic, udic, or xeric soilmoisture regime. Soils on mountain side slopes and ridges formed in colluvium, residuum, andglacial till and have mixed mineralogy. The dominant suborders are Cryepts (Jughandle and Garletseries), Ustepts (Kadygulch and Winkler series), Ustalfs (Yreka and Mocmont series), Cryalfs(Worock and Sapphire series), Cryolls (Starley and Povey series), and Xerepts (Packerjohn series).Areas of rock outcrop and rubble land are on ridges and peaks above timberline. Most of the soilsare skeletal and are medium textured to coarse textured.

BiologyThis area supports coniferous forests. Forests of ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, Douglas-fir,

subalpine fir, and spruce are common. Alpine grasses, forbs, and shrubs and scattered stands ofsubalpine fir, spruce, and whitebark pine occur at high elevations.

Some of the major wildlife species in this area include elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, moose,grizzly bear, black bear, mountain lion, bobcat, lynx, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, coyote, graywolf, mountain grouse, and numerous songbirds.

Land UseMore than three-fourths of this area is federally owned and administered by the U.S.

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. Large commercial timber companies own most of theprivate land in the area. All of the forested areas are used for wildlife habitat, recreation,watershed, and timber production. Meadows on the upper mountain slopes and crests abovetimberline provide summer grazing for livestock and big game animals. Less than 1 percent of theMLRA is cropland.

The major soil resource concerns are water erosion, the productivity of the soils, and surfacecompaction. Water resource concerns include degradation of water quality. Plant resource concernsare plant productivity, health, and vigor; noxious and invasive plants; and the hazard of wildfires.Animal resource concerns are inadequate food, cover, and shelter.

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Conservation practices on forestland generally include forest stand improvement, erosioncontrol, and firebreaks. Control of noxious and invasive plants is needed.

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MLRA 43B Land Use by Category

PercentCategory (Private,Federal): Cropland (1.0, 0.0), Grassland (14.0, 51.0), Forest (6.0, 25.0),

Urban (0.0, 0.0), Water (1.0, 1.0), Other (1.0, 0.0)