Plate 2:

Geographic information systems (GIS) can provide access to information across multiple scales, giving decisionmakers both an overall view of the issue and specific information to guide site-specific planning. This map of soil drainage class combines information about topography and land use with soil drainage characteristics to provide a detailed, field-by-field perspective on drainage patterns. Farmers can use such maps to plan cropping systems and minimize erosion potential as well as groundwater vulnerability. This image shows field boundaries and water retention dams in Brown County, Kansas. Photo image tones can be seen through the soil drainage class thematic overlay in shades of red, yellow, green, and blue. SOURCE: Brown County, Kansas Soil Survey Geographic Data Base (SSURGO), 1996. USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Salina, Kansas.