Philip Schoeneberger Joyce Scheyer National Soil Survey Center, USDA-NRCS, Lincoln, Nebraska HOW DO HUMAN-MODIFIED LANDFORMS FIT INTO GEOMORPHIC DESCRIPTIONS? National Soil Survey Center, USDA-NRCS, Lincoln, Nebraska

Abstract Geomorphic Description

Human-modified or created landforms are increasingly Landscapes Broad or unique groups or clusters of spatially associated features (e.g., ≥ 1:10,000 or Order 2 evident across the landscape, particularly in urban areas. The surveys or higher). ability to identify, describe, and convey anthropogenic features differs in content but shares both framework and Landforms Discrete, natural, individual features mappable at common survey scales (e.g., 1:10,000-24,000 or challenges with conventional geomorphology and natural Order 2 surveys). landforms. These challenges can include range of scale (size) Microfeatures Discrete, natural, individual features typically too small to delineate at common survey scales (e.g., and internal composition (range of content, stratigraphy, and < 1:10,000 or Order 1 surveys). lateral extent) -- terms unfamiliar to many urban land managers. As the variety, complexity, and number of Anthropogenic Features Discrete, artificial (human-made or extensively modified), earth surface features. anthropogenic features increases it becomes imperative to develop means to bridge the gap between naturally-derived dredged channel and filled marshland features and artificially-derived features. Examples are drawn from geomorphic descriptions for urban soils in actual surveys. A functional framework is proposed for anthropogenic and Current and Proposed NASIS Database Structure for urban geomorphology. Summary dune field Land Features (key categories) We identified and defined key geomorphic categories and their attributes related to earth-surface features, including Discussion Existing Geomorphic Framework Proposed Framework human affected soils. This includes: Anthropogenic features do not historically fit into the concept Natural Features (natural geologic and pedogenic deposition, * Existing categories in NASIS (National Soil of “Landforms” (“…[earth surface features] produced by modification, and removal; can be arrayed by relative scale Information System database of estimated natural causes [processes]…” ; Jackson, 1997). The and geomorphic process) and requirement of “natural causes” enables our ability to soil properties in Soil Survey). describe and predict the lateral extent of natural features and Anthropogenic Features (human-controlled deposition, the materials of which they are made (content, stratigraphy, + modification, removal; can be arrayed by relative scale). etc.). Anthropogenic features and processes have traditionally Anthroscapes We propose a new framework to bridge traditional been viewed and treated as existing outside this scope. Some Landscapes* (Eswaran, et al., 2005) (geologically based) geomorphology and anthropogenic efforts have emerged to recognize humans and their activities (e.g., dune field) (e.g., unnamed – modified marshland) features and materials. Specifically, we propose to capture as a bona fide “natural” process (e.g., SCS, 1977; Hernandez and refine Anthropogenic Features relative to the existing and Galbraith, 1995; and Binghamton Symposium, 2005), but

relative scale NASIS framework used by NRCS in the National Cooperative this is not yet widely accepted, nor integrated into Soil Survey in order to make them compatible with conventional geomorphic frameworks. This results in gaps or Anthropogenic conventional geomorphic description. disconnects in land inventory. Human made or modified Landforms* features must be accommodated in order to describe the (e.g., interdune) Landforms interdune Further work on this topic needs to expand the choices of reality of the earth’s present-day surface. Inventory systems (e.g., bioswale) anthropogenic terms and to address their: and land management activities would benefit from integrating these disconnected arenas. large bioswale 1) Form (shape, size / scale, orientation) 2) Composition (characteristic contents: type, ranges) Anthropogenic Photo by Bruce Woods, courtesy of Conservation Design Forum. At a minimum, any integrated descriptive framework must Microfeatures* 3) Stratigraphy (arrangement of internal contents) acknowledge and accommodate fundamental differences 4) Origin (controlling process) between natural processes and their products (land features (e.g., slip face) Microfeatures and the type and internal arrangement of sediment packages (e.g., small bioswale) References of which they are composed) vs. the processes and results of – largely artificial manipulation / redistribution of sediments by Binghamton Symposium. 2005. Human geomorphology systems. The 36th humans and the resulting features. How can features from International Geomorphology Binghamton Symposium: October 7-9, 2005, University at Buffalo, NY. these very different origins (geologic vs. human-made) be Anthropogenic Features* Eswaran, H., S. Kapur, E. Akca, P. Reich, S. Mahmoodi, and T. Vearasilp. reconciled, distinguished, and communicated? presently not scale defined 2005. Anthroscapes: A landscape unit for assessment of human impact on (e.g., dredged channel) land systems. In: J.E.Yang, T.M. Sa, and J.J. Kim (Eds.) Application of the Part of the answer is to develop a common language: emerging soil research to the conservation of Agricultural Ecosystems. Publ.: The Korean Society of Soil Science and Fertilizers, Seoul, Korea; p. 175-192. 1) Identify (find or coin) appropriate anthropogenic terms, Hernandez, L.A., and J. Galbraith. 1995. Soil Survey of South Latourette Park, Staten Island, New York City, NY. USDA-NRCS, US Gov. Printing Office, 2) Define these terms to include form, composition (content, Washington, DC. stratigraphy), and relevant modes of formation or land Jackson, J.A. (ed) 1997. Glossary of geology, 4th Ed. American Geological use, and slip face of a dune Anthropogenic Features* [current NASIS choice list] small bioswale Institute, Alexandria, VA. 769p.

(NRCS, 2005a) Photo by USFS-National Agroforestry Center. NRCS. 2005a. NASIS Data Dictionary. USDA, National Soil Survey Center, 3) To group these terms based partly on scale. [discrete, artificial (human-made or extensively modified), earth-surface features] Lincoln, NE. NRCS. 2005b. National Soil Survey Handbook, Part 629: Glossary of landform To achieve these goals, we propose modifying the current and geologic terms. USDA, National Soil Survey Center, Lincoln, NE. convention for describing anthropogenic features, in part by artificial collapsed depression dredged channel ** impact crater railroad bed skid trail double-bedding mound (i.e., bedding mound for artificial levee dredge-deposit shoal ** landfill (see sanitary landfill) reclaimed land spoil bank Soil Conservation Service. 1977. Soil survey of the Outer Banks, NC arraying them by scale. The following material presents the timber production, Coastal Plain) (provisional): Part I – text material; Part II – soil maps. USDA, Raleigh, NC. current, relevant contents of the National Soils Information beveled cut dredge spoil bank ** leveled land rice paddy spoil pile drainage ditch System (NASIS) used by NRCS as part of the National borrow pit dump log landing road bed surface mine furrow Cooperative Soil Survey. It is accompanied by a proposed burial mound fill midden sand pit tillage / management features (see common, more specific hillslope terrace (e.g., archeological features) new framework to better capture and use anthropogenic cut (road, railroad) filled marshland ** openpit mine sanitary landfill types in following list) inter-furrow features. Photographic examples are presented for each cutbank floodway pond (human-made) scalped area Tillage / Management features (common types): truncated soil ditch gravel pit quarry sewage lagoon conservation terrace (modern) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, category, current and proposed. urban land age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, * Terms defined in the National Soil Survey Handbook, Part 629 (NRCS, 2005b) ** Proposed Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.