March 2016 Mountain Profiles The newsletter of the West Virginia Association of Professional Soil Scientists Message from the President… Hello everyone! 2015, the International Year of Soils, turned up to be an exciting and productive year for our members and for the West Virginia Association of Professional Soil Scientists! With Adrienne Nottingham, a master student at WVU, winning 3rd place at the 2015 National Soil Judging Contest, securing a place on Team USA for an international soil judging contest that took place along the landscapes and soils of Hungary and the Danube Basin in Sep. 2015. Team USA won first place (!!), with all four Team USA participants placed at the top 10 individual contest (see Adrienne article below). Michael Harman’s relentless effort led to WVAPSS receiving a legislative citation from the West Virginia House of Delegates, recognizing our continued dedication to the state of West Virginia’s natural resources. Special thanks to Michael Harman and his colleagues: Natalie Lounsbury, the Honorable Isaac Sponaugle, and the Honorable Allen Evans, for their hard work spearheading the legislative citation (see full article below). Many thanks also to Dr. Jim Thompson and the WVU Plant and Soil Science Club for their successful campaign to increase awareness of the soil resource across campus and throughout West Virginia during the 2015 International Year of Soils! (see full article below). We have two positions to elect this year – a Vice President, and Executive Council position (Ethics and Registration Committee). Please send your nominations by mid‐April. Many thanks also to Katy Yoast, our past president for her active role and continued effort, to all contributing members to the newsletter, and to all of you for promoting and practicing sound use of soil and natural resources. Please stay tune for updates on our annual meeting and tour, currently being developed by Tom D’Avello. All the best! Amir Hass WVAPSS President Page | 1 W V A P S S M A R C H 2 0 1 6 N E W S L E T T E R Table of Contents Update from Our State Soil Scientist ....................................................................................... 3 Jeff Skousen Wins the 2016 Golden Auger Award ................................................................... 4 WVAPSS Acknowledged by the WV House of Delegates ......................................................... 5 WVAPSS 2015 Tour of Stonewall Gathering System Pipeline .................................................. 6 WVU Soils Team: Describing—And Expanding—Horizons ....................................................... 7 Soil Judging in Hungary ............................................................................................................ 9 Reforestation of a Mine Site Near Marmet, WV .................................................................... 12 Celebrating the International Year of Soils at West Virginia University…and Beyond ........... 14 Update on the Soil Survey of Barnegat Bay, New Jersey ....................................................... 18 Moorefield Blue Brings Home the Gold at Envirothon........................................................... 21 Soil Treasure Unearthed ........................................................................................................ 23 Soil Erosion Service Project 13, Roane County West Virginia ................................................ 26 Featured Links to Soil Resources ............................................................................................ 30 WVAPSS Merchandise Available ............................................................................................ 30 Upcoming Events ................................................................................................................... 31 2 | Page W V A P S S M A R C H 2 0 1 6 N E W S L E T T E R Update from Our State Soil Scientist By Jared Beard (WV NRCS State Soil Scientist) The State Soil Scientist position in West Virginia has been in transition the last few years which has resulted in the need for consistent and permanent attention to the delivery of technical soil services. Since April of last year I have worked to bring lingering items to completion, establish primary workload functions, assist leadership with adoption of the Focused Conservation Approach, and become familiar with the soils partnership activities. Much of this work parallels that of the resource soil scientist duties, however, from what I’ve experienced, the approach to it is new and challenging and a welcome change as it brings different perspectives of the agency and staff. The needs of the state reach beyond the maintenance of soil data and teaching the use of tools like web soil survey and soil data viewer, especially as the agency is experiencing changes in staff and programs. Nonetheless, the ultimate goal of getting conservation on the ground is dependent on these soils activities. As the second half of this fiscal year approaches I see technical soil services assisting further the activities of program delivery and conservation planning through soil health training, outreach, and workshops and assistance in project development for the Focused Conservation Approach.h Soil healt activities will be achieved initially through assistance from the National Soil Survey Center as a train the trainer session is followed by hands on training of the agency’s field staff. The Focused Conservation Approach is challenging the local work groups to consider the soils on a larger scale when addressing conservation issues. Additionally, I plan to work with partner agencies to develop reference wetland sites and evaluation of the map unit component vegetation data for hydric soil components. Finally, efforts to incorporate soils into the annual training schedule is timely with the focus on updating multidisciplinary training agendas which include engineering, planning, and basic soils for new hires. Some projects and events that are underway include the determination of red parent material geologies and soils for the entire state with sample analysis being done at the University of Maryland. A second round of assisting EPA with sampling of wetlands for the National Wetland Conditioning Assessment will take place this summer. The first occurred in 2011 and will occur on a 5 year interval. West Virginia will host the summer meeting of the Mid‐Atlantic Hydric Soil Committee in the Eastern Panhandle. I look forward to a more focused intent to the workload and less reacting as I learn more about this position. I feel fortunate to have availability to the resource soil scientists who make the direct connection to the field delivering technical soil services, as well as cooperation in the soil partnership with Soil Survey Region 6, Forest Service, and WVU. 3 | Page W V A P S S M A R C H 2 0 1 6 N E W S L E T T E R Jeff Skousen Wins the 2016 Golden Auger Award By Rob Pate (Resource Soil Scientist – WV NRCS) Started in 1999, the Golden Auger Award is given each year to someone who has made outstanding contributions to the field of soil science in West Virginia. This year, the Golden Auger Award goes to Dr. Jeff G. Skousen. Dr. Jeff Skousen grew up on a 300‐ac farm in eastern Oregon where irrigation was used to produce alfalfa and potato crops. He grew up with a shovel in his hand and learned to dig fast in the sandy soils of the area because the ditches washed out and continually needed repairing. During undergraduate and graduate work in Utah, Jeff dug hundreds of pits and classified the soils for a 3‐year research project on big game habitat restoration. Since joining WVU in 1985, Jeff has been an advocate for responsible reclamation and the wise use of mined and disturbed lands. He is one of the nation’s top experts on land reclamation. His research has educated the mining industry and the public on methods to achieve reforestation; technologies for predicting, controlling, and treating acid mine drainage, and the application of soil science and ecological principles in reclamation. All geared towards the future potential uses for mined lands. As educator at WVU, Jeff teaches classroom courses in soil science, reclamation, environmental protection, and watershed management. As a representative of the WVU Extension Service, Jeff delivers a state‐wide educational program on reclamation through consultations, seminars, and workshops; and presents to research faculty, state agencies, L to R: Rob Pate, Jeff Skousen, Katey Yoast WVU Cooperative Extension Service staff, and the mining industry. Jeff is also active in the education of West Virginia’s youth. For many years, Jeff has promoted and coordinated the FFA and 4‐H land judging programs in West Virginia. These are the programs that steer young people to careers in soil science, conservation, and agriculture. Land judging is often a young person’s first introduction to the scientific principles which are the foundation of conservation, soil survey, and land use planning. Jeff has also been a friend of collegiate soil judging, allowing his farm to be used as a practice site for the Southeast Regional Soil Judging contest which was hosted by WVU in 2012. Jeff has a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from Brigham Young University, and his PhD from Texas A&M University. In addition to being a long‐time member of the West Virginia Association of Professional Soil Scientists, Jeff is a member of the American Society of Agronomy, American Society for Mining and Reclamation, Mine Drainage Task Force,