H.C.R. 4 Enrolled

RESOLUTION ON 100 YEARS OF SOIL SURVEYS
1999 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: David N. Cox
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR
RECOGNIZING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF SOIL SURVEYS; ENCOURAGING THE
USE OF SOIL SURVEYS AND CONSIDERATION OF THE STATE'S NATURAL
RESOURCES BY ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS AND EDUCATORS; AND
URGING THE MODERNIZATION OF UTAH SOIL SURVEYS AND RELATED DATA.
Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
WHEREAS, 1999 marks the 100th anniversary of soil surveys;
WHEREAS, one of the nation's first soil surveys was conducted in Salt Lake County and
published in 1899;
WHEREAS, Utah will host the 1999 Soil Science of America Centennial Year activities
in Salt Lake City October 31 through November 5;
WHEREAS, this event will bring together professional soil scientists, agronomists, range
conservationists, and other professionals from across the nation who work with the soil;
WHEREAS, of the more than 10,000 soil series that have been named and described in the
United States, 700 soil series have been named and described in Utah;
WHEREAS, many everyday activities and pursuits are related to and influenced by the soil
beneath homes, roads, septic and sewage systems, airports, parks, recreation sites, farms, forests,
schools, and shopping centers;
WHEREAS, in 1937 the Utah Soil Conservation District Act authorized the creation of
local political subdivisions responsible for the conservation of the state's soil, water, and related
natural resources;
WHEREAS, currently there are 38 soil conservation districts governed by 190 locally
elected leaders who cover the entire state;
WHEREAS, the National Cooperative Soil Survey Program is a partnership led by the
Natural Resources Conservation Service of federal land management agencies, state agricultural
experiment stations and state and local units of government that provide soil survey information

necessary for understanding, managing, conserving, and sustaining the nation's limited soil
resources;
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Agriculture and the Natural Resources
Conservation Services have funded and modernized Utah's soil surveys to Geographic Information
System databases to be included in the state's Geographic Information Database for use by the state
and by local governments;
WHEREAS, the Utah League of Cities and Towns, the Utah Association of Conservation
Districts, and Utah's Conservation Partnership have published the "1999 Citizen Planner's Guide to
Subdivision Development Evaluating Natural Hazards and Resources During Subdivision
Approval";
WHEREAS, this publication is designed to assist local government planning commissions
in understanding and considering the importance of soil and related natural resources during
subdivision evaluation;
WHEREAS, soil surveys are prepared by soil scientists who determine the properties of soil
and predict soil behavior for a host of uses;
WHEREAS, soil surveys provide an orderly, on-the-ground, scientific inventory of soil
resources that include maps showing the locations and extent of soils and data about the physical and
chemical properties of those soils;
WHEREAS, information is derived from the data about potential problems of use on each
kind of soil in sufficient detail to meet all reasonable needs of farmers, agricultural technicians,
community planners, engineers, and scientists in applying the findings of research and experience
to specific land areas;
WHEREAS, soil surveys prepared by the Natural Resources Conservation Service through
the National Cooperative Soil Survey program help federal, state, and local conservation agencies
and land users determine the potential and limitations of various soils; and
WHEREAS, what is put on the land should be guided by the soil that is beneath it:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
Governor concurring therein, recognize 1999 as the 100th anniversary of soil surveys and encourage

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elementary and secondary school educators to teach Utah children the importance of soil to a
sustainable environment and quality of life.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor encourage
municipalities, counties, health departments, planners, school districts, and developers to use soil
surveys in land use planning and approval of subdivisions, infrastructure improvements and building
permits.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor urge the Natural
Resources Conservation Service to complete the modernization of Utah soil surveys according to
the federal appropriations and mandates and provide the Geographic Information System databases
to the Utah Automated Geographic Reference Center.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor urge counties and
municipalities to use the publication entitled, "1999 Citizen Planner's Guide to Subdivision
Development Evaluating Natural Hazards and Resources During Subdivision Approval" to assist
with planning and local land use decisions related to the approval of subdivisions.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Natural Resources
Conservation Service, the federal Bureau of Land Management, the Utah League of Cities and
Towns, the Utah Association of Conservation Districts, Utah's Conservation Partnership, the United
States Department of Agriculture, and the Utah Department of Natural Resources.

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