Overview
first draft
- Introduction (200-350 words) – This section will introduce the reader to your site by explaining the current land use (as observed from the satellite photos), the dominant features of your piece of land/soils (e.g. lots of steep hills, rivers, streams, drainage class of soils, etc.), soil series that are present, and any other distinguishing features. You should end this section by stating which of the land use plans you have chosen (Plan 1, 2 or 3 as described above) and what the components of that plan will consist of (e.g. organic farm with a green community and a mountain biking park). Be sure to refer to your soil series map and site details worksheet and incorporate them into the final report.
- Land Management Data (700-900 words)- In this section you should describe the suitability and the ratings received for the various Urban, and Natural Resource components of the project in addition to the yield data for the Agricultural component (i.e. data in worksheets 1-4). In this section you will include and discuss all elements of the worksheets and suitability maps you made. It is important that you not only show us spatially in the maps or detailed in the tables how your land is rated, but also prove to us that you understand the limitations and suitability by explaining just what it means and how the rating will impact the desired land use (e.g. if the rating for lawns and landscaping is ‘severe’, state the reason given in the WSS (e.g. depth to water table) and then explain just why a high water table is a limitation for lawns and landscaping (do you know why?)). Be sure to include all elements in Section A, Part 2 of the rubric. This section of the report can be divided into subsections for Ag, Urban and Nat resources.
- Proposal for Future Use (250-500 words) – This is the section where you pull it together. You will describe your proposal for the best land use option for the land. You will state where each of the components will be placed and justify why. You will describe how the current elements of the land (i.e. ponds, rivers, lakes, streams, rock piles, etc.) impact your design and how they will be changed or incorporated into the project. If you are putting elements of your plan on soils limited for the use you are proposing, be sure to state how you are going to overcome these limitations. You should also consider the environmental impact of your proposed plan (for example, if you are going to damn the river running through your land, what impact will that have on the ecosystem or the folks living downstream?). This section must be clear and concise and the land use decisions made must be explained with respect to the SOIL PROPERTIES present. To assist your discussion I highly recommend you examine the data on the “Soil Properties and Qualities” tab of the WSS for this discussion (e.g. Soil Erosion Factors, Soil Physical Properties, etc.). You can find much of this information in the soil properties and qualities tab in WSS. You are required to use these information and incorporate in within the discussion section of your future use map here.
- Conclusions (100-200 words) – Sum up your plan and state why you believe it is the best. Relate your choice to SOIL PROPERTIES and other data from WSS.
Grading for this draft:
- 80% - for providing your feedback to peers
- 10% - for submitting your file
- 10% - for reading peer feedback and writing your self-assessment