Natural Resources Chapter of the Master Plan - Town of Wolfeboro

Natural Resources Chapter, Wolfeboro, NH
3.0 SOIL RESOURCES
Soil is an exceptionally important resource that affects how land should and should not be used.
Because of this, it is important to understand the properties of soil, which are essential in
managing and preserving natural resources. The Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS) evaluates and inventories soil throughout the United States using its Soil Survey
Program, to identify what soils are located where and to make recommendations as to how they
can be used. These surveys provide information that is intended to help sustain soil resources for
food production, forest products, land use planning, water quality, and wildlife habitat.
Many people use soil surveys, including farmers, foresters, community officials, engineers,
builders, developers, conservationists, teachers, students, and planners from towns, regions and
states. Soil surveys contain important information for all types of land users, and include soil
maps and detailed data tables.
The soil survey for Carroll County is out-of date. The survey, which was publicized in 1977, can
be found on the NRCS website at http://www.nh.nrcs.usda.gov. However, a maintenance project
was performed and SSURGO certified in 2006, available in digital format, CD and update
pending.
3.1 IMPORTANT AGRICULTURAL SOILS
Important agricultural soil is a diminishing resource in New Hampshire. Once developed, these
soil resources are gone forever. Because of this, it is important to identify and protect important
agricultural soil resources. Figure 4 portrays important agricultural soils found in Wolfeboro.
According to NRCS, the Farmland Protection Policy Act of 1981 was established to minimize
the extent to which Federal programs contribute to the unnecessary and irreversible conversion
of farmland to non-agricultural uses, and to assure that Federal programs are administered in a
manner that, to the extent practicable, will be compatible with state, unit of local government,
and private programs and policies to protect farmland. The following criteria define farmland in
New Hampshire for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the Farmland Protection Policy
Act of 1981, P.L. 97-98, December 22, 1981.
In order to be considered Prime Farmland, soil must have the following characteristics:
Have the ability to grow commonly cultivated crops adapted to New Hampshire in seven
or more years out of ten;
Have no water table, or a water table that is maintained at a sufficient depth during the
cropping season allowing cultivated crops common to New Hampshire to be grown;
Are not frequently flooded during the growing season (less than a 50 percent chance in
any year or the soil floods less than 50 years out of 100);
Natural Resources Inventory, Wolfeboro, NH 6