Illinois Soil Classifiers Association ANNOUNCEMENTS
Read below for the latest activities of the Illinois Soil Classifiers Association
ISCA Fall Meeting
Join the Illinois Soil Classifiers Association and the Indiana Association of Professional Soil Classifiers for a joint Fall Meeting in the area of the Grand Kankakee Marsh and the Kankakee Sands.
FEATURED SPEAKER: Dr. B. Brandon Curry, Principal Research Scientist, Quaternary Geology, Illinois State Geological Survey
DATE: September 11, 2026 (September 10 Soil Pits for IRSS Testing/practice field exam)
LOCATION: Iroquois County, IL and Newton County, Indiana.
THE HISTORY: Watch the videos, read the research
The Grand Kankakee Marsh --video
The Everglades of the North -- video
The Kankakee Torrent ... (B.Brandon Curry)
Agenda- September 11
Newton County Health Department, 4117 240 W, Morocco, IN
8:30 – 9:00 Registration-Dena Anderson, IAPSC Sec/Treas 9:00 – 9:15 Welcome & Introductions9:15—9:45 Brandon Curry Overview of Geology and History of the Kankakee Torrent9:45 – 11:45 Travel to Iroquois County State Wildlife Area, E 3300 North Rd and County Rd 3000E, Beaverville, Pembroke Township, ILBack to the Basics of Sands -- Review of Soils Pits and Impacts on System design IL vs. IN 11:45– 12:00 Return to Newton County HD Meeting Room12:00 – 1:00 LUNCH & Door Prizes1:00 – 2:15 The Nature Conservancy--Kankakee Sands Buffalo Viewing Area, S 400 W, Morocco, IN
OR Indiana Soil Pits (11 miles E of Morocco, Maps to be provided)2:15 -- 3:30 Travel to Fair Oaks Farms, 856 N 600 E, Fair Oaks, IN - Aerobic Digesters, Speaker Carl Ramsey3:30 Adjourn – SAFE TRAVELS!
COST: $35 includes lunch
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: September 4
Use the button below to register through Event Brite
Contact webmaster@illinoissoils.org for more details about the September 10 field exam/practice
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Dr. Alfred Hartemink Articles
Dr. Hartemink presented an excellent discourse on new ways to determine and describe soil horizons. He has offered the following articles to ISCA. Click the links to download.
Dr. Hartemink presented an excellent discourse on new ways to determine and describe soil horizons at the ISCA Annual Meeting. He has offered the following three articles to ISCA Members as a followup. Contact the Webmaster@illinoissoils.org for more information.
Digital mapping of a soil profile (2019) - European Journal of Soil Science
Soil horizon delineation using vis-NIR and pXRF data (2019) - Catena, Elsevier Science Direct
A method for automated soil horizon delineation using digital images (2019) - Geoderma, Elsevier Science Direct
Dr. Alfred E. Hartemink, Professor of Soil Science
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Department of Soil & Environmental Sciences, FD Hole Soils Lab
1525 Observatory Drive
Madison, WI 53706
Managing Mississippi and Ohio River Landscapes
Kenneth R. Olson and Lois Wright Morton - 2016
Ken Olson and Lois Wright Morton have written a book on the wonderful stories of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. They interpret the language of the rivers and their management through the keen eyes of a soil scientist and a sociologist. More importantly, they interpret the two rivers’ complex human and natural relationships in terms that both scientists and non-scientists can understand. The demand for soil and water resources is ever increasing, and wise land use planning involves diverse and often conflicting goals. These issues require both technical expertise and a human touch. Drs. Olson and Morton provide exactly that, with historical background, unique perspective, clear understanding, and sharp insight to confront current problems and discover new opportunities these two great rivers present. Public and private landowners and managers of the Mississippi and Ohio river landscapes will benefit greatly from the intensive research and presentation of case studies. Other beneficiaries might include soil scientists, sociologists, conservationists, wetland specialists, human and physical geographers, urban planners, public health specialists, economists, geomorphologists, geologists, hydrologists, agronomists, foresters, and river lovers in general. A book of this scope and detail is not to be read once and thrown aside, but to be reviewed and studied over time. For as the young steamboat cub pilot Mark Twain stated, these rivers indeed have “a new story to tell every day.” Samuel J. Indorante, Ph.D.
Click the button below for the complete book.
Soil Texture Kits and Soil Gear for Sale
ISCA Soil Texture Kits and soil gear from members are for sale. Click the button!
Aquasols - Proposed new soil order - temporarily stalled
Aquasols Soil Order UPDATE: the momentum to reclassify all wet soils across the nation into a new soil order of Aquasols has stalled (and hopefully will never re-start). Recent changes, retirements, resignations in NRCS leadership & staff, restructuring, cuts in budgets, and other factors have reduced the momentum behind the push for this change. The proponents of the proposal haven't given up completely, but for now, it has lost momentum.
ISCA continues to oppose the reclassification of all wet terrestrial soils into the proposed Aquasols soil order. Read the proposal here and read ISCA's response to the proposal.
Correction to Septic Loading Rate Chart - Column 5E has been corrected from 0.52 g/d/sq.ft. to 0.69 g/d/sq.ft. This has historically been the established rate, but an error had been made in the printing of the table. Use this corrected table for Section 905A, Appendix A, Illustration M, Exhibit B - Key for Determining Sewage Subsurface Loading Rates for Illinois Soils - in the State of Illinois Code for Private Sewage Disposal. The table that is in the Code itself, has many errors and is a corrupted table.
ISCA Gear - ISCA has our own storefront with Lands' End Business Outfitters. The ISCA store is at: https://business.landsend.com/store/ISCA or Click the Button below. Create your own account and order any apparel that you desire. It will be shipped directly to you. You may order any item in the current catalog and have Lands’ End add the ISCA logo ($5.95). You also have the option to choose the location of the logo and change the colors in the logo to coordinate with the item that you are purchasing. Occasionally, Lands’ End will have a special offer and not charge to add the embroidered logo, so watch for those specials. Catalog “promotional” items and “silkscreened” items usually have a minimum quantity, so be aware when you are placing your order. If you have questions concerning the operation of the ISCA Lands’ End store, contact us for more information . If you have specific questions regarding merchandise and ordering, contact Lands’ End for assistance.
ISCA member, Laura Craven created a Virtual Soils Day, a virtual field trip for all ages about soils and the natural world. Get started by clicking the link or by pasting the following URL - https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/soils/survey/office/ssr5/tr/ into your browser.
ASK a Soil Classifier - If you have a question about soils, either a general question or a very specific question, and would like an answer from a Professional Soil Classifier, click the following link to e-mail your question(s) to: Ask A Soil Classifier
Soil Classifier Mentor Program - If you desire experience in soil classification and wish to work with or correspond with a Professional Soil Classifier, ISCA can help you get connected to a Professional Soil Classifier in your local area. Send an email to express your interest by following this link: Ask A Soil Classifier
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