SOIL SURVEY

PREFAC EThe soil survey of Yoho National Park was initiated at the request of Park sCanada as part of a systematic inventory of the natural resources in Canada' sNational Parks . It is anticipated that the information in this report, along wit hreports on other natural resource sectors, will assist in rational planning an dmanagement decisions . The systematic recording of observations relative to soi ldistribution within the Rockies will also contribute to understanding soil genesi sand assist in predicting the response of soils to imposed uses .Maps included in this report provide a mechanism for extrapolating sit especific research data from the specific site to some manageable area and fro man area of known response to another like area where experience is limited . Forexample, if a trail is to be rerouted or a new trail constructed, the planning tea mcan examine the maps to determine over which map units an existing trail crosse sand expect a similar response on the same map units for the proposed trail .This report is arranged in four main sections . Part I provides a basi coverview of some of the natural resources . Part II describes the methods use dduring the survey . Part III provides a key to the soil mapping units plus brie fdescriptions of pedon morphology and site characteristics . Part IV identifies th elimitations of various land areas for selected uses, and in the process suggest sone method of using the enclosed information . It should be pointed out thatthe limitations identified in Part IV are only relevant if the assumptions made i nthe Guides for assessing soil limitations are applicable to the problem as identifie dby the user . The appendices provide detailed specific information of interest t othe in-depth reader .Information in this report can be used at four levels of intensity . Th ecolored map provides for a simplified overview of the soils within Yoho Nationa lPark . The four black and white maps plus the attached legend provide detaile dmap separations but only limited definition of map symbols . By referring to the map