Agricultural soils maps as a framework for conducting shallow subsurface investigations in the Rio Grande valley Near El Paso, Texas

For over 10 years, we have found agricultural soil maps an increasingly useful guide in planning shallow subsurface geophysical (magnetics, DC resistivity, precision gravity, ground conductivity, ground penetrating radar) and geological (shallow coring, grain size and salinity analysis) investigations near El Paso, Texas. Our geophysical and geological studies have allowed us to tie agricultural soil classes to specific sedimentological features (e.g. flood plain, crevasse splay, abandoned channels) and enhanced our ability to predict where soil salinity, soil drainage and soil collapse problems may occur. Shallow soil structure directly controls drainage and pavement performance in new subdivision construction. The soil features also appear strongly controlled by the tectonic framework of the valley, including the location of faults that are important for earthquake hazard assessment and groundwater flow modeling. We have shared this information with city council members, city engineers and water utilities personnel to aid in planning growth within this region. We feel our methods could be applied in other regions where agricultural soil maps are available and urban expansion is occurring.