The purpose of this article is two fold. First, we are proud to announce that the progress of Mason County Initial Soil Survey Project is on track. Second, we would like to announce personnel changes in the Kerrville MLRA Soil Survey Project Office (KMSSO).

First, Amanda Bragg and I were the Soil Scientists assigned to complete Mason County’s Initial Soil Survey by 2010 and the progress of this project follows: Field work was completed in April 2009. Documentation consisting of 800 sampled points was completed in October 2009. The soil base layer was submitted to the State Office in Temple in January 2010. Amanda is working on the final stages of the manuscript. The quality assurance process conducted at the State Office is ongoing. As a result, the survey will be available on the Web Soil Survey in September of 2010. A public meeting to release the final product is tentatively planned for the fall or winter of 2010. The interim soil layer and other soils information are currently available at http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov. I would encourage everyone to take a look at this modern tool because it is very dynamic and interesting.

Second, Amanda and I have been selected for other posts in NRCS. Back in December, I was selected as the MLRA Project Leader for Bryan MSSO. Amanda has received a promotion and will be reporting to the Abilene MSSO on July 19, 2010.

Jessica Lene-Jobe was selected as the new GS-12 MLRA Leader for Kerrville. Jessica is currently the GS-11 Soil Survey Project Leader in Graham, TX and has proudly served in that office since 2003. Jessica attended Tarleton State University in Stephenville TX where she received a Bachelors of Science Degree in International Agriculture and Masters Degree in Agronomy, Emphasis in Soil Science. She is married and has three daughters. She is looking forward to reporting to Kerrville on June 7, 2010.

Travis Waiser was selected as the new GS-11 Soil Survey Project Leader for the KMSSO. Travis is currently a Soil Scientist on the Bryan Office Staff. Travis has a Bachelor of Science and Masters Degree from Texas A&M in Agronomy and Soil Science. He is married and has three daughters. His report date is July 5, 2010.

Please join me in congratulating Jessica and Travis on their new positions at NRCS. And again, WITH sincere appreciation, Amanda and I would like to extend a big thank you to the Mason County Soil and Water Conservation District, the landowners and producers, the LOCAL NRCS, FSA, and RC&D staff FOR ALL THE HELP THEY’VE GIVEN US OVER THE YEARS.

Helping People Help the Land: USDA-NRCS is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.