Soil resources provide the foundation for a variety of other resources and resource uses in the Planning Area. Adverse impacts to soils result from management actions that compact soil, increase erosion and runoff, disrupt soil stability, or reduce soil productivity. Surface-disturbing activities, such as mineral resources development, can result in removal of vegetative cover, soil compaction, reduced water infiltration, changes in physical and biological properties, and reduction in organic matter content. Beneficial impacts to soils result from management that minimizes soil compaction or erosion and runoff, stabilizes soil, and increases soil productivity. For example, management allowing post-disturbance reseeding would stabilize the soil and limit erosion.

Direct impacts to soils result from activities that disturb the existing soils horizon through earth-moving activities or remove the vegetative cover—loosening the surface soil, compacting soil layers, and exposing soil particles to wind and water. Indirect impacts include management actions that increase the likelihood of soil erosion. Actions that create impervious surfaces (e.g., road construction) or new water sources (e.g., surface discharge of produced water) may increase runoff and erode soils.

Short-term impacts to soils are those that result from initial surface disturbance prior to completion of reclamation and revegetation activities. Long-term impacts are those that result from actions that leave bare ground and areas not reclaimed after 5 years. Long-term impacts to soil productivity would also result from disturbance that degrades the physical and biological properties of the soil.