(Conservation Currents,
Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District, September
2003)
 Soil
Scientist Dan Schwartz, a 2003 University of Maryland
graduate, is the newest NVSWCD employee, increasing the staff
size to seven.
Schwartz primarily works in the field, examining
Fairfax County soil through exposed road cuts and auger borings.
He is part of a three-member team updating and completing
the Fairfax County soil survey.
How did Schwartz go straight from college
to a coveted soil scientist position? In addition to his easy-going
demeanor, he did earn a B.S. degree in environmental science
with an emphasis in soil science. And, most impressively,
he helped the University of Maryland’s Soil Judging
team win a regional championship and earn the rank of 7th
in the nation.
Soil Judging is a national intercollegiate
contest, which occurs every year across the country. It
dates back more than 40 years. Colleges first compete at the
regional level in the fall, and the top winning teams in each
region go on to compete in the national contest in the spring.
The locations of the regional and national contests rotate every
year.
“We get into a soil pit and evaluate
the different characteristics of a soil profile,” explains
Schwartz. “We look at the color, texture, consistence,
structure, and other properties of each soil horizon. We also
evaluate factors such as water movement.”
What is Schwartz’s favorite part of his new job? “Getting
to wear dirty jeans to work,” he says.
For information about the Fairfax County Soil
Survey or Soil Judging, e-mail
Dan Schwartz or call 703-324-1422.
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