Land Resource Regions (LRR) and Major Land Resource Areas (MLRA)

Land resource regions and major land resource areas are separated on the basis of significant differences in use and management of the soils as reflected in land use patterns. These regions and areas represent nearly homogeneous areas of soil, climate, land use, water resources, elevation, topography, and potential natural vegetation.

Land resource regions are geographically associated groups of major land resource areas and consist mainly of areas that have very broadly related patterns of soil, climate, and water resources.

Major land resource areas (MLRA) are based upon aggregations of geographically associated land resource units and identify nearly homogeneous areas of land use, elevation, topography, climate, water resources, potential natural vegetation, and soils. Major land resource area boundaries reflect an appropriate generalization of land resource unit boundaries. Generally, a major land resource area occupies one continuous delineation; but it may occupy several separate ones. Major land resource areas are most useful for statewide agricultural planning and have value for interstate, regional, and national planning.

The land resource region descriptions are summaries of the important characteristics of the major land resource areas. The dominant physical characteristics of MLRAs are considered under the headings land use, elevation and topography, climate, water resources, and soils.

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Pacific Basin MLRA Map (248 KB)

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