View In:   ArcGIS Online Map Viewer

Name: IA_physiography-regions-2026

Display Field: region

Type: Feature Layer

Geometry Type: esriGeometryPolygon

Description: The Geospatial Laboratory for Soil Informatics at Iowa State University created this spatial dataset, combining science and art to provide a unified perspective on the landscape, integrating geology, landforms, soil, water systems, and vegetation. To create the Physiographic Regions Map of Iowa, multiple lines of evidence were synthesized to delineate areas with similar landforms, geologic histories, soil characteristics, and hydrologic patterns. However, delineations were first created by evaluating patterns observed in terrain derivatives calculated from LiDAR-based elevation data (IDNR, 2020). Interpretation of those areas was then made in consideration of a compilation of foundational maps - including the Outline Map of the Drift Sheets of Iowa (Calvin, 1904), Soils of Iowa (Brown, 1936), Principal Soil Associations (Simonson et al., 1952), Principal Soil Association Areas of Iowa (1965), Quaternary Geology of Iowa (Ruhe, 1969), Principal Soil-Association Areas of Iowa (Fenton et al., 1971), Landform Regions of Iowa (Prior, 1976), Iowa Soil Association Map (Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, 1978), Highway Guide of Iowa Soil Associations ((Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship et al., 2012), and Landform Regions of Iowa (Iowa Geological Survey, 2017). Newer maps carried the most weight.Terrain derivatives, including slope gradient, profile curvature, and relative elevation, were computed from the LiDAR-derived digital elevation model (DEM) and integrated with a digital hillslope position classification (Miller and Schaetzl, 2015). Areas within Iowa’s state boundary (IDNR, 2020) exhibiting similar topographic patterns were delineated and correlated with existing soil and landform knowledge. These subregions were grouped into regions by similarity. The naming of subregions utilized established nomenclature, first, and then referenced representative towns. Descriptive terms were added to subregion names based on relative relief.The delineated regions were evaluated for differentiation of soil properties and hydrologic behavior. Spatial statistics were applied to summarize data from existing soils (NCSS, 2025), stream networks (IDNR, 2024), and land cover maps (USDA-NASS, 2024).

Service Item Id: 3953d016794b4d7093d60be4bd7ce4d8

Copyright Text: Authors: Bradley A. Miller (Associate Professor, Iowa State University) and C. Lee Burras (Morrill Professor, Iowa State University) The Department of Agronomy at Iowa State University supplied the funding needed to create this map.

Default Visibility: true

MaxRecordCount: 2000

Supported Query Formats: JSON, geoJSON, PBF

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Extent:

XMin: 202073.80869999994
YMin: 4470598.3972
XMax: 736849.2104000002
YMax: 4822673.786499999
Spatial Reference: 26915  (26915)

Drawing Info:

Renderer:
Unique Value Renderer:
Field 1: region
Field 2: N/A
Field 3: N/A
Field Delimiter: ,
Default Symbol:
N/A
Default Label: N/A
UniqueValueInfos:
• Value: Alluvial Plains
  Label: Alluvial Plains
  Description: N/A
  Symbol:
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• Value: Des Moines Lobe
  Label: Des Moines Lobe
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  Color: [255, 235, 175, 255]
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• Value: Eastern Eolian Plains
  Label: Eastern Eolian Plains
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• Value: Iowa Erosion Surface
  Label: Iowa Erosion Surface
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• Value: Loess Hills
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• Value: Northwest Plains
  Label: Northwest Plains
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• Value: Paleozoic Plateau
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• Value: Southeast Flattops
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HTML Popup Type: esriServerHTMLPopupTypeAsHTMLText

Type ID Field: region

Fields:

• fid ( nullable: false, defaultValue: null, editable: false, length: 4, type: esriFieldTypeOID, modelName: fid, alias: FID )
• region ( modelName: region, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, length: 254, alias: Region, type: esriFieldTypeString )
• area_ha ( modelName: area_ha, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: Area_ha, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• area_acres ( modelName: area_acres, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: Area_acres, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• area_km2 ( modelName: area_km2, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: Area_km2, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• area_mi2 ( modelName: area_mi2, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: Area_mi2, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• elev_min ( modelName: elev_min, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: Elev_min, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• elev_max ( modelName: elev_max, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: Elev_max, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• elev_mean ( modelName: elev_mean, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: Elev_mean, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• elev_std ( modelName: elev_std, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: Elev_std, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• elev_med ( modelName: elev_med, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: Elev_med, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• relief1k_m ( modelName: relief1k_m, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: Relief1k_m, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• relief1k_f ( modelName: relief1k_f, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: Relief1k_f, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• slppctmean ( modelName: slppctmean, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: SlpPctMean, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• slppctmed ( modelName: slppctmed, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: SlpPctMed, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• su_pct ( modelName: su_pct, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: SU_pct, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• sh_pct ( modelName: sh_pct, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: SH_pct, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• bs_pct ( modelName: bs_pct, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: BS_pct, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• fs_pct ( modelName: fs_pct, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: FS_pct, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• ts_pct ( modelName: ts_pct, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: TS_pct, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• su_fs ( modelName: su_fs, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: SU_FS, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• stream_m ( modelName: stream_m, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: Stream_m, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• dd_m_km2 ( modelName: dd_m_km2, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: Dd_m_km2, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• stream_mi ( modelName: stream_mi, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: Stream_mi, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• dd_mi_mi2 ( modelName: dd_mi_mi2, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: Dd_mi_mi2, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• dwt_cm ( modelName: dwt_cm, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: DWT_cm, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• dwt_in ( modelName: dwt_in, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: DWT_in, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• dwt_cv ( modelName: dwt_cv, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: DWT_CV, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• clay_med ( modelName: clay_med, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: Clay_med, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• silt_med ( modelName: silt_med, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: Silt_med, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• sand_med ( modelName: sand_med, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: Sand_med, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• csr2_mean ( modelName: csr2_mean, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: CSR2_mean, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• csr2_std ( modelName: csr2_std, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: CSR2_std, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• csr2_med ( modelName: csr2_med, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: CSR2_med, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• crop ( modelName: crop, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: Crop, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• past_grass ( modelName: past_grass, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: Past_Grass, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• urban ( modelName: urban, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: Urban, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• forest ( modelName: forest, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: Forest, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• wetlands ( modelName: wetlands, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: Wetlands, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• water ( modelName: water, nullable: true, editable: true, defaultValue: null, alias: Water, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• SHAPE__Length ( virtual: true, nullable: true, editable: false, defaultValue: null, alias: SHAPE__Length, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )
• SHAPE__Area ( virtual: true, nullable: true, editable: false, defaultValue: null, alias: SHAPE__Area, type: esriFieldTypeDouble )

Types:

ID: Alluvial Plains
Name: Alluvial Plains
Domains:
Templates:
• Name: Alluvial Plains
  Description:
  Prototype:
  elev_std: null
  elev_max: null
  su_fs: null
  forest: null
  dwt_in: null
  dd_mi_mi2: null
  csr2_med: null
  area_acres: null
  bs_pct: null
  dwt_cm: null
  past_grass: null
  slppctmean: null
  csr2_mean: null
  wetlands: null
  area_mi2: null
  elev_mean: null
  stream_m: null
  ts_pct: null
  dd_m_km2: null
  sh_pct: null
  stream_mi: null
  dwt_cv: null
  elev_min: null
  sand_med: null
  elev_med: null
  silt_med: null
  su_pct: null
  fs_pct: null
  relief1k_f: null
  csr2_std: null
  relief1k_m: null
  area_ha: null
  area_km2: null
  water: null
  urban: null
  region: Alluvial Plains
  slppctmed: null
  crop: null
  clay_med: null
  
  Drawing Tool: esriFeatureEditToolPolygon

---

ID: Des Moines Lobe
Name: Des Moines Lobe
Domains:
Templates:
• Name: Des Moines Lobe
  Description:
  Prototype:
  elev_std: null
  elev_max: null
  su_fs: null
  forest: null
  dwt_in: null
  dd_mi_mi2: null
  csr2_med: null
  area_acres: null
  bs_pct: null
  dwt_cm: null
  past_grass: null
  slppctmean: null
  csr2_mean: null
  wetlands: null
  area_mi2: null
  elev_mean: null
  stream_m: null
  ts_pct: null
  dd_m_km2: null
  sh_pct: null
  stream_mi: null
  dwt_cv: null
  elev_min: null
  sand_med: null
  elev_med: null
  silt_med: null
  su_pct: null
  fs_pct: null
  relief1k_f: null
  csr2_std: null
  relief1k_m: null
  area_ha: null
  area_km2: null
  water: null
  urban: null
  region: Des Moines Lobe
  slppctmed: null
  crop: null
  clay_med: null
  
  Drawing Tool: esriFeatureEditToolPolygon

---

ID: Eastern Eolian Plains
Name: Eastern Eolian Plains
Domains:
Templates:
• Name: Eastern Eolian Plains
  Description:
  Prototype:
  elev_std: null
  elev_max: null
  su_fs: null
  forest: null
  dwt_in: null
  dd_mi_mi2: null
  csr2_med: null
  area_acres: null
  bs_pct: null
  dwt_cm: null
  past_grass: null
  slppctmean: null
  csr2_mean: null
  wetlands: null
  area_mi2: null
  elev_mean: null
  stream_m: null
  ts_pct: null
  dd_m_km2: null
  sh_pct: null
  stream_mi: null
  dwt_cv: null
  elev_min: null
  sand_med: null
  elev_med: null
  silt_med: null
  su_pct: null
  fs_pct: null
  relief1k_f: null
  csr2_std: null
  relief1k_m: null
  area_ha: null
  area_km2: null
  water: null
  urban: null
  region: Eastern Eolian Plains
  slppctmed: null
  crop: null
  clay_med: null
  
  Drawing Tool: esriFeatureEditToolPolygon

---

ID: Iowa Erosion Surface
Name: Iowa Erosion Surface
Domains:
Templates:
• Name: Iowa Erosion Surface
  Description:
  Prototype:
  elev_std: null
  elev_max: null
  su_fs: null
  forest: null
  dwt_in: null
  dd_mi_mi2: null
  csr2_med: null
  area_acres: null
  bs_pct: null
  dwt_cm: null
  past_grass: null
  slppctmean: null
  csr2_mean: null
  wetlands: null
  area_mi2: null
  elev_mean: null
  stream_m: null
  ts_pct: null
  dd_m_km2: null
  sh_pct: null
  stream_mi: null
  dwt_cv: null
  elev_min: null
  sand_med: null
  elev_med: null
  silt_med: null
  su_pct: null
  fs_pct: null
  relief1k_f: null
  csr2_std: null
  relief1k_m: null
  area_ha: null
  area_km2: null
  water: null
  urban: null
  region: Iowa Erosion Surface
  slppctmed: null
  crop: null
  clay_med: null
  
  Drawing Tool: esriFeatureEditToolPolygon

---

ID: Loess Hills
Name: Loess Hills
Domains:
Templates:
• Name: Loess Hills
  Description:
  Prototype:
  elev_std: null
  elev_max: null
  su_fs: null
  forest: null
  dwt_in: null
  dd_mi_mi2: null
  csr2_med: null
  area_acres: null
  bs_pct: null
  dwt_cm: null
  past_grass: null
  slppctmean: null
  csr2_mean: null
  wetlands: null
  area_mi2: null
  elev_mean: null
  stream_m: null
  ts_pct: null
  dd_m_km2: null
  sh_pct: null
  stream_mi: null
  dwt_cv: null
  elev_min: null
  sand_med: null
  elev_med: null
  silt_med: null
  su_pct: null
  fs_pct: null
  relief1k_f: null
  csr2_std: null
  relief1k_m: null
  area_ha: null
  area_km2: null
  water: null
  urban: null
  region: Loess Hills
  slppctmed: null
  crop: null
  clay_med: null
  
  Drawing Tool: esriFeatureEditToolPolygon

---

ID: Northwest Plains
Name: Northwest Plains
Domains:
Templates:
• Name: Northwest Plains
  Description:
  Prototype:
  elev_std: null
  elev_max: null
  su_fs: null
  forest: null
  dwt_in: null
  dd_mi_mi2: null
  csr2_med: null
  area_acres: null
  bs_pct: null
  dwt_cm: null
  past_grass: null
  slppctmean: null
  csr2_mean: null
  wetlands: null
  area_mi2: null
  elev_mean: null
  stream_m: null
  ts_pct: null
  dd_m_km2: null
  sh_pct: null
  stream_mi: null
  dwt_cv: null
  elev_min: null
  sand_med: null
  elev_med: null
  silt_med: null
  su_pct: null
  fs_pct: null
  relief1k_f: null
  csr2_std: null
  relief1k_m: null
  area_ha: null
  area_km2: null
  water: null
  urban: null
  region: Northwest Plains
  slppctmed: null
  crop: null
  clay_med: null
  
  Drawing Tool: esriFeatureEditToolPolygon

---

ID: Paleozoic Plateau
Name: Paleozoic Plateau
Domains:
Templates:
• Name: Paleozoic Plateau
  Description:
  Prototype:
  elev_std: null
  elev_max: null
  su_fs: null
  forest: null
  dwt_in: null
  dd_mi_mi2: null
  csr2_med: null
  area_acres: null
  bs_pct: null
  dwt_cm: null
  past_grass: null
  slppctmean: null
  csr2_mean: null
  wetlands: null
  area_mi2: null
  elev_mean: null
  stream_m: null
  ts_pct: null
  dd_m_km2: null
  sh_pct: null
  stream_mi: null
  dwt_cv: null
  elev_min: null
  sand_med: null
  elev_med: null
  silt_med: null
  su_pct: null
  fs_pct: null
  relief1k_f: null
  csr2_std: null
  relief1k_m: null
  area_ha: null
  area_km2: null
  water: null
  urban: null
  region: Paleozoic Plateau
  slppctmed: null
  crop: null
  clay_med: null
  
  Drawing Tool: esriFeatureEditToolPolygon

---

ID: Southeast Flattops
Name: Southeast Flattops
Domains:
Templates:
• Name: Southeast Flattops
  Description:
  Prototype:
  elev_std: null
  elev_max: null
  su_fs: null
  forest: null
  dwt_in: null
  dd_mi_mi2: null
  csr2_med: null
  area_acres: null
  bs_pct: null
  dwt_cm: null
  past_grass: null
  slppctmean: null
  csr2_mean: null
  wetlands: null
  area_mi2: null
  elev_mean: null
  stream_m: null
  ts_pct: null
  dd_m_km2: null
  sh_pct: null
  stream_mi: null
  dwt_cv: null
  elev_min: null
  sand_med: null
  elev_med: null
  silt_med: null
  su_pct: null
  fs_pct: null
  relief1k_f: null
  csr2_std: null
  relief1k_m: null
  area_ha: null
  area_km2: null
  water: null
  urban: null
  region: Southeast Flattops
  slppctmed: null
  crop: null
  clay_med: null
  
  Drawing Tool: esriFeatureEditToolPolygon

---

ID: Southern Arc
Name: Southern Arc
Domains:
Templates:
• Name: Southern Arc
  Description:
  Prototype:
  elev_std: null
  elev_max: null
  su_fs: null
  forest: null
  dwt_in: null
  dd_mi_mi2: null
  csr2_med: null
  area_acres: null
  bs_pct: null
  dwt_cm: null
  past_grass: null
  slppctmean: null
  csr2_mean: null
  wetlands: null
  area_mi2: null
  elev_mean: null
  stream_m: null
  ts_pct: null
  dd_m_km2: null
  sh_pct: null
  stream_mi: null
  dwt_cv: null
  elev_min: null
  sand_med: null
  elev_med: null
  silt_med: null
  su_pct: null
  fs_pct: null
  relief1k_f: null
  csr2_std: null
  relief1k_m: null
  area_ha: null
  area_km2: null
  water: null
  urban: null
  region: Southern Arc
  slppctmed: null
  crop: null
  clay_med: null
  
  Drawing Tool: esriFeatureEditToolPolygon

---

ID: Southern Crescent
Name: Southern Crescent
Domains:
Templates:
• Name: Southern Crescent
  Description:
  Prototype:
  elev_std: null
  elev_max: null
  su_fs: null
  forest: null
  dwt_in: null
  dd_mi_mi2: null
  csr2_med: null
  area_acres: null
  bs_pct: null
  dwt_cm: null
  past_grass: null
  slppctmean: null
  csr2_mean: null
  wetlands: null
  area_mi2: null
  elev_mean: null
  stream_m: null
  ts_pct: null
  dd_m_km2: null
  sh_pct: null
  stream_mi: null
  dwt_cv: null
  elev_min: null
  sand_med: null
  elev_med: null
  silt_med: null
  su_pct: null
  fs_pct: null
  relief1k_f: null
  csr2_std: null
  relief1k_m: null
  area_ha: null
  area_km2: null
  water: null
  urban: null
  region: Southern Crescent
  slppctmed: null
  crop: null
  clay_med: null
  
  Drawing Tool: esriFeatureEditToolPolygon

---

Capabilities: Query

Sync Can Return Changes: true

Is Data Versioned: false

Supports Rollback On Failure: true

Supports ApplyEdits With Global Ids: false

Supports ApplyEdits By Upload Id: true

Supports Query With Historic Moment: false

Supports Coordinates Quantization: true

Child Resources:   Field Groups   Contingent Values

Supported Operations:   Query   Query Attachments   Query Analytic   Query Top Features   Query Bins   Append   Validate SQL   Generate Renderer   Return Updates   Metadata   Update Metadata