Soil salinity has emerged as one of the most serious and widespread consequences of the climatic wet period affecting the northern region of the American Midwest since 1993. Groundwater levels have increased, causing not only millions of hectares of prevented planting in the Dakotas, but also much higher levels of soil salinity on otherwise productive soils. A persistent comment from producers throughout eastern North Dakota during the wet cycle was that salinity had emerged in areas where it was never a problem before. Management techniques to reduce salinity effects include crop selection, use of cover crops after harvest, calcium chemical amendments for sodic soils, tillage changes to reduce upland recharge, and tile drainage to lower water tables. Soil data collected to establish background salinity and sodicity levels on a Nahon soil map unit (fine, smectitic, frigid Calcic Natrudolls) east of Wheatland, ND are presented with a broader interpretation regarding the need to perform soil chemical sampling for certain soils before installing tile drainage.