Washington County, Arkansas
The most common soil here is Enders, on about 17% of the land: a gravelly fine sandy loam, gritty and crumbly. Leesburg and Nixa come next.
About 74% of the land drains well, and 6% stays wet for long stretches; groundwater comes within two feet of the surface under 18% of it.
USDA rates 90% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 88% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 7% of the land floods occasionally or more, and bedrock lies within 40 inches under 19% of it.
Soils change over short distances, so look up an address below for the soil at that exact spot and the reasons behind each rating.
The soils you're most likely standing on
The biggest named soils in Washington County, Arkansas, each drawn five feet deep from its official USDA description, in its recorded colors.
Dots mark gravel; white flecks mark lime. Shares are by acres across the survey area, and each mapped patch usually mixes several of these soils.
The biggest mapped areas
The dominant drainage class is Well drained and the dominant hydrologic group is D (very slow infiltration, high runoff). The most common soil order is Ultisols — strongly weathered soils with clay-enriched subsoils, common in warm humid climates. This report summarizes the major soil map units across the survey area to help you understand what to expect when buying, building, or gardening in Washington County, Arkansas. Search your address to find the exact soil composition, drainage, and series details at your specific location.
| Soil Map Unit | Acres | Drainage | Hydro Group | Dwellings | Septic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enders-Leesburg complex, 20 to 40 percent slopes | 95K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Enders-Leesburg complex, 8 to 20 percent slopes | 69K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Clarksville extremely gravelly silt loam, 12 to 60 percent slopes | 40K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Hector-Mountainburg stony fine sandy loams, 3 to 40 percent slopes, rocky | 36K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Nixa very gravelly silt loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes | 33K | Moderately well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Allen-Hector complex, 20 to 40 percent slopes (nella) | 22K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Savannah fine sandy loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes, eroded | 20K | Moderately well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Captina silt loam, 3 to 6 percent slopes, eroded | 17K | Moderately well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Linker loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes, eroded | 17K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Pickwick silt loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes, eroded | 17K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Captina silt loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes | 14K | Moderately well drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Cleora fine sandy loam | 12K | Well drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Johnsburg silt loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes | 11K | Somewhat poorly drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Allen-Hector complex, 40 to 55 percent slopes (nella) | 11K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Baxter very gravelly silt loam, 20 to 45 percent slopes | 10K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Enders stony loam, 3 to 15 percent slopes | 10K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Fayetteville fine sandy loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes eroded | 7K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Elsah cobbly soils (ceda) | 7K | Excessively drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Sloan silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes, occasionally flooded | 7K | Poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Razort loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes | 6K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
Soil Orders in This Area
The USDA classifies every soil into one of 12 soil orders. Here are the dominant orders found in this survey area.
What This Means
Building & Foundations
About 88% of soils are rated "very limited" for dwellings with basements. Specific challenges include shallow bedrock, steep slopes, poor drainage in some areas, flood-prone areas. A geotechnical assessment is recommended before building.
Septic Systems
About 90% of soils are rated "very limited" for septic absorption fields. Despite good drainage overall, limitations may stem from shallow bedrock, steep slopes, or seasonal conditions. Engineered or alternative systems are frequently required. Always get a professional perc test before purchasing land that needs septic.
Gardening & Agriculture
Well-drained soils on sloped terrain — good for most plants but watch for erosion. Terracing, contour planting, and mulching help retain moisture and topsoil. Drip irrigation is more effective than sprinklers on slopes.