Black Hills-Sedona Area, Arizona, Parts of Coconino and Yavapai Counties

Survey Area AZ639• Arizona

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 Aridisols — dry-climate soils with limited organic matter and often calcium carbonate accumulation. 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 Black Hills-Sedona Area, Arizona, Parts of Coconino and Yavapai Counties. 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
Lithic Argiustolls, Typic Haplustolls, and Aridic Calciustolls; warm mesic ustic mountains	264K	Well drained	D	Very limited	Very limited
Ustic Haplocalcids, Ustic Haplocambids, rarely flooded, and Typic Torripsamments, rarely flooded; cool thermic aridic alluvial fans	194K	Well drained	B	Very limited	Very limited
Lithic Argiustolls, Cumulic Haplustolls, rarely flooded, and Typic Ustorthents; warm mesic ustic mountains	119K	Well drained	C	Very limited	Very limited
Calcic Petrocalcids, Typic Haplocalcids, and Lithic Ustic Torriorthents; cool thermic aridic fan remnants and hills	77K	Well drained	D	Very limited	Very limited
Ustic Haplargids and Typic Torriorthents; cool thermic aridic fan piedmonts	62K	Well drained	C	Very limited	Very limited
Ustic Haplargids, Ustic Torrifluvents, rarely flooded, and Ustic Haplocambids; warm thermic aridic hills and fans	46K	Well drained	A	Very limited	Very limited
Sedona soils, Turist soils and Urban land, 3 to 15 percent slopes	10K	Well drained	D	Very limited	Very limited
Bissett soils, Blancoverde soils and Urban land, 3 to 60 percent slopes	8K	Well drained	D	Very limited	Very limited
Lithic Argiustolls, Typic Haplustolls, and Vitrandic Haplustolls; cool mesic ustic mountains	6K	Well drained	D	Very limited	Very limited
Mingus soils, Tapco soils and Urban land, 3 to 12 percent slopes	5K	Well drained	D	Very limited	Very limited
Bilgray-Fetch complex, 3 to 10 percent slopes	3K	Well drained	B	Not limited	Somewhat limited
Altar family soils, Penthouse soils and Urban land, 3 to 8 percent slopes	3K	Well drained	B	Very limited	Very limited
Gyberg-Bilgray complex, 3 to 8 percent slopes	3K	Somewhat excessively drained	C	Not limited	Not limited
Bodecker-Water-Horner complex, 0 to 3 percent slopes	3K	Excessively drained	A	Very limited	Very limited
Swisshelm soils and Urban land, 0 to 3 percent slopes	3K	Somewhat excessively drained	A	Not limited	Not limited
Tombstone soils, Luckyhills soils and Urban land, 2 to 10 percent slopes	2K	Well drained	A	Not limited	Not limited
Graham very stony clay loam, 5 to 35 percent slopes	2K	Well drained	D	Very limited	Very limited
Turist soils, Rock outcrop and Urban land, 15 to 90 percent slopes	2K		D	Not rated	Not rated
White House gravelly sandy loam, 3 to 15 percent slopes	2K	Well drained	C	Somewhat limited	Very limited
Ubik loamy fine sandy, 3 to 15 percent slopes	2K	Somewhat excessively drained	A	Very 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.

Aridisols

Dry-climate soils with low organic matter. Often have caliche layers that make excavation difficult. Low shrink-swell is good for foundations.

Entisols

Young soils with little development — found on floodplains, dunes, and steep slopes. Properties vary widely by setting.

Mollisols

Fertile grassland soils with thick, dark topsoil. Among the best for agriculture, building, and gardening.

Inceptisols

Young but developing soils found in mountains and river terraces. Variable properties — check drainage and bedrock depth.

What This Means

Building & Foundations

About 98% of soils are rated "very limited" for dwellings with basements. Specific challenges include shallow bedrock, steep slopes, flood-prone areas. A geotechnical assessment is recommended before building.

Septic Systems

About 98% 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.