Cabeza Prieta Area, Arizona, Parts of Pima and Yuma Counties
The most common soil here is Denure, on about 10% of the land: a gravelly sandy loam, gritty and crumbly. Rillito and Coolidge come next.
About all of the land drains well.
USDA rates 57% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 51% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 9% of the land floods occasionally or more, and bedrock lies within 40 inches under 40% 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 Cabeza Prieta Area, Arizona, Parts of Pima and Yuma Counties, 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 Somewhat excessively drained and the dominant hydrologic group is A (high infiltration, low 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 Cabeza Prieta Area, Arizona, Parts of Pima and Yuma 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lomitas, Rock outcrop, Quilotosa, and Rizzo, dry, 15 to 65 percent slopes | 202K | Somewhat excessively drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Coolidge, Denure, and Rillito, dry, 0 to 5 percent slopes | 182K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Not limited | Not limited |
| Gunsight, Chuckawalla, and Carrizo, occasionally flooded, dry, 1 to 10 percent slopes | 67K | Well drained | A | Not limited | Not limited |
| Why, Denure, Gilman, and Carrizo, occasionally flooded, dry, 0 to 3 percent slopes | 67K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Hyder, Cipriano, and Rock outcrop, 15 to 65 percent slopes | 64K | Somewhat excessively drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Growler, Mohall, Tucson, and Valencia, occasionally flooded, dry, 1 to 3 percent slopes | 58K | Well drained | C | Not limited | Very limited |
| Rillito, Growler, and Why, occasionally flooded, dry, 1 to 5 percent slopes | 57K | Well drained | A | Not limited | Not limited |
| Guvo and Rock outcrop, dry, stony, 15 to 65 percent slopes | 50K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Dateland, Wellton, Rillito, Denure, and Rositas, dry, 0 to 5 percent slopes | 44K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Not limited | Not limited |
| Tremant, Casa Grande, and Rositas, rarely flooded, occasionally ponded, dry, 0 to 10 percent slopes | 18K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Carsitas, Momoli, Antho, Carrizo, and Rizzo, occasionally flooded, dry, 0 to 5 percent slopes | 15K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Not limited | Not limited |
| Cherioni, Coolidge, and Hyder, dry, 2 to 15 percent slopes | 12K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Antho, Lagunita, Carrizo, and Riverwash, occasionally flooded, dry, 0 to 3 percent slopes | 10K | Excessively drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Lomitas, Rock outcrop, and Quilotosa, 15 to 65 percent slopes | 9K | Somewhat excessively drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Cipriano, Hyder, Rock outcrop, and Gunsight, 2 to 65 percent slopes | 2K | Somewhat excessively drained | D | Very limited | Very 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 51% of soils are rated "very limited" for dwellings with basements. Specific challenges include shallow bedrock, steep slopes, flood-prone areas, sandy or gravelly soils with low bearing capacity. A geotechnical assessment is recommended before building.
Septic Systems
About 57% of soils are rated "very limited" for septic absorption fields. The well-drained soils may actually drain too fast for standard leach fields, allowing effluent to reach groundwater. Engineered or alternative systems are frequently required. Always get a professional perc test before purchasing land that needs septic.
Gardening & Agriculture
Soils tend to drain very quickly, meaning nutrients and water don't stick around long. Raised beds with amended soil, drip irrigation, and heavy mulching will give the best results. Compost is your best friend here — it improves water retention dramatically.