Northern Santa Barbara Area, California
The most common soil here is Chamise, on about 5% of the land: a shaly loam, a balanced mix that crumbles in your hand. Lopez and Shedd come next.
About 89% of the land drains well, and 3% stays wet for long stretches.
USDA rates 90% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 69% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 8% of the land floods occasionally or more, and bedrock lies within 40 inches under 41% 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 Northern Santa Barbara Area, California, 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 C (slow infiltration, moderate runoff). The most common soil order is Mollisols — grassland soils with a thick, dark, fertile topsoil rich in organic matter. 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 Northern Santa Barbara Area, California. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedimentary rock land | 38K | Excessively drained | Not rated | Not rated | |
| Lopez gravelly clay loam, 15 to 75 percent slopes | 35K | Somewhat excessively drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Rough broken land | 30K | Somewhat excessively drained | Very limited | Very limited | |
| Arnold sand, 15 to 45 percent slopes | 29K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Corducci and Typic Xerofluvents, 0 to 5 percent slopes, occasionally flooded, MLRA 14 | 27K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Chamise shaly loam, 15 to 45 percent slopes | 26K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Santa Lucia gravelly clay loam, 45 to 75 percent slopes | 23K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Shedd silty clay loam, 30 to 75 percent slopes, severely eroded | 22K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Kettleman fine sandy loam, 30 to 75 percent slopes | 18K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Dune Land | 13K | Excessively drained | Very limited | Very limited | |
| Lopez rocky loam, 75 to 100 percent slopes | 13K | Somewhat excessively drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Shedd silty clay loam, 45 to 75 percent slopes | 12K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| San Andreas-Tierra complex, 30 to 75 percent slopes | 12K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Chamise shaly loam, 30 to 75 percent slopes, eroded | 12K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Pleasanton sandy loam, 2 to 9 percent slopes | 11K | Well drained | C | Not limited | Very limited |
| Los Osos-San Benito complex, 30 to 45 percent slopes | 11K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Marina sand, 9 to 30 percent slopes | 11K | Somewhat excessively drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Oceano sand, 2 to 15 percent slopes | 11K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Not limited | Very limited |
| Metz loamy sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes | 10K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Gaviota sandy loam, 30 to 75 percent slopes | 10K | 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 69% 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 90% 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.