Palo Verde Area, California
The most common soil here is Rositas, on about 16% of the land: a fine sand, loose sand that holds almost no water. Imperial and Holtville come next.
About 96% of the land drains well; groundwater comes within two feet of the surface under 7% of it.
USDA rates 73% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 52% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 1% of the land floods occasionally or more, and bedrock lies within 40 inches under 2% 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 Palo Verde 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 Well drained and the dominant hydrologic group is C (slow infiltration, moderate runoff). The most common soil order is Entisols — young soils with little profile development, often on floodplains or steep slopes. 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 Palo Verde 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial silty clay | 17K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Carsitas-Rositas-Buzzardsprings complex, 0 to 5 percent slopes | 16K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Not limited | Not limited |
| Holtville silty clay | 14K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Rositas fine sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes | 12K | Excessively drained | A | Not limited | Very limited |
| Gilman fine sandy loam | 10K | Excessively drained | A | Not limited | Very limited |
| Meloland fine sandy loam | 8K | Well drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Carrizo gravelly sand | 6K | Excessively drained | C | Not limited | Very limited |
| Typic Haplocambids-Snaggletooth complex, 0 to 2 percent slopes | 6K | Excessively drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Cibola silty clay loam | 6K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Rositas silty clay loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes | 6K | Excessively drained | C | Not limited | Very limited |
| Glenbar silty clay loam | 6K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Gilman silty clay loam | 4K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Somewhat limited |
| Aco sandy loam | 4K | Well drained | A | Not limited | Very limited |
| Indio very fine sandy loam | 4K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Somewhat limited |
| Ripley very fine sandy loam | 4K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Somewhat limited |
| Ripley silty clay loam | 4K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Somewhat limited |
| Badland | 3K | D | Very limited | Very limited | |
| Meloland silty clay laom | 3K | Well drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Buzzardsprings-Catfishbay taxadjunct-Catfishbay complex, 0 to 4 percent slopes | 3K | Well drained | C | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Chemehuevi extremely gravelly loam-Rizzo occasionally flooded complex, 2 to 8 percent slopes | 3K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Not 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 52% of soils are rated "very limited" for dwellings with basements. Specific challenges include steep slopes, flood-prone areas. A geotechnical assessment is recommended before building.
Septic Systems
About 73% 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
Drainage is generally favorable for gardening. Adding compost and mulch will improve fertility and water retention. Test your soil's pH before planting — most vegetables prefer 6.0-7.0.