Conejos County Area, Colorado
The most common soil here is Travelers, on about 19% of the land: a very stony loam, a balanced mix that crumbles in your hand. Garita and Graypoint come next.
About 66% of the land drains well, and 25% stays wet for long stretches; groundwater comes within two feet of the surface under 20% of it.
USDA rates 77% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 61% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 6% of the land floods occasionally or more, and bedrock lies within 40 inches under 28% 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 Conejos County Area, Colorado, 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 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 Conejos County Area, Colorado. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travelers very stony loam, 3 to 25 percent slopes | 88K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Garita cobbly loam, 3 to 25 percent slopes | 58K | Well drained | B | Somewhat limited | Somewhat limited |
| Graypoint gravelly sandy loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 29K | Somewhat poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Travelers very stony loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes | 22K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Quamon-LaJara complex | 21K | Moderately well drained | A | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Seitz very stony loam, 10 to 65 percent slopes | 19K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Empedrado-Curecanti complex, 5 to 25 percent slopes | 16K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| LaJara loam | 16K | Poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Graypoint gravelly sandy loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes | 15K | Somewhat poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Bushvalley-Youga complex, 3 to 25 percent slopes | 15K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| San Arcacio sandy loam | 12K | Moderately well drained | B | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Cumbres very stony loam, 1 to 9 percent slopes | 10K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| San Arcacio sandy loam, saline | 9K | Poorly drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Mogote loam | 9K | Somewhat poorly drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Garita cobbly loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes | 9K | Well drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| McGinty sandy loam, fan, 1 to 3 percent slopes | 9K | Well drained | A | Not limited | Not limited |
| LaSauses sandy clay loam | 9K | Poorly drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Derrick very cobbly sandy loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 8K | Well drained | C | Not limited | Very limited |
| Luhon loam, 3 to 9 percent slopes | 7K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Platoro loam | 7K | 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 61% 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 77% 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.