Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida
The most common soil here is Biscayne, on about 22% of the land. Hallandale and Cooper Town come next.
About 0% of the land drains well, and all stays wet for long stretches; groundwater comes within two feet of the surface under all of it.
USDA rates all of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and all very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: all of the land floods occasionally or more, and bedrock lies within 40 inches under 96% 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 Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida, 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 Very poorly drained and the dominant hydrologic group is A/D (varies with drainage). 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 Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biscayne-Rock outcrop complex, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded | 303K | Very poorly drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Rattlesnake Ridge-Shark Valley-Hallandale complex, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded | 118K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Hallandale-Lostmans fine sands, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded | 106K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Cooper town muck, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded | 84K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Boca sand, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded | 25K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Cooper Town-Perrine-Rattlesnake Ridge complex, 0 to 2 percent slopes, occasionally flooded | 20K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Crandon Beach-Okaloacoochee-Chickee mucks, tidal, 0 to 1 percent slopes, very frequently flooded | 18K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Hallandale-Boca fine sands, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded | 17K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Perrine marly silt loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded | 9K | Poorly drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Big Cypress sand, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded | 5K | Very poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Okaloacoochee-Chickee mucks, tidal, 0 to 1 percent slopes, very frequently flooded | 5K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Rattlesnake Ridge, 0 to 2 percent slopes, frequently flooded | 4K | Poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Lostmans sand, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded | 4K | Very poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Tarpans fine sandy loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded | 3K | Very poorly drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Romar Ranch-Big Cypress-Goddens Strand complex, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded | 2K | Very poorly drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Boca-Big Cypress-Tarpans complex, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded | 1K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Ravenwood-Boca-Urban land complex, 0 to 2 percent slopes, occasionally flooded | 1K | Very poorly drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Shark Valley muck, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded | 1K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Water-Isohyperthermic Anthroportic Udorthents complex, 0 to 35 percent slopes | 1K | Not rated | Not rated | ||
| Goddens Strand muck, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded | 475 | Very poorly drained | C/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 100% of soils are rated "very limited" for dwellings with basements. Specific challenges include shallow bedrock, poor drainage in some areas, flood-prone areas. A geotechnical assessment is recommended before building.
Septic Systems
About 100% of soils are rated "very limited" for septic absorption fields. Poorly drained soils can't absorb septic effluent effectively. Engineered or alternative systems are frequently required. Always get a professional perc test before purchasing land that needs septic.
Gardening & Agriculture
Many soils hold water for extended periods. Raised beds are highly recommended to improve drainage for vegetables. Well-adapted native plants and water-loving species will do best in natural conditions.