St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana
The most common soil here is Scatlake, on about 11% of the land: a mucky clay, sticky when wet and rock-hard when dry. Clovelly and Lafitte come next.
About 0% of the land drains well, and 51% stays wet for long stretches; groundwater comes within two feet of the surface under 44% of it.
USDA rates 47% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 45% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 47% of the land floods occasionally or more.
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 St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, 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 D (very slow infiltration, high 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 St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | 235K | Not rated | Not rated | ||
| Scatlake mucky clay, 0 to 0.2 percent slopes, tidal | 64K | Very poorly drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Lafitte muck, 0 to 0.2 percent slopes, very frequently flooded | 34K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Timbalier muck, 0 to 0.2 percent slopes, tidal | 34K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Clovelly muck, 0 to 0.2 percent slopes, very frequently flooded | 33K | Very poorly drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Bellpass muck, 0 to 0.2 percent slopes, very frequently flooded | 19K | Very poorly drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Aquents, dredged, frequently flooded | 18K | Very poorly drained | D | Not rated | Not rated |
| Fausse clay, saline | 10K | Very poorly drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Barbary clay | 6K | Very poorly drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Felicity loamy fine sand, 0 to 3 percent slopes, very frequently flooded | 5K | Somewhat poorly drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Schriever silty clay loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 5K | Poorly drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Cancienne silt loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 3K | Somewhat poorly drained | C | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Cancienne silty clay loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 3K | Somewhat poorly drained | C | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Schriever clay, 0 to 1 percent slopes, rarely flooded | 3K | Poorly drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Harahan clay, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 2K | Poorly drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Vacherie silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes | 1K | Somewhat poorly drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Urban land | 1K | Not rated | Not rated | ||
| Westwego clay, 0 to 0.5 percent slopes | 991 | Poorly drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Cancienne and Schriever soils, frequently flooded | 536 | Somewhat poorly drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Harahan clay, frequently flooded | 301 | Poorly 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 45% of soils have significant building limitations, while the rest are generally suitable. Check specific sites carefully — conditions vary across the area.
Septic Systems
About 47% of soils have significant septic limitations, while others are more suitable. A perc test is essential — conditions vary across the area.
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.