Beltrami County, Minnesota

Survey Area MN007• Minnesota

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 Alfisols — moderately leached forest soils with a clay-enriched subsoil. 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 Beltrami County, Minnesota. 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	353K			Not rated	Not rated
Bullwinkle muck	109K	Very poorly drained	A/D	Very limited	Very limited
Rifle-Rifle, ponded, complex, 0 to 1 percent slopes	67K	Very poorly drained	A/D	Very limited	Very limited
Cathro muck, occasionally ponded, 0 to 1 percent slopes	62K	Very poorly drained	A/D	Very limited	Very limited
Eagleview and Menahga soils, 1 to 8 percent slopes	61K	Somewhat excessively drained	A	Not limited	Very limited
Markey muck, occasionally ponded, 0 to 1 percent slopes	51K	Very poorly drained	A/D	Very limited	Very limited
Shooker loam	50K	Poorly drained	C/D	Very limited	Very limited
Warba-Stuntz association, nearly level and undulating	48K	Well drained	C	Somewhat limited	Very limited
Greenwood-Greenwood, ponded, complex, 0 to 1 percent slopes	47K	Very poorly drained	A/D	Very limited	Very limited
Tawas muck	37K	Very poorly drained	A/D	Very limited	Very limited
Seelyeville-Seelyeville, ponded, complex, 0 to 1 percent slopes	36K	Very poorly drained	A/D	Very limited	Very limited
Greenwood-Lobo complex, 0 to 1 percent slopes	36K	Very poorly drained	A/D	Very limited	Very limited
Lupton-Lupton, ponded, complex, 0 to 1 percent slopes	34K	Very poorly drained	A/D	Very limited	Very limited
Cormant loamy fine sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes	32K	Poorly drained	A/D	Very limited	Very limited
Beltrami loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes	25K	Somewhat poorly drained	C/D	Very limited	Very limited
Bullwinkle-Cathro complex	24K	Very poorly drained	B/D	Very limited	Very limited
Redby loamy fine sand, 0 to 3 percent slopes	24K	Somewhat poorly drained	A/D	Very limited	Very limited
Grygla loamy fine sand	23K	Poorly drained	B/D	Very limited	Very limited
Kratka fine sandy loam, loamy till substratum, 0 to 1 percent slopes	23K	Poorly drained	B/D	Very limited	Very limited
Mooselake mucky peat	22K	Very poorly drained	A/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.

Alfisols

Moderately weathered forest soils with clay-enriched subsoil. Productive for agriculture, generally good for building and septic.

Entisols

Young soils with little development — found on floodplains, dunes, and steep slopes. Properties vary widely by setting.

Inceptisols

Young but developing soils found in mountains and river terraces. Variable properties — check drainage and bedrock depth.

Histosols

Organic peat and muck soils formed in wetlands. Very poor for building (compressible) and septic. Often in regulated wetlands.

Mollisols

Fertile grassland soils with thick, dark topsoil. Among the best for agriculture, building, and gardening.

What This Means

Building & Foundations

About 60% of soils are rated "very limited" for dwellings with basements. Specific challenges include poor drainage in some areas. A geotechnical assessment is recommended before building.

Septic Systems

About 69% 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.