Itasca County, Minnesota
The most common soil here is Warba, on about 7% of the land: a very fine sandy loam, gritty and crumbly. Nashwauk and Greenwood come next.
About 34% of the land drains well, and 44% stays wet for long stretches; groundwater comes within two feet of the surface under 44% of it.
USDA rates 82% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 59% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 3% 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 Itasca County, Minnesota, 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 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 Itasca 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 | 173K | Not rated | Not rated | ||
| Mooselake and Lupton soils, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 163K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Eagleview and Menahga soils, 1 to 8 percent slopes | 124K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Not limited | Very limited |
| Nashwauk fine sandy loam, 1 to 10 percent slopes | 118K | Moderately well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Greenwood-Greenwood, ponded, complex, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 114K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Warba very fine sandy loam, 1 to 8 percent slopes | 111K | Well drained | C | Not limited | Very limited |
| Cutaway loamy sand, 0 to 8 percent slopes | 66K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Itasca-Goodland silt loams, 2 to 12 percent slopes | 54K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Effie-Ashlake-Effie, frequently ponded, complex, 0 to 2 percent slopes | 44K | Poorly drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Zimmerman loamy fine sand, 1 to 8 percent slopes | 36K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Not limited | Very limited |
| Seelyeville-Bowstring association | 35K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Cathro muck, occasionally ponded, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 35K | Very poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Nebish loam, 1 to 8 percent slopes | 34K | Well drained | C | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Keewatin silt loam | 34K | Somewhat poorly drained | D | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Ashlake-Effie complex, 0 to 4 percent slopes | 32K | Somewhat poorly drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Warba very fine sandy loam, 8 to 30 percent slopes | 28K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Seelyeville-Seelyeville, ponded, complex, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 27K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Itasca silt loam, 1 to 10 percent slopes | 25K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Itasca-Goodland silt loams, 12 to 25 percent slopes | 23K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Suomi silt loam, 1 to 8 percent slopes | 23K | Moderately well 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 59% of soils are rated "very limited" for dwellings with basements. Specific challenges include steep slopes, poor drainage in some areas, flood-prone areas. A geotechnical assessment is recommended before building.
Septic Systems
About 82% 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.