Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota
The dominant drainage class is Very poorly drained and the dominant hydrologic group is A/D (varies with drainage). 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 Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota.
| Soil Map Unit | Acres | Drainage | Hydro Group | Dwellings | Septic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | 309K | Not rated | Not rated | ||
| Rifle-Rifle, ponded, complex, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 87K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Bullwinkle-Cathro mucks | 57K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Cathro muck, occasionally ponded, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 54K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Markey muck, occasionally ponded, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 50K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Lupton-Lupton, ponded, complex, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 42K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Grygla loamy fine sand | 37K | Poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Tawas muck | 37K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Chilgren fine sandy loam | 36K | Poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Cormant loamy fine sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes | 36K | Poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Leafriver muck | 30K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Redby loamy fine sand, 0 to 3 percent slopes | 30K | Somewhat poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Greenwood-Greenwood, ponded, complex, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 26K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Haug muck | 20K | Very poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Tacoosh muck | 19K | Very poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Hiwood loamy fine sand, 0 to 6 percent slopes | 18K | Moderately well drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Northwood muck | 17K | Very poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Seelyeville-Seelyeville, ponded, complex, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 16K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Indus-Indus, frequently ponded-Alango complex, 0 to 2 percent slopes | 13K | Poorly drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Effie-Ashlake-Effie, frequently ponded, complex, 0 to 2 percent slopes | 11K | Poorly drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
What This Means
Building & Foundations
About 67% 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 67% 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.