Wadena County, Minnesota
The most common soil here is Markey, on about 8% of the land: a sand, loose sand that holds almost no water. Seelyeville and Friendship come next.
About 30% of the land drains well, and 41% stays wet for long stretches; groundwater comes within two feet of the surface under 61% of it.
USDA rates 98% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 69% 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 Wadena 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 Moderately well drained and the dominant hydrologic group is A (high infiltration, low 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 Wadena 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friendship-Meehan loamy sands | 41K | Moderately well drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Markey muck, occasionally ponded, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 29K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Blowers soils, 1 to 6 percent slopes | 27K | Moderately well drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Eagleview and Menahga soils, 1 to 8 percent slopes | 27K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Not limited | Very limited |
| Roscommon loamy sand | 26K | Poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Seelyeville-Seelyeville, ponded, complex, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 25K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Verndale sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes | 20K | Somewhat excessively drained | B | Not limited | Very limited |
| Nymore loamy sand, 1 to 6 percent slopes | 18K | Excessively drained | A | Not limited | Very limited |
| Paddock-Becida, stony, complex, 0 to 3 percent slopes | 14K | Somewhat poorly drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Leafriver muck | 12K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Huntersville loamy fine sand, 1 to 6 percent slopes | 7K | Moderately well drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Menahga loamy sand, 1 to 8 percent slopes | 7K | Excessively drained | A | Not limited | Very limited |
| Oylen sandy loam | 7K | Moderately well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Friendship loamy sand, till substratum, 1 to 6 percent slopes | 7K | Moderately well drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Duelm loamy sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes | 6K | Moderately well drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Menahga loamy sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes | 5K | Excessively drained | A | Not limited | Very limited |
| Cathro muck, occasionally ponded, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 5K | Very poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Evart-Isan complex, channeled | 5K | Poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Forada and Leafriver soils, frequently ponded, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 4K | Very poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Water | 4K | Not rated | Not rated |
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 69% of soils are rated "very limited" for dwellings with basements. Specific challenges include poor drainage in some areas, flood-prone areas. A geotechnical assessment is recommended before building.
Septic Systems
About 98% of soils are rated "very limited" for septic absorption fields. Despite good drainage overall, limitations may stem from shallow bedrock, steep slopes, or seasonal conditions. Engineered or alternative systems are frequently required. Always get a professional perc test before purchasing land that needs septic.
Gardening & Agriculture
Drainage is generally favorable for gardening. Adding compost and mulch will improve fertility and water retention. Test your soil's pH before planting — most vegetables prefer 6.0-7.0.