Valencia County, New Mexico, Eastern Part
The most common soil here is Madurez, on about 17% of the land: a fine sand, loose sand that holds almost no water. Bluepoint and Wink come next.
About 93% of the land drains well.
USDA rates 43% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 25% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 1% of the land floods occasionally or more, and bedrock lies within 40 inches under 8% of it.
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 Valencia County, New Mexico, Eastern Part, 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 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 Valencia County, New Mexico, Eastern Part. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wink-Madurez association, gently sloping | 50K | Well drained | A | Not limited | Not limited |
| Tres Hermanos-Madurez association, gently sloping | 41K | Well drained | C | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Madurez-Wink association, undulating | 36K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Caliza-Bluepoint complex, 1 to 25 percent slopes | 35K | Well drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Madurez loamy fine sand | 32K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Bluepoint loamy fine sand, 1 to 9 percent slopes | 26K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Not limited | Very limited |
| Bluepoint loamy fine sand, hummocky | 22K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Not limited | Very limited |
| Sedillo very gravelly loam, 3 to 9 percent slopes | 15K | Well drained | C | Somewhat limited | Somewhat limited |
| Badland | 15K | Very limited | Very limited | ||
| Latene loam | 13K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Wink fine sandy loam | 12K | Well drained | A | Not limited | Not limited |
| Madurez loamy fine sand | 11K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Nickel-Latene associatin, rolling | 11K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Wink loamy sand | 11K | Well drained | A | Not limited | Not limited |
| Agustin-Adelino association, gently sloping | 11K | Well drained | A | Not limited | Not limited |
| Madurez-Bluepoint association, hummocky | 10K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Not limited |
| Gila loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes mlra 42-1 | 9K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Adelino-Tome association, gently sloping | 8K | Well drained | B | Somewhat limited | Somewhat limited |
| Bluepoint loamy sand, hilly | 8K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Not limited | Very limited |
| Tome-Adelino association, slightly saline and alkali | 8K | Well drained | C | 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 25% of soils have significant building limitations, while the rest are generally suitable. Check specific sites carefully — conditions vary across the area.
Septic Systems
About 43% of soils have significant septic limitations, while others are more suitable. A perc test is essential — conditions vary across the area.
Gardening & Agriculture
Well-drained soils on sloped terrain — good for most plants but watch for erosion. Terracing, contour planting, and mulching help retain moisture and topsoil. Drip irrigation is more effective than sprinklers on slopes.