Essex County, New York
The most common soil here is Tunbridge, on about 10% of the land: a fine sandy loam, gritty and crumbly. Becket and Monadnock come next.
About 76% of the land drains well, and 8% stays wet for long stretches; groundwater comes within two feet of the surface under 23% of it.
USDA rates 93% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 83% 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 55% 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 Essex County, New York, 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 B (moderate infiltration). The most common soil order is Spodosols — acidic forest soils with a distinctive leached layer, common under conifers. 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 Essex County, New York. 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 | 77K | Not rated | Not rated | ||
| Becket-Tunbridge complex, 15 to 35 percent slopes, rocky, very bouldery | 70K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Tunbridge-Lyman complex, 15 to 35 percent slopes, very rocky, very bouldery | 61K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Mundalite-Rawsonville complex, 15 to 35 percent slopes, rocky, very bouldery | 49K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Lyman-Knob Lock complex, 35 to 60 percent slopes, very rocky, very bouldery | 47K | Somewhat excessively drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Hogback-Knob Lock complex, 35 to 60 percent slopes, very rocky, very bouldery | 43K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Rawsonville-Hogback complex, 35 to 60 percent slopes, very rocky, very bouldery | 41K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Ricker-Couchsachraga-Skylight complex, 35 to 80 percent slopes, very rocky, very bouldery | 38K | Somewhat excessively drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Rawsonville-Hogback complex, 15 to 35 percent slopes, very rocky, very bouldery | 30K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Tunbridge-Lyman complex, 35 to 60 percent slopes, very rocky, very bouldery | 28K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Monadnock-Tunbridge complex, 15 to 35 percent slopes, rocky, very bouldery | 28K | Well drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Becket fine sandy loam, 15 to 35 percent slopes, very bouldery | 24K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Tunbridge-Lyman complex, 15 to 35 percent slopes, very rocky, very bouldery | 22K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Skerry-Becket complex, 3 to 15 percent slopes, very bouldery | 21K | Moderately well drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Skerry-Adirondack complex, 0 to 8 percent slopes, very bouldery | 20K | Moderately well drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Becket-Tunbridge complex, 15 to 35 percent slopes, rocky, very bouldery | 19K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Santanoni-Skylight complex, 35 to 80 percent slopes, very rocky, very bouldery | 18K | Excessively drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Mundalite-Ampersand complex, 15 to 35 percent slopes, very bouldery | 17K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Becket-Tunbridge-Skerry complex, 3 to 15 percent slopes, rocky, very bouldery | 16K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Monadnock-Tahawus complex, 3 to 15 percent slopes, very bouldery | 15K | Well drained | A | Somewhat 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 83% of soils are rated "very limited" for dwellings with basements. Specific challenges include shallow bedrock, steep slopes. A geotechnical assessment is recommended before building.
Septic Systems
About 93% 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
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.