Essex County, New York
The dominant drainage class is Well drained and the dominant hydrologic group is B (moderate infiltration). 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.
| 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 |
What This Means
Building & Foundations
About 86% 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 88% 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.