Brazoria County, Texas

Survey Area TX039• Texas

The dominant drainage class is Moderately well drained and the dominant hydrologic group is D (very slow infiltration, high 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 Brazoria County, Texas. 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
Lake Charles clay, 0 to 1 percent slopes	256K	Moderately well drained	D	Very limited	Very limited
Pledger clay, 0 to 1 percent slopes, rarely flooded	135K	Moderately well drained	D	Very limited	Very limited
Bernard clay loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes	66K	Somewhat poorly drained	D	Very limited	Very limited
Bernard-Edna complex, 0 to 1 percent slopes	49K	Somewhat poorly drained	D	Very limited	Very limited
Brazoria clay, 0 to 1 percent slopes, rarely flooded	42K	Moderately well drained	D	Very limited	Very limited
Surfside clay, 0 to 1 percent slopes, occasionally flooded	38K	Very poorly drained	D	Very limited	Very limited
Edna loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes	38K	Somewhat poorly drained	D	Very limited	Very limited
Asa silty clay loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes, rarely flooded	37K	Well drained	B	Very limited	Somewhat limited
Edna-Aris complex, 0 to 1 percent slopes	26K	Somewhat poorly drained	D	Very limited	Very limited
Water, fresh	24K		D	Not rated	Not rated
Bacliff clay, 0 to 1 percent slopes, rarely flooded	19K	Poorly drained	D	Very limited	Very limited
Francitas clay loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes, rarely flooded	15K	Somewhat poorly drained	D	Very limited	Very limited
Narta fine sandy loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes, rarely flooded	14K	Poorly drained	D	Very limited	Very limited
Norwood loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes, rarely flooded	13K	Well drained	B	Very limited	Very limited
Maggies very fine sandy loam, 1 to 2 meter water depth	13K	Subaqueous	D	Not rated	Not rated
Asa silt loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes, rarely flooded	12K	Well drained	B	Very limited	Somewhat limited
Harris clay, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded	12K	Very poorly drained	D	Very limited	Very limited
Grassypoint, 0 to 1 percent slopes, very frequently flooded-Amarada, 0 to 1 meter water depth complex	9K	Very poorly drained	D	Not rated	Not rated
Water, dredge channel, more than 2 meter water depth	9K		D	Not rated	Not rated
Jonesbay clay loam, 0 to 1 meter water depth	9K	Subaqueous	D	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.

Entisols

Young soils with little development — found on floodplains, dunes, and steep slopes. Properties vary widely by setting.

Vertisols

High-clay soils that shrink and swell dramatically. Fertile but challenging for foundations and septic systems.

Mollisols

Fertile grassland soils with thick, dark topsoil. Among the best for agriculture, building, and gardening.

Alfisols

Moderately weathered forest soils with clay-enriched subsoil. Productive for agriculture, generally good for building and septic.

Inceptisols

Young but developing soils found in mountains and river terraces. Variable properties — check drainage and bedrock depth.

What This Means

Building & Foundations

About 92% 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 86% 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.