Brazoria County, Texas
The most common soil here is Lake Charles, on about 25% of the land: a clay, sticky when wet and rock-hard when dry. Pledger and Bernard come next.
About 8% of the land drains well, and 38% stays wet for long stretches; groundwater comes within two feet of the surface under 42% of it.
USDA rates 85% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 91% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 17% 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 Brazoria County, Texas, 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 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.
What This Means
Building & Foundations
About 91% 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 85% 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.