United States
The most common soil here is Valentine, on about under 1% of the land: a fine sand, loose sand that holds almost no water. Cecil and E45-Arctic dwarf scrub-gravelly frozen circles come next.
About 66% of the land drains well, and 17% stays wet for long stretches; groundwater comes within two feet of the surface under 23% of it.
USDA rates 0% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 0% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 12% of the land floods occasionally or more, and bedrock lies within 40 inches under 25% 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 United States, 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 Very poorly drained and the dominant hydrologic group is D (very slow infiltration, high runoff). The most common soil order is Ultisols — strongly weathered soils with clay-enriched subsoils, common in warm humid climates. 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 United States. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Archipelago-Gulf of Alaska Coast-Maritime Water, Saline | 26.9M | ||||
| Aleutian Islands-Western Alaska Peninsula-Maritime Water, Saline | 25.1M | ||||
| Water (s8369) | 24.1M | ||||
| Southern Alaska Peninsula Mountains-Maritime Water, Saline | 20.9M | ||||
| Arctic Foothills-Arctic Upland-Hills and Plains | 18.9M | Moderately well drained | C | ||
| Interior Alaska Highlands-Boreal Alpine and Upland-Rounded Mountains, Acid | 13.6M | Well drained | B | ||
| Southern Alaska Coastal Mountains-Maritime Alpine-Barren Mountains | 10.7M | ||||
| Arctic Coastal Plain-Arctic Lowland-Coastal Plains, High | 9.9M | Very poorly drained | D | ||
| Interior Alaska Mountains-Boreal Alpine-Barren Mountains | 9.7M | ||||
| Alexander Archipelago-Gulf of Alaska Coast-Maritime Upland and Subalpine-Rounded Mountains | 9.2M | Very poorly drained | C | ||
| Northern Bering Sea Islands-Maritime Water, Saline | 7.8M | ||||
| Yukon-Kuskokwim Coastal Plain-Maritime Lowland-Coastal Plains, Mid-Level | 7.4M | Very poorly drained | D | ||
| Arctic Coastal Plain-Water, Saline | 7.1M | ||||
| Interior Alaska Highlands-Boreal Upland-Hills and Plains | 7.0M | Poorly drained | D | ||
| Yukon-Kuskokwim Coastal Plain-Maritime Water, Saline | 6.3M | ||||
| Yukon Flats-Boreal Upland-Plains and Hills | 5.9M | Poorly drained | D | ||
| Yukon-Kuskokwim Highlands-Boreal Upland-Loess Hills | 5.9M | Poorly drained | D | ||
| Arctic Foothills-Arctic Upland-Loess Plains and Hills | 5.9M | Very poorly drained | C/D | ||
| Yukon-Kuskokwim Highlands-Boreal Upland and Alpine-Rounded Mountains | 5.8M | Well drained | B | ||
| Webster-Nicollet-Clarion-Canisteo (s1750) | 5.4M | Poorly drained | B/D |
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
Most soils are generally favorable for residential construction. Standard foundations are usually viable, though site-specific evaluation is always recommended.
Septic Systems
Most soils are reasonably suitable for conventional septic systems, though site-specific conditions always matter. Get a perc test to confirm.
Gardening & Agriculture
Many soils hold water for extended periods. Raised beds are highly recommended to improve drainage for vegetables. Well-adapted native plants and water-loving species will do best in natural conditions.