San Juan County, Utah, Navajo Indian Reservation
The most common soil here is Lithic Torriorthents, on about 10% of the land. Aneth and Sheppard come next.
About 71% of the land drains well.
USDA rates 43% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 38% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 2% of the land floods occasionally or more, and bedrock lies within 40 inches under 49% 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 San Juan County, Utah, Navajo Indian Reservation, 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 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 San Juan County, Utah, Navajo Indian Reservation. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock outcrop, sandstone-Lithic Torriorthents, association, steep | 203K | D | Not rated | Not rated | |
| Lithic Torriorthents-Typic Torriorthents-Rock outcrop association, steep | 122K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Aneth loamy fine sand, 1 to 8 percent slopes | 71K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Not limited | Not limited |
| Badland | 58K | Not rated | Not rated | ||
| Rock outcrop-Moenkopie association, steep | 51K | D | Not rated | Not rated | |
| Sheppard fine sand, hummocky | 44K | Excessively drained | A | Not limited | Very limited |
| Hoskinnini-Rock outcrop complex, 2 to 8 percent slopes | 42K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Deleco-Monue association, sloping | 40K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Monue-Sheppard complex, 1 to 12 percent slopes | 40K | Well drained | A | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Nakai very fine sandy loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes | 38K | Well drained | A | Not limited | Not limited |
| Rock outcrop | 37K | D | Not rated | Not rated | |
| Mota loamy fine sand, 1 to 8 percent slopes | 33K | Well drained | A | Not limited | Not limited |
| Aneth-Sheppard association, rolling | 33K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Very limited | Somewhat limited |
| Mota-Moenkopie-Rock outcrop association, sloping | 32K | Well drained | D | Not rated | Not rated |
| Badland-Typic Torrifluvents association, steep | 31K | Not rated | Not rated | ||
| Whit very fine sandy loam, 1 to 8 percent slopes | 28K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Moenkopie sandy loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes | 28K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Deleco-Nakai-Rock outcrop association, sloping | 24K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Ustollic Haplargids-Ustic Torriorthents-Rock outcrop association steep | 24K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Sheppard fine sand, rolling | 21K | Excessively drained | A | Not 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 38% of soils have significant building limitations, while the rest are generally suitable. Check specific sites carefully — conditions vary across the area.
Septic Systems
About 43% of soils have significant septic limitations, while others are more suitable. A perc test is essential — conditions vary across the area.
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.