Washington County Area, Utah
The most common soil here is Cave, on about 7% of the land: a gravelly sandy loam, gritty and crumbly. Bond and Motoqua come next.
About 56% of the land drains well.
USDA rates 50% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 44% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 1% of the land floods occasionally or more, and bedrock lies within 40 inches under 32% 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 Washington County Area, Utah, 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 Aridisols — dry-climate soils with limited organic matter and often calcium carbonate accumulation. 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 Washington County Area, Utah. 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 | 137K | D | Not rated | Not rated | |
| Rock land | 66K | Not rated | Not rated | ||
| Cave very gravelly sandy loam, low rainfall, 2 to 7 percent slopes | 64K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Stony colluvial land | 53K | Not rated | Not rated | ||
| Badland, very steep | 46K | Not rated | Not rated | ||
| Badland | 44K | Not rated | Not rated | ||
| Quazo-Motoqua very gravelly sandy loams, 30 to 70 percent slopes | 40K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Bond sandy loam, 1 to 10 percent slopes | 36K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Welring-Tortugas very gravelly loams, 20 to 70 percent slopes | 31K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Mathis-Rock outcrop complex, 20 to 50 percent slopes | 29K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Rock land, stony | 29K | Not rated | Not rated | ||
| Dagflat-Motoqua complex, 30 to 70 percent slopes | 24K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Magotsu-Pastura complex, 2 to 20 percent slopes | 23K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Cave very gravelly sandy loam, 7 to 30 percent slopes | 22K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Eroded land-Shalet complex | 20K | Not rated | Not rated | ||
| Pintura loamy fine sand, hummocky, 1 to 10 percent slopes | 20K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Not limited | Very limited |
| Rough broken land | 19K | Not rated | Not rated | ||
| Eroded land-Shalet complex, warm | 14K | Not rated | Not rated | ||
| Naplene silt loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes | 12K | Well drained | C | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Winkel gravelly fine sandy loam, 1 to 8 percent slopes | 11K | Well drained | D | Very 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 44% of soils have significant building limitations, while the rest are generally suitable. Check specific sites carefully — conditions vary across the area.
Septic Systems
About 50% 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.