Soil survey area

Crook County, Wyoming

Survey Area WY011• Wyoming
The short version

The most common soil here is Louviers, on about 5% of the land: a clay, sticky when wet and rock-hard when dry. Samsil and Lakoa come next.

About 97% of the land drains well.

USDA rates 80% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 73% 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 58% 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 ground underfoot

The soils you're most likely standing on

The biggest named soils in Crook County, Wyoming, each drawn five feet deep from its official USDA description, in its recorded colors.

Louviers
5% of the area
Clay topsoil · well drained
Sticky when wet and rock-hard when dry. Drains slowly.
Entisols
Samsil
4% of the area
Clay topsoil · well drained
Sticky when wet and rock-hard when dry. Drains slowly.
Entisols
Lakoa
3% of the area
Loam topsoil · well drained
A balanced mix that crumbles in your hand. The gardener's ideal.
Alfisols
Grummit
3% of the area
Clay topsoil · well drained
Sticky when wet and rock-hard when dry. Drains slowly.
Entisols
Fairburn
3% of the area
Clay loam topsoil · well drained
Firm and a little sticky. Holds water and nutrients well.
Entisols
Tollflat
2% of the area
Very fine sandy loam topsoil · well drained
Gritty and crumbly. Drains fast and warms early in spring.
Alfisols

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 Mollisols — grassland soils with a thick, dark, fertile topsoil rich in organic matter. 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 Crook County, Wyoming. Search your address to find the exact soil composition, drainage, and series details at your specific location.

Soil Map UnitAcresDrainageHydro GroupDwellingsSeptic
Lakoa-Crownest complex, 10 to 60 percent slopes 97K Well drainedDVery limitedVery limited
Tollflat-Hickok-Vanocker complex, 10 to 60 percent slopes 70K Well drainedBVery limitedVery limited
Louviers clay, 3 to 30 percent slopes 65K Well drainedDVery limitedVery limited
Samsil-Cromack complex, 10 to 30 percent slopes 53K Well drainedDVery limitedVery limited
Louviers-Grummit complex, 10 to 30 percent slopes 53K Well drainedDVery limitedVery limited
Fairburn-Ucross loams, 10 to 30 percent slopes 38K Well drainedDVery limitedVery limited
Winler-Razor clay loams, 2 to 10 percent slopes 34K Well drainedDVery limitedVery limited
Citadel-McCooley complex, 10 to 40 percent slopes 31K Well drainedCVery limitedVery limited
Boneek loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes 30K Well drainedCSomewhat limitedVery limited
Grummit-Querc complex, 3 to 10 percent slopes 29K Well drainedDVery limitedVery limited
Butche-Spangler complex, 10 to 30 percent slopes 28K Excessively drainedDVery limitedVery limited
Larkson, dry-Lakoa loams, 10 to 60 percent slopes 25K Well drainedCVery limitedVery limited
Bidman-Bone loams, 0 to 2 percent slopes 24K Well drainedCVery limitedSomewhat limited
Louviers-Rock outcrop complex, 3 to 30 percent slopes 23K Well drainedDVery limitedVery limited
Rock outcrop-Vanocker, dry complex, 40 to 75 percent slopes 23K Well drainedDVery limitedVery limited
Tollflat-Hickok loams, 3 to 10 percent slopes 21K Well drainedCSomewhat limitedVery limited
Tassel-Shingle complex, 10 to 30 percent slopes 20K Well drainedDVery limitedVery limited
Samsil-Gaynor complex, 2 to 10 percent slopes 20K Well drainedDVery limitedVery limited
Cromack-Echeta-Leiter complex, 6 to 10 percent slopes 19K Well drainedDVery limitedVery limited
Butche-Spangler complex, 3 to 10 percent slopes 19K Excessively drainedDVery limitedVery 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.

Mollisols
Fertile grassland soils with thick, dark topsoil. Among the best for agriculture, building, and gardening.
Entisols
Young soils with little development — found on floodplains, dunes, and steep slopes. Properties vary widely by setting.
Aridisols
Dry-climate soils with low organic matter. Often have caliche layers that make excavation difficult. Low shrink-swell is good for foundations.
Alfisols
Moderately weathered forest soils with clay-enriched subsoil. Productive for agriculture, generally good for building and septic.

What This Means

Building & Foundations

About 73% of soils are rated "very limited" for dwellings with basements. Specific challenges include shallow bedrock, steep slopes. A geotechnical assessment is recommended before building.

Septic Systems

About 80% 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

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.

Look Up a Specific Address

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