Riverton Area, Wyoming
The most common soil here is Apron, on about 12% of the land: a fine sandy loam, gritty and crumbly. Lostwells and Persayo come next.
About 80% of the land drains well, and 10% stays wet for long stretches; groundwater comes within two feet of the surface under 3% of it.
USDA rates 52% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 26% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 3% of the land floods occasionally or more, and bedrock lies within 40 inches under 28% 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 Riverton Area, Wyoming, 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 A (high infiltration, low 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 Riverton Area, Wyoming. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | 32K | Not rated | Not rated | ||
| Lostwells sandy clay loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes | 25K | Well drained | B | Somewhat limited | Somewhat limited |
| Apron sandy loam, 3 to 6 percent slopes | 23K | Well drained | A | Not limited | Not limited |
| Persayo-Oceanet association, steep | 19K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Trook-Apron association, 0 to 6 percent slopes | 19K | Well drained | A | Not limited | Not limited |
| Persayo sandy clay loam, 0 to 30 percent slopes | 17K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Tipperary loamy sand, 0 to 6 percent slopes | 16K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Not limited | Very limited |
| Apron sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes | 11K | Well drained | A | Not limited | Not limited |
| Meeteetse soils, 0 to 6 percent slopes | 10K | Well drained | D | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Griffy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes | 10K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Not limited |
| Fivemile silty clay loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes | 9K | Well drained | C | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Clifterson-Rock land association, steep | 9K | Well drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Trook-Clifterson association, moderately steep | 8K | Well drained | A | Somewhat limited | Somewhat limited |
| Saline wet land | 8K | Poorly drained | Very limited | Very limited | |
| Lostwells sandy clay loam, saline, 0 to 6 percent slopes | 8K | Somewhat poorly drained | B | Somewhat limited | Somewhat limited |
| Worland-Oceanet complex, 0 to 10 percent slopes | 7K | Well drained | B | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Ethete loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes | 6K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Birdsley clay loam, 0 to 10 percent slopes | 6K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Lostwells sandy clay loam, 3 to 6 percent slopes | 6K | Well drained | B | Somewhat limited | Somewhat limited |
| Effington sandy clay loam | 5K | Well drained | C | 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 26% of soils have significant building limitations, while the rest are generally suitable. Check specific sites carefully — conditions vary across the area.
Septic Systems
About 52% 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.