Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming
The dominant drainage class is Well drained and the dominant hydrologic group is A (high infiltration, low runoff). 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 Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming.
| Soil Map Unit | Acres | Drainage | Hydro Group | Dwellings | Septic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rubble land, Rock outcrop, and Eutrocryepts soils, 15 to 70 percent slopes | 390K | A | Not rated | Not rated | |
| Rock outcrop, Charpeak, and Cowood soils, 15 to 75 percent slopes | 180K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Storm-Basaltlake-Butchlake families, complex, 25 to 70 percent slopes | 148K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Arrowpeak, Cowood, Sigbird families, soils, 15 to 75 percent slopes | 116K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Agneston-McCall-families, Rubble land complex, 15 to 60 percent slopes | 90K | Well drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Telay-Storm-Needleton families, complex, 25 to 75 percent slopes | 86K | Well drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Jeru-Swapps-McCall families, complex, 7 to 40 percent slopes | 64K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Guffey, Ellena, Shadow families, soils, 15 to 80 percent slopes | 54K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Rock outcrop-Rubble land complex | 53K | D | Not rated | Not rated | |
| Cryaquepts, Cryaquolls, and Cryofluvents soils, 0 to 3 percent slopes, volcanic alluvium, frequently flooded | 43K | Very poorly drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Presa-Garlet-Owlcreek families, complex, 20 to 50 percent slopes | 39K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Eutrocryepts soils and Rock outcrop, 15 to 80 percent slopes | 39K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Storm-Sigbird-Cuberant families, complex, 25 to 60 percent slopes | 39K | Well drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Eutrocryepts-Humic Eutrocryepts-Rock outcrop complex, 15 to 55 percent slopes | 38K | Well drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Rock outcrop-Elting-Jeru families, complex, 15 to 60 percent slopes | 38K | D | Not rated | Not rated | |
| Rock outcrop, Rubble land, Eutrocryepts soils, 30 to 60 percent slopes | 35K | D | Not rated | Not rated | |
| Jeru-Elting families-Rock outcrop complex, 7 to 60 percent slopes | 30K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Arrowpeak-Hoodle-Redcloud families, complex, 15 to 45 percent slopes | 29K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Typic Haplocryalfs-Owlcreek-Garlet families, complex, 10 to 30 percent slopes | 27K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Storm-Cuberant-Needleton families, complex, 15 to 60 percent slopes | 25K | Well drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
What This Means
Building & Foundations
About 67% of soils are rated "very limited" for dwellings with basements. Specific challenges include shallow bedrock, steep slopes, poor drainage in some areas, flood-prone areas. A geotechnical assessment is recommended before building.
Septic Systems
About 67% 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.