Soil series profile
Bearden soil series
Bearden is a somewhat poorly drained soil with a silty clay loam surface, mapped on 1,096,939 acres in 62 counties across 3 states. Hydrologic group C.
- Drainage class
- Somewhat poorly drained 100% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- C 90% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 7.6 slightly alkaline · range 7.6–7.9
- Mapped area
- 1.1M acres in 62 counties, 3 states
Typical Bearden profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–8 in (Ap) | Silty clay loam | 7.6 | 33% | 6% | 5% |
| 8–15 in (ABk) | Silty clay loam | 7.9 | 28% | 7% | 2% |
| 15–39 in (Bk) | Silty clay loam | 7.9 | 28% | 7% | 2% |
| 39–79 in (C) | Silty clay loam | 7.9 | 28% | 7% | 0.5% |
What this means
What Bearden soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Bearden soils is slightly alkaline: pH 7.6 (most land between 7.6 and 7.9). Acid-loving plants such as blueberries and azaleas struggle without amended beds, and some trees and shrubs show iron chlorosis (yellow leaves with green veins).
Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 99% of mapped Bearden acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is silty clay loam (77% of mapped Bearden acres).
100% of mapped Bearden acres is somewhat poorly to very poorly drained, so soil stays soggy for long spells after rain and in wet seasons. Raised beds, plants that tolerate wet feet, and not working the soil while wet all help.
For lawns and yards
On 100% of mapped acres, rain soaks in slowly (hydrologic groups C and D, including dual groups that are D until drained). Expect runoff and puddles after heavy rain: core-aerate compacted lawns and keep ground sloping away from foundations.
For a septic system
For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 100% of the acres in mapped Bearden soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited.
Where the soil is very limited (slow permeability, a high water table, flooding, shallow bedrock or steep slopes), alternative systems such as mound or sand-filter designs are common and cost more.
Only a licensed site evaluation or perc test at the actual lot decides whether a system is allowed and which design.
Where Bearden soil is found
Mapped acres
Bearden is mapped in North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota. The 60 counties with the most Bearden acres:
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Forks County, ND | 179,916 | 19.6% |
| Polk County, MN | 150,270 | 12.0% |
| Pembina County, ND | 112,951 | 15.8% |
| Walsh County, ND | 81,676 | 9.9% |
| Traill County, ND | 69,040 | 12.5% |
| Norman County, MN | 62,121 | 11.1% |
| Cass County, ND | 54,455 | 4.8% |
| Chippewa County, MN | 54,314 | 14.6% |
| Clay County, MN | 48,728 | 7.3% |
| Swift County, MN | 36,037 | 7.6% |
| Kittson County, MN | 27,286 | 3.9% |
| Towner County, ND | 23,381 | 3.5% |
| Marshall County, MN | 22,554 | 2.0% |
| Marshall County, SD | 18,360 | 3.4% |
| Traverse County, MN | 16,251 | 4.4% |
| Bottineau County, ND | 15,623 | 1.5% |
| Brown County, SD | 15,399 | 1.4% |
| Richland County, ND | 13,682 | 1.5% |
| Rolette County, ND | 9,834 | 1.7% |
| Ramsey County, ND | 9,246 | 1.2% |
| Wilkin County, MN | 7,579 | 1.6% |
| Sargent County, ND | 6,114 | 1.1% |
| Spink County, SD | 6,018 | 0.6% |
| Griggs County, ND | 5,405 | 1.2% |
| Stutsman County, ND | 4,913 | 0.3% |
| Pierce County, ND | 4,774 | 0.7% |
| Barnes County, ND | 4,580 | 0.5% |
| Benson County, ND | 4,441 | 0.5% |
| Stevens County, MN | 3,767 | 1.1% |
| Steele County, ND | 3,312 | 0.7% |
| Roberts County, SD | 2,813 | 0.4% |
| Lac qui Parle County, MN | 2,066 | 0.4% |
| Lyon County, MN | 1,942 | 0.4% |
| Dickey County, ND | 1,862 | 0.3% |
| McHenry County, ND | 1,587 | 0.1% |
| Williams County, ND | 1,575 | 0.1% |
| Edmunds County, SD | 1,458 | 0.2% |
| Roseau County, MN | 1,265 | 0.1% |
| Wells County, ND | 1,258 | 0.2% |
| McPherson County, SD | 1,233 | 0.2% |
| Ransom County, ND | 1,202 | 0.2% |
| Foster County, ND | 1,142 | 0.3% |
| McIntosh County, ND | 1,017 | 0.2% |
| Grant County, SD | 593 | 0.1% |
| Nelson County, ND | 515 | 0.1% |
| Grant County, MN | 456 | 0.1% |
| Mountrail County, ND | 452 | 0.0% |
| LaMoure County, ND | 392 | 0.1% |
| Pope County, MN | 342 | 0.1% |
| Renville County, ND | 306 | 0.1% |
| Eddy County, ND | 297 | 0.1% |
| Burleigh County, ND | 291 | 0.0% |
| Cavalier County, ND | 273 | 0.0% |
| Day County, SD | 146 | 0.0% |
| Ward County, ND | 122 | 0.0% |
| Sheridan County, ND | 95 | 0.0% |
| Divide County, ND | 65 | 0.0% |
| Burke County, ND | 59 | 0.0% |
| Faulk County, SD | 57 | 0.0% |
| McLean County, ND | 24 | 0.0% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Bearden acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 100.0% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Bearden acres
- Depth to seasonal high water table
- About 2.5 feet (30 in) (median where reported); within 18 inches on 9% of acres.
- Flooding
- Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
- Slope
- Typically 1–1% (median 1%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 5%.
Drainage class
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Somewhat excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Well drained | 0.0% |
| Moderately well drained | 0.0% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 100.0% |
| Poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Very poorly drained | 0.0% |
Hydrologic soil group
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) | 0.0% |
| B: moderate infiltration | 0.0% |
| C: slow infiltration | 90.1% |
| D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) | 1.0% |
| A/D: D as is, A if drained | 0.0% |
| B/D: D as is, B if drained | 8.4% |
| C/D: D as is, C if drained | 0.5% |
Sources & data dates
- Source
- USDA NRCS Soil Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO), queried through Soil Data Access. Public domain.
- Data date
- SSURGO as published on November 3, 2026 (most recent survey area update October 26, 2026). NRCS refreshes SSURGO each October.
- Scope
- All map unit components named Bearden (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 1,096,939 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Bearden components. The profile comes from the single largest Bearden component. Full methodology.