Soil series profile
Bohicket soil series
Bohicket is a very poorly drained soil with a stratified silty clay loam surface, mapped on 614,438 acres in 34 counties across 6 states. Hydrologic group D.
- Drainage class
- Very poorly drained 100% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- D 81% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 7.3 neutral · range 4.7–7.3
- Mapped area
- 614k acres in 34 counties, 6 states
Typical Bohicket profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–8 in (H1) | Stratified silty clay loam | 7.3 | 45% | Not reported | 15% |
| 8–65 in (H2) | Silty clay | 7.3 | 48% | 6% | 12.5% |

What this means
What Bohicket soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Bohicket soils is neutral: pH 7.3 (most land between 4.7 and 7.3), the range most vegetables, flowers and lawn grasses prefer.
Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 61% of mapped Bohicket acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is silty clay loam (60% of mapped Bohicket acres).
100% of mapped Bohicket 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.
A seasonal high water table comes within 18 inches of the surface on 100% of mapped acres, often in spring. Basements, sump pumps and lawns in low spots feel it first.
For a septic system
For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 100% of the acres in mapped Bohicket 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.
Flooding is mapped on 100% of the acres (0% occasional, 100% frequent).
Only a licensed site evaluation or perc test at the actual lot decides whether a system is allowed and which design.
Where Bohicket soil is found
Mapped acres
Bohicket is mapped in South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Florida and Mississippi.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston County, SC | 119,990 | 20.0% |
| Beaufort County, SC | 100,272 | 27.1% |
| Camden County, GA | 62,624 | 15.1% |
| McIntosh County, GA | 61,530 | 23.3% |
| Glynn County, GA | 59,392 | 22.6% |
| Georgetown County, SC | 44,090 | 8.5% |
| Liberty County, GA | 34,923 | 10.8% |
| Bryan County, GA | 18,005 | 6.5% |
| Jasper County, SC | 16,356 | 4.0% |
| Berkeley County, SC | 13,500 | 2.0% |
| Colleton County, SC | 11,653 | 2.0% |
| Chatham County, GA | 10,990 | 4.1% |
| Brunswick County, NC | 10,635 | 2.1% |
| New Hanover County, NC | 8,109 | 7.0% |
| Onslow County, NC | 7,851 | 1.8% |
| Santa Rosa County, FL | 5,872 | 0.8% |
| Suffolk city, VA | 4,590 | 2.0% |
| New Kent County, VA | 3,520 | 3.2% |
| Isle of Wight County, VA | 3,037 | 1.7% |
| Hancock County, MS | 2,939 | 1.0% |
| King William County, VA | 2,822 | 2.0% |
| Westmoreland County, VA | 1,915 | 1.6% |
| Horry County, SC | 1,793 | 0.3% |
| James City County, VA | 1,236 | 1.7% |
| Hampton city, VA | 1,130 | 4.0% |
| Pender County, NC | 892 | 0.2% |
| York County, VA | 866 | 2.1% |
| Williamsburg city, VA | 796 | 13.2% |
| Norfolk city, VA | 721 | 2.7% |
| Newport News city, VA | 709 | 2.2% |
| Surry County, VA | 652 | 0.4% |
| Poquoson city, VA | 623 | 7.7% |
| Franklin County, FL | 270 | 0.1% |
| Portsmouth city, VA | 136 | 1.1% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Bohicket 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 Bohicket acres
- Depth to seasonal high water table
- About 0 inches (median where reported); within 18 inches on 100% of acres.
- Flooding
- Mapped as flooding on 100% of acres (0% occasional, 100% frequent).
- Slope
- Typically 1–1% (median 1%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 15%.
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 | 0.0% |
| Poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Very poorly drained | 100.0% |
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 | 0.0% |
| D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) | 80.5% |
| A/D: D as is, A if drained | 0.0% |
| B/D: D as is, B if drained | 0.0% |
| C/D: D as is, C if drained | 19.5% |
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 Bohicket (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 614,438 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Bohicket components. The profile comes from the single largest Bohicket component. Full methodology.