Soil series profile

Boyle soil series

Boyle is a well drained soil with a very gravelly sandy loam surface, mapped on 331,478 acres in 8 counties across 2 states. Hydrologic group D.

#995 by mapped area loamy-skeletal Aridic Argiborolls (Mollisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: D
Typical topsoil pH: 6.7
Mapped area: 331k

Typical Boyle profile

Texture and pH by depth

Depth to scale. More strongly shaded layers hold more clay. Horizon names are the soil survey's (A = topsoil, B = subsoil, C = parent material).

Show as a table

Typical Boyle horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–3 in (A)	Very gravelly sandy loam	6.7	15%	66%	3%
3–17 in (Bt)	Extremely gravelly sandy clay loam	6.7	25%	57%	1.5%
17–21 in (Cr)	Weathered bedrock	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported

Representative values from the most extensive Boyle map unit (Boyle very gravelly sandy loam, 10 to 40 percent slopes, survey area CO637). Other map units of this series vary within the series range.

Stock photo for illustration, not a sample of this soil series. Credit on the Sources & method page.

What this means

What Boyle soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Boyle soils is neutral: pH 6.7 (most land between 6.7 and 7.0), the range most vegetables, flowers and lawn grasses prefer.

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 98% of mapped Boyle acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is gravelly sandy loam (54% of mapped Boyle acres).

>99% of mapped Boyle acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.

For lawns and yards

On >99% 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 >99% of the acres in mapped Boyle 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.

Generated from the mapped numbers above using fixed rules, not a site visit. See how these notes are written.

Where Boyle soil is found

Mapped acres

Boyle is mapped in Wyoming and Colorado.

Counties with the most mapped Boyle soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Larimer County, CO	78,237	4.6%
Albany County, WY	73,571	3.2%
Fremont County, CO	72,029	7.6%
Laramie County, WY	44,639	2.6%
Converse County, WY	41,582	1.7%
Platte County, WY	11,237	0.9%
Custer County, CO	9,990	2.1%
Lincoln County, WY	194	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Boyle acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited >99%

Not rated <1%

Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Boyle acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

Show as a table

Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Boyle acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	99.8%
Not rated	0.2%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Boyle acres

Depth to seasonal high water table: None reported within about 6.5 feet (median where reported).
Flooding: Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
Slope: Typically 6–33% (median 15%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 3%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained >99%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

Not rated <1%

Drainage class across mapped Boyle acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

Show as a table

Drainage class across mapped Boyle acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	99.8%
Moderately well drained	0.0%
Somewhat poorly drained	0.0%
Poorly drained	0.0%
Very poorly drained	0.0%
Not rated	0.2%

Hydrologic soil group

A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) 0%

B: moderate infiltration 0%

C: slow infiltration 0%

D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) >99%

A/D: D as is, A if drained 0%

B/D: D as is, B if drained 0%

C/D: D as is, C if drained 0%

Not rated <1%

Hydrologic soil group across mapped Boyle acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

Show as a table

Hydrologic soil group across mapped Boyle acres.
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)	99.8%
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	0.0%
Not rated	0.2%

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 Boyle (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 331,478 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Boyle components. The profile comes from the single largest Boyle component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

Full narrative description: USDA Official Soil Series Description for Boyle.