Soil series profile

Brinklow soil series

Brinklow is a well drained soil with a channery loam surface, mapped on 145,833 acres in 14 counties across 5 states. Hydrologic group C.

#2519 by mapped area fine-loamy Inceptic Hapludults (Ultisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 5.2
Mapped area: 146k

Typical Brinklow 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).

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Typical Brinklow horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–10 in (Ap)	Channery loam	5.2	19%	45%	2%
10–19 in (Bt)	Channery silt loam	5.0	24%	24%	0.38%
19–25 in (BC)	Channery loam	5.0	27%	38%	0.38%
25–35 in (Cr)	Weathered bedrock	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
35–45 in (R)	Bedrock	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported

Representative values from the most extensive Brinklow map unit (Brinklow channery loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes, survey area MD013). 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 Brinklow soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Brinklow soils is strongly acidic: pH 5.2 (most land between 5.2 and 5.3). Most vegetables and lawn grasses do best around 6.0 to 7.0, so lime is often needed; blueberries, azaleas and rhododendrons like it as it is.

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers >99% of mapped Brinklow acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is channery loam (77% of mapped Brinklow acres).

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

For lawns and yards

On 94% 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 Brinklow 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 Brinklow soil is found

Mapped acres

Brinklow is mapped in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania and District of Columbia.

Counties with the most mapped Brinklow soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Carroll County, MD	64,793	22.6%
Montgomery County, MD	27,097	8.5%
Baltimore County, MD	25,435	6.8%
Frederick County, MD	11,216	2.7%
Fauquier County, VA	4,491	1.2%
Howard County, MD	3,834	2.4%
New Castle County, DE	3,257	1.3%
Cecil County, MD	2,701	1.3%
Harford County, MD	1,559	0.6%
York County, PA	874	0.2%
Prince George's County, MD	210	0.1%
Adams County, PA	183	0.1%
Delaware County, PA	165	0.1%
District of Columbia, DC	19	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Brinklow acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited >99%

Not rated <1%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Brinklow 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 Brinklow 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 6–30% (median 12%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 2%.

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 Brinklow acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Drainage class across mapped Brinklow 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 6%

C: slow infiltration 94%

D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) <1%

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 Brinklow acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Brinklow acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	5.9%
C: slow infiltration	93.7%
D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet)	0.1%
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 Brinklow (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 145,833 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Brinklow components. The profile comes from the single largest Brinklow component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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