Soil series profile
Cathro soil series
Cathro is a very poorly drained soil with a muck surface, mapped on 1,895,517 acres in 128 counties across 4 states. Hydrologic group B/D.
- Drainage class
- Very poorly drained 99% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- B/D 70% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- Not reported
- Mapped area
- 1.9M acres in 128 counties, 4 states
Typical Cathro profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–36 in (Oa) | Muck | Not reported | 5% | 5% | 65% |
| 36–40 in (A) | Mucky silt loam | 5.5 | 25% | 20% | 14.5% |
| 40–80 in (Cg) | Loam | 8.0 | 25% | 39% | 0% |
What this means
What Cathro soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Organic muck or peat is the most common topsoil (99% of mapped Cathro acres). It is rich and holds water, but is often wet, can be acidic, and settles when drained. The most common surface texture is muck (98% of mapped Cathro acres).
99% of mapped Cathro 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 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.
A seasonal high water table comes within 18 inches of the surface on 99% 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 99% of the acres in mapped Cathro soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (1% not rated, such as urban land, pits or water).
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 Cathro soil is found
Mapped acres
Cathro is mapped in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and New York. The 60 counties with the most Cathro acres:
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Aitkin County, MN | 121,611 | 10.4% |
| Koochiching County, MN | 119,504 | 5.7% |
| Beltrami County, MN | 96,841 | 6.0% |
| Lake of the Woods County, MN | 81,214 | 9.8% |
| St. Louis County, MN | 58,109 | 1.4% |
| Menominee County, MI | 57,448 | 8.8% |
| Dickinson County, MI | 55,666 | 10.1% |
| Clearwater County, MN | 55,055 | 8.6% |
| Price County, WI | 46,049 | 5.8% |
| Forest County, WI | 44,950 | 6.9% |
| Taylor County, WI | 44,464 | 7.2% |
| Otter Tail County, MN | 39,256 | 3.1% |
| Itasca County, MN | 37,149 | 2.2% |
| Morrison County, MN | 36,712 | 5.1% |
| Pine County, MN | 34,905 | 3.8% |
| Ashland County, WI | 34,531 | 5.2% |
| Mille Lacs County, MN | 34,039 | 9.3% |
| Gogebic County, MI | 33,627 | 4.8% |
| Iron County, WI | 30,326 | 6.3% |
| Rusk County, WI | 29,743 | 5.1% |
| Marathon County, WI | 28,990 | 2.9% |
| Marinette County, WI | 28,504 | 3.2% |
| Sawyer County, WI | 27,364 | 3.4% |
| Roseau County, MN | 26,961 | 2.5% |
| Becker County, MN | 26,692 | 3.2% |
| Iron County, MI | 26,291 | 3.5% |
| Delta County, MI | 24,760 | 3.3% |
| Kanabec County, MN | 24,614 | 7.4% |
| Shawano County, WI | 24,431 | 4.3% |
| Mackinac County, MI | 23,276 | 3.6% |
| Douglas County, WI | 22,476 | 2.7% |
| Marshall County, MN | 21,687 | 1.9% |
| Cass County, MN | 21,371 | 1.7% |
| Lincoln County, WI | 20,911 | 3.7% |
| Marquette County, MI | 20,725 | 1.6% |
| Presque Isle County, MI | 20,244 | 4.8% |
| Bayfield County, WI | 19,815 | 2.0% |
| Stearns County, MN | 18,038 | 2.1% |
| Waupaca County, WI | 17,979 | 3.8% |
| Langlade County, WI | 16,027 | 2.9% |
| Douglas County, MN | 15,509 | 3.8% |
| Polk County, MN | 15,238 | 1.2% |
| Oconto County, WI | 14,113 | 2.2% |
| Florence County, WI | 13,595 | 4.4% |
| Keweenaw County, MI | 13,279 | 3.7% |
| Schoolcraft County, MI | 12,460 | 1.7% |
| Kittson County, MN | 12,434 | 1.8% |
| Todd County, MN | 12,406 | 2.1% |
| Mahnomen County, MN | 11,745 | 3.3% |
| Alpena County, MI | 11,566 | 3.2% |
| Benton County, MN | 9,854 | 3.8% |
| Outagamie County, WI | 8,443 | 2.1% |
| Menominee County, WI | 8,257 | 3.6% |
| Houghton County, MI | 8,175 | 1.3% |
| Ontonagon County, MI | 8,077 | 1.0% |
| Washburn County, WI | 8,024 | 1.6% |
| Portage County, WI | 8,016 | 1.6% |
| Alger County, MI | 7,703 | 1.3% |
| Pope County, MN | 7,637 | 1.8% |
| Isanti County, MN | 7,113 | 2.5% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Cathro acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 98.6% |
| Not rated | 1.4% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Cathro acres
- Depth to seasonal high water table
- About 0 inches (median where reported); within 18 inches on 99% of acres.
- Flooding
- Mapped as flooding on 3% of acres (0% occasional, 3% frequent).
- Slope
- Typically 0–1% (median 0%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 65%.
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 | 99.0% |
| Not rated | 1.0% |
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) | 0.0% |
| A/D: D as is, A if drained | 24.5% |
| B/D: D as is, B if drained | 69.9% |
| C/D: D as is, C if drained | 4.2% |
| Not rated | 1.4% |
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 Cathro (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 1,895,517 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Cathro components. The profile comes from the single largest Cathro component. Full methodology.