Soil series profile

Chesuncook soil series

Chesuncook is a moderately well drained soil with a silt loam surface, mapped on 603,636 acres in 11 counties across 2 states. Hydrologic group C/D.

#428 by mapped area coarse-loamy Aquic Haplorthods (Spodosols)

Drainage class: Moderately well drained
Hydrologic group: C/D
Typical topsoil pH: 4.2
Mapped area: 604k

Typical Chesuncook 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 Chesuncook horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–2 in (Oa)	Highly decomposed plant material	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	53%
2–4 in (E)	Silt loam	4.2	10%	35%	2.8%
4–20 in (Bs)	Gravelly silt loam	5.1	12%	36%	5.5%
20–24 in (BC)	Gravelly loam	5.3	14%	38%	1%
24–65 in (Cd)	Gravelly loam	5.8	14%	39%	0.25%

Representative values from the most extensive Chesuncook map unit (Telos-Chesuncook-Ragmuff association, 3 to 15 percent slopes, very stony, survey area ME621). 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 Chesuncook soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Chesuncook soils is extremely acidic: pH 4.2 (most land between 4.2 and 4.3). 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 100% of mapped Chesuncook acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is silt loam (100% of mapped Chesuncook acres).

100% of mapped Chesuncook 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 100% of the acres in mapped Chesuncook 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 Chesuncook soil is found

Mapped acres

Chesuncook is mapped in Maine and New Hampshire.

Counties with the most mapped Chesuncook soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Aroostook County, ME	170,548	4.0%
Piscataquis County, ME	138,830	5.6%
Somerset County, ME	112,378	4.4%
Penobscot County, ME	78,177	3.7%
Washington County, ME	42,644	2.7%
Franklin County, ME	32,014	2.9%
Oxford County, ME	26,463	2.1%
Waldo County, ME	1,735	0.4%
Kennebec County, ME	289	0.1%
Coos County, NH	284	0.0%
Hancock County, ME	275	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Chesuncook acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 100%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Chesuncook acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	100.0%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Chesuncook acres

Depth to seasonal high water table: About 1.7 feet (20 in) (median where reported).
Flooding: Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
Slope: Typically 6–20% (median 8%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 2.8%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 0%

Moderately well drained 100%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Chesuncook acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	0.0%
Moderately well drained	100.0%
Somewhat poorly drained	0.0%
Poorly drained	0.0%
Very poorly drained	0.0%

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) 0%

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 >99%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Chesuncook 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)	0.0%
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	99.9%

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 Chesuncook (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 603,636 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Chesuncook components. The profile comes from the single largest Chesuncook component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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