Soil series profile

Copita soil series

Copita is a well drained soil with a fine sandy loam surface, mapped on 498,614 acres in 11 counties in TX. Hydrologic group C.

#562 by mapped area fine-loamy Aridic Calciustepts (Inceptisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 8.2
Mapped area: 499k

Typical Copita 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 Copita horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–11 in (A)	Fine sandy loam	8.2	17%	64%	0.75%
11–37 in (Bk)	Sandy clay loam	8.2	24%	60%	0.75%
37–49 in (Cr)	Bedrock	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported
49–80 in (R)	Bedrock	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported

Representative values from the most extensive Copita map unit (Copita fine sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes, survey area TX479). 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 Copita soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Copita soils is moderately alkaline: pH 8.2. Acid-loving plants such as blueberries and azaleas struggle without amended beds, and some trees and shrubs show iron chlorosis (yellow leaves with green veins).

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 90% of mapped Copita acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is fine sandy loam (69% of mapped Copita acres).

98% of mapped Copita acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.

For lawns and yards

On 90% 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 90% of the acres in mapped Copita soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (10% 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.

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

Where Copita soil is found

Mapped acres

Copita is mapped in Texas.

Counties with the most mapped Copita soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Webb County, TX	192,615	9.0%
Starr County, TX	101,617	13.0%
Maverick County, TX	100,030	12.3%
Zapata County, TX	44,159	6.7%
Jim Hogg County, TX	33,398	4.6%
Duval County, TX	7,128	0.6%
La Salle County, TX	7,036	0.7%
McMullen County, TX	4,573	0.6%
Dimmit County, TX	4,318	0.5%
Zavala County, TX	1,995	0.2%
Hidalgo County, TX	1,746	0.2%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Copita acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 90%

Not rated 10%

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

Show as a table

Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Copita acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	89.6%
Not rated	10.4%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Copita 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 2–2% (median 2%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 0.8%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 98%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

Not rated 2%

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

Show as a table

Drainage class across mapped Copita acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	98.2%
Moderately well drained	0.0%
Somewhat poorly drained	0.0%
Poorly drained	0.0%
Very poorly drained	0.0%
Not rated	1.8%

Hydrologic soil group

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

B: moderate infiltration 0%

C: slow infiltration 90%

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 0%

Not rated 10%

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

Show as a table

Hydrologic soil group across mapped Copita acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	0.0%
C: slow infiltration	89.6%
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	0.0%
Not rated	10.4%

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 Copita (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 498,614 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Copita components. The profile comes from the single largest Copita component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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