Soil series profile
Covert soil series
Covert is a moderately well drained soil with a sand surface, mapped on 205,738 acres in 34 counties across 2 states. Hydrologic group A.
- Drainage class
- Moderately well drained 100% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- A 65% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 4.8 very strongly acidic · range 4.6–5.9
- Mapped area
- 206k acres in 34 counties, 2 states
Typical Covert profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–2 in (A) | Sand | 4.7 | 5% | 94% | 2.25% |
| 2–5 in (E) | Sand | 4.7 | 3% | 96% | 1% |
| 5–8 in (Bs1) | Sand | 4.7 | 3% | 96% | 1% |
| 8–14 in (Bs2) | Sand | 5.3 | 3% | 96% | 1% |
| 14–19 in (BC1) | Sand | 6.3 | 3% | 96% | 0.5% |
| 19–28 in (BC2) | Sand | 6.3 | 3% | 96% | 0.5% |
| 28–80 in (C) | Sand | 7.0 | 3% | 96% | 0.5% |
What this means
What Covert soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Covert soils is very strongly acidic: pH 4.8 (most land between 4.6 and 5.9). 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.
Sandy topsoil covers 99% of mapped Covert acres. It drains fast and warms early in spring, but dries out and loses nutrients quickly: mulch, compost and steady watering help. The most common surface texture is sand (93% of mapped Covert acres).
100% of mapped Covert acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.
For lawns and yards
65% of mapped acres is in hydrologic group A, where water soaks in fast. Lawns there dry out quickly; deeper, less frequent watering and organic matter help.
For a septic system
For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 99% of the acres in mapped Covert 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 Covert soil is found
Mapped acres
Covert is mapped in Michigan and New York.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Muskegon County, MI | 26,293 | 8.1% |
| Midland County, MI | 23,963 | 7.2% |
| Newaygo County, MI | 20,143 | 3.7% |
| Mason County, MI | 18,710 | 5.9% |
| Mecosta County, MI | 15,705 | 4.4% |
| Oceana County, MI | 13,984 | 4.1% |
| Ottawa County, MI | 13,718 | 3.8% |
| Gladwin County, MI | 11,323 | 3.5% |
| Manistee County, MI | 9,500 | 2.7% |
| Saginaw County, MI | 8,229 | 1.6% |
| Tuscola County, MI | 6,172 | 1.2% |
| Benzie County, MI | 5,705 | 2.8% |
| Oneida County, NY | 5,469 | 0.7% |
| Sanilac County, MI | 4,637 | 0.8% |
| St. Clair County, MI | 4,203 | 0.9% |
| Lake County, MI | 4,074 | 1.1% |
| Van Buren County, MI | 3,556 | 0.9% |
| Isabella County, MI | 3,401 | 0.9% |
| Clinton County, NY | 2,034 | 0.3% |
| Genesee County, MI | 1,935 | 0.5% |
| Kent County, MI | 1,895 | 0.3% |
| Wexford County, MI | 511 | 0.1% |
| Osceola County, MI | 284 | 0.1% |
| Huron County, MI | 88 | 0.0% |
| Bay County, MI | 46 | 0.0% |
| Ionia County, MI | 39 | 0.0% |
| Lapeer County, MI | 27 | 0.0% |
| Allegan County, MI | 26 | 0.0% |
| Oakland County, MI | 22 | 0.0% |
| Macomb County, MI | 16 | 0.0% |
| Kalkaska County, MI | 11 | 0.0% |
| Gratiot County, MI | 9 | 0.0% |
| Clare County, MI | 6 | 0.0% |
| Shiawassee County, MI | 1 | 0.0% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Covert acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 98.8% |
| Not rated | 1.2% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Covert acres
- Depth to seasonal high water table
- About 2.0 feet (24 in) (median where reported); within 18 inches on 6% of acres.
- Flooding
- Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
- Slope
- Typically 2–3% (median 2%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 2.2%.
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 | 100.0% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Very poorly drained | 0.0% |
Hydrologic soil group
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) | 65.2% |
| B: moderate infiltration | 0.7% |
| C: slow infiltration | 0.0% |
| D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) | 0.0% |
| A/D: D as is, A if drained | 32.9% |
| B/D: D as is, B if drained | 0.0% |
| C/D: D as is, C if drained | 0.0% |
| Not rated | 1.2% |
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 Covert (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 205,738 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Covert components. The profile comes from the single largest Covert component. Full methodology.