Soil series profile

Dodge soil series

Dodge is a well drained soil with a silt loam surface, mapped on 120,002 acres in 25 counties across 2 states. Hydrologic group C.

#2994 by mapped area fine-silty Typic Hapludalfs (Alfisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 6.8
Mapped area: 120k

Typical Dodge 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 Dodge horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–6 in (Ap)	Silt loam	6.8	15%	14%	2%
6–9 in (BE)	Silt loam	6.3	27%	9%	1%
9–29 in (Bt1)	Silty clay loam	5.8	29%	7%	0.25%
29–40 in (2Bt2)	Clay loam	7.4	30%	34%	0.5%
40–79 in (2C)	Gravelly sandy loam	7.9	16%	63%	0.25%

Representative values from the most extensive Dodge map unit (Dodge silt loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes, survey area WI025). 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 Dodge soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Dodge soils is neutral: pH 6.8 (most land between 6.2 and 6.8), the range most vegetables, flowers and lawn grasses prefer.

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 96% of mapped Dodge acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is silt loam (96% of mapped Dodge acres).

100% of mapped Dodge acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.

For lawns and yards

On 93% 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 93% of the acres in mapped Dodge soils very limited, 3% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (4% 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 Dodge soil is found

Mapped acres

Dodge is mapped in Wisconsin and Illinois.

Counties with the most mapped Dodge soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Dane County, WI	44,630	5.8%
Dodge County, WI	19,388	3.5%
Columbia County, WI	8,366	1.7%
Walworth County, WI	7,637	2.2%
Fond du Lac County, WI	6,215	1.3%
Bureau County, IL	5,473	1.0%
Marshall County, IL	4,941	2.0%
Peoria County, IL	4,283	1.1%
Jefferson County, WI	3,891	1.1%
Washington County, WI	3,487	1.3%
Calumet County, WI	3,342	1.6%
Ogle County, IL	1,932	0.4%
Green County, WI	1,897	0.5%
Green Lake County, WI	1,712	0.8%
Waukesha County, WI	1,370	0.4%
Sauk County, WI	859	0.2%
Manitowoc County, WI	254	0.1%
Winnebago County, WI	166	0.1%
Rock County, WI	90	0.0%
Racine County, WI	19	0.0%
Brown County, WI	18	0.0%
DeKalb County, IL	17	0.0%
Kane County, IL	8	0.0%
Milwaukee County, WI	6	0.0%
Kenosha County, WI	3	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Dodge acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 3%

Very limited 93%

Not rated 4%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Dodge acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	2.8%
Very limited	93.0%
Not rated	4.2%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Dodge acres

Depth to seasonal high water table: About 4.9 feet (59 in) (median where reported).
Flooding: Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
Slope: Typically 4–9% (median 4%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 2%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 100%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Dodge acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	100.0%
Moderately well drained	0.0%
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 3%

C: slow infiltration 93%

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 4%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Dodge acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	2.8%
C: slow infiltration	93.0%
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	0.0%
Not rated	4.2%

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 Dodge (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 120,002 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Dodge components. The profile comes from the single largest Dodge component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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