Soil series profile
Esquon soil series
Esquon is a poorly drained soil with a clay surface, mapped on 50,708 acres in 3 counties in CA. Hydrologic group D.
- Drainage class
- Poorly drained 95% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- D 91% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 4.5 very strongly acidic · range 4.5–4.5
- Mapped area
- 51k acres in 3 counties, 1 state
Typical Esquon profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–5 in (Ap) | Clay | 4.5 | 47% | 20% | 2.3% |
| 5–11 in (Bssg) | Clay | 6.2 | 45% | 20% | 0.9% |
| 11–22 in (Bss1) | Clay | 7.3 | 44% | 20% | 0.5% |
| 22–35 in (Bss2) | Clay | 7.5 | 44% | 20% | 0.4% |
| 35–46 in (Bkss1) | Clay | 7.7 | 41% | 19% | 0.3% |
| 46–50 in (Bkss2) | Silty clay | 7.7 | 42% | 14% | 0.2% |
| 50–56 in (Bk) | Silty clay | 7.7 | 25% | 12% | 0.2% |
| 56–67 in (2Bkqm) | Cemented material | 8.1 | 18% | 41% | 0.1% |
What this means
What Esquon soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Esquon soils is very strongly acidic: pH 4.5. 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.
Clayey topsoil covers 90% of mapped Esquon acres. Clay holds water and nutrients but drains slowly and compacts if worked wet: add compost, avoid tilling soggy soil and consider raised beds. The most common surface texture is clay (90% of mapped Esquon acres).
95% of mapped Esquon 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 95% 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 95% of the acres in mapped Esquon soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (5% 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.
Flooding is mapped on 95% of the acres (0% occasional, 4% frequent).
Only a licensed site evaluation or perc test at the actual lot decides whether a system is allowed and which design.
Where Esquon soil is found
Mapped acres
Esquon is mapped in California.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Butte County, CA | 50,409 | 3.7% |
| Sutter County, CA | 299 | 0.1% |
| Plumas County, CA | 0 | 0.0% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Esquon acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 94.7% |
| Not rated | 5.3% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Esquon acres
- Depth to seasonal high water table
- About 2.5 feet (30 in) (median where reported); within 18 inches on 4% of acres.
- Flooding
- Mapped as flooding on 95% of acres (0% occasional, 4% frequent).
- Slope
- Typically 0–0% (median 0%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 2.3%.
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 | 94.7% |
| Very poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Not rated | 5.3% |
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) | 90.9% |
| 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 | 3.8% |
| Not rated | 5.3% |
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 Esquon (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 50,708 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Esquon components. The profile comes from the single largest Esquon component. Full methodology.