Soil series profile

Filer soil series

Filer is a well drained soil with a loam surface, mapped on 182,895 acres in 25 counties in MI. Hydrologic group C.

#1992 by mapped area fine-loamy Haplic Glossudalfs (Alfisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 6.1
Mapped area: 183k

Typical Filer 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 Filer horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–8 in (Ap)	Loam	6.1	15%	50%	2%
8–16 in (B/E)	Clay loam	6.4	28%	40%	0.5%
16–36 in (Bt)	Clay loam	7.0	28%	44%	0.5%
36–80 in (C)	Loam	8.1	19%	44%	0.2%

Representative values from the most extensive Filer map unit (Filer loam, 6 to 12 percent slopes, survey area MI081). 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 Filer soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Filer soils is slightly acidic: pH 6.1, the range most vegetables, flowers and lawn grasses prefer.

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 96% of mapped Filer acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is loam (82% of mapped Filer acres).

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

For lawns and yards

On 100% 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 Filer 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 Filer soil is found

Mapped acres

Filer is mapped in Michigan.

Counties with the most mapped Filer soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Kent County, MI	50,255	9.2%
Barry County, MI	31,322	8.8%
Eaton County, MI	23,528	6.4%
Clinton County, MI	16,190	4.4%
Allegan County, MI	11,404	2.2%
Isabella County, MI	10,693	2.9%
Ingham County, MI	8,549	2.4%
Montcalm County, MI	6,714	1.5%
Mason County, MI	5,704	1.8%
Newaygo County, MI	5,667	1.1%
Mecosta County, MI	4,837	1.4%
Gratiot County, MI	4,783	1.3%
Oceana County, MI	1,120	0.3%
Ionia County, MI	831	0.2%
Manistee County, MI	275	0.1%
Van Buren County, MI	272	0.1%
Ottawa County, MI	178	0.0%
Shiawassee County, MI	116	0.0%
Benzie County, MI	90	0.0%
Kalamazoo County, MI	80	0.0%
Calhoun County, MI	76	0.0%
Muskegon County, MI	74	0.0%
St. Joseph County, MI	69	0.0%
Cass County, MI	61	0.0%
Jackson County, MI	6	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Filer acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 100%

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

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

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Filer 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 4–15% (median 9%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 2%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 95%

Moderately well drained 5%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Filer acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	94.8%
Moderately well drained	5.2%
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 100%

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%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Filer acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	0.0%
C: slow infiltration	100.0%
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%

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 Filer (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 182,895 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Filer components. The profile comes from the single largest Filer component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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