Soil series profile

Gladel soil series

Gladel is a well drained soil with a fine sandy loam surface, mapped on 104,826 acres in 11 counties across 4 states. Hydrologic group D.

#3397 by mapped area loamy Aridic Lithic Haplustepts (Inceptisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: D
Typical topsoil pH: 7.9
Mapped area: 105k

Typical Gladel 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 Gladel horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–3 in (A)	Fine sandy loam	7.8	14%	70%	1.5%
3–11 in (Bw)	Sandy loam	8.0	14%	67%	0.25%
11–18 in (Bk)	Sandy loam	8.2	14%	67%	0.75%
18–59 in (R)	Bedrock	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported

Representative values from the most extensive Gladel map unit (Gladel-Pulpit complex, 3 to 9 percent slopes, survey area CO671). 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 Gladel soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Gladel soils is moderately alkaline: pH 7.9 (most land between 7.8 and 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 66% of mapped Gladel acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is sandy loam (66% of mapped Gladel acres).

>99% of mapped Gladel acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.

For lawns and yards

On >99% 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 >99% of the acres in mapped Gladel 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 Gladel soil is found

Mapped acres

Gladel is mapped in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona.

Counties with the most mapped Gladel soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Mesa County, CO	29,544	1.9%
Montezuma County, CO	23,452	1.8%
Dolores County, CO	9,842	1.8%
San Juan County, UT	2,387	0.1%
La Plata County, CO	2,306	0.2%
Kane County, UT	1,866	0.1%
Garfield County, UT	1,828	0.1%
Grand County, UT	1,718	0.1%
San Juan County, NM	1,165	0.0%
Coconino County, AZ	187	0.0%
San Miguel County, CO	23	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Gladel acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited >99%

Not rated <1%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Gladel acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	99.7%
Not rated	0.3%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Gladel 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 6–26% (median 20%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 1.5%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 4%

Well drained 96%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

Not rated <1%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Gladel acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	3.5%
Well drained	96.3%
Moderately well drained	0.0%
Somewhat poorly drained	0.0%
Poorly drained	0.0%
Very poorly drained	0.0%
Not rated	0.2%

Hydrologic soil group

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

B: moderate infiltration 0%

C: slow infiltration 0%

D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) >99%

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 <1%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Gladel acres.
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)	99.7%
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	0.3%

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 Gladel (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 104,826 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Gladel components. The profile comes from the single largest Gladel component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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