Soil series profile

Haven soil series

Haven is a well drained soil with a loam surface, mapped on 135,370 acres in 24 counties across 5 states. Hydrologic group B.

#2718 by mapped area coarse-loamy over sandy or sandy-skeletal Typic Dystrudepts (Inceptisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: B
Typical topsoil pH: 5.3
Mapped area: 135k

Typical Haven 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 Haven horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–2 in (Oa)	Highly decomposed plant material	5.0	10%	60%	60%
2–5 in (H1)	Loam	5.3	12%	45%	4%
5–19 in (H2)	Loam	5.3	12%	45%	1%
19–28 in (BC)	Gravelly loam	5.3	12%	45%	0.5%
28–60 in (C)	Stratified gravelly sand	5.3	2%	97%	0.25%

Representative values from the most extensive Haven map unit (Haven loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes, survey area NY103). 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 Haven soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Haven soils is strongly acidic: pH 5.3. 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.

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 98% of mapped Haven acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is loam (68% of mapped Haven acres).

98% of mapped Haven acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.

For lawns and yards

Most land is in hydrologic groups B and C, where rain soaks in at a moderate pace.

For a septic system

For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 98% of the acres in mapped Haven soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (2% 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 Haven soil is found

Mapped acres

Haven is mapped in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Counties with the most mapped Haven soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Suffolk County, NY	85,845	14.8%
Crawford County, PA	10,116	1.6%
New London County, CT	7,420	1.7%
Middlesex County, MA	5,570	1.1%
Dutchess County, NY	5,412	1.1%
Fairfield County, CT	3,155	0.8%
Litchfield County, CT	3,008	0.5%
Sullivan County, NH	2,792	0.8%
Dukes County, MA	2,213	3.3%
New Haven County, CT	1,627	0.4%
Rensselaer County, NY	1,505	0.4%
Hartford County, CT	1,412	0.3%
Ulster County, NY	1,265	0.2%
Cheshire County, NH	1,207	0.3%
Hampshire County, MA	1,171	0.3%
Rockland County, NY	513	0.5%
Norfolk County, MA	351	0.3%
Suffolk County, MA	351	0.3%
Plymouth County, MA	188	0.0%
Middlesex County, CT	117	0.0%
Tolland County, CT	100	0.0%
Erie County, PA	20	0.0%
Warren County, PA	12	0.0%
Forest County, PA	3	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Haven acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 98%

Not rated 2%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Haven acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	98.4%
Not rated	1.6%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Haven 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 1–6% (median 2%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 4%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 98%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

Not rated 2%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Haven acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	98.4%
Moderately well drained	0.0%
Somewhat poorly drained	0.0%
Poorly drained	0.0%
Very poorly drained	0.0%
Not rated	1.6%

Hydrologic soil group

A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) 4%

B: moderate infiltration 94%

C: slow infiltration 0%

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 2%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Haven acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	4.1%
B: moderate infiltration	94.3%
C: slow infiltration	0.0%
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	1.6%

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 Haven (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 135,370 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Haven components. The profile comes from the single largest Haven component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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