Soil series profile

Heimdal soil series

Heimdal is a well drained soil with a loam surface, mapped on 555,208 acres in 29 counties across 3 states. Hydrologic group B.

#477 by mapped area coarse-loamy Calcic Hapludolls (Mollisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: B
Typical topsoil pH: 7.0
Mapped area: 555k

Typical Heimdal 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).

Show as a table

Typical Heimdal horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–8 in (Ap)	Loam	7.0	12%	45%	4%
8–14 in (Bw1)	Loam	7.0	12%	45%	2%
14–20 in (Bw2)	Loam	7.2	12%	45%	1.5%
20–36 in (Bk)	Loam	7.9	12%	45%	1%
36–79 in (C)	Loam	7.9	12%	45%	0.3%

Representative values from the most extensive Heimdal map unit (Heimdal-Emrick loams, 0 to 3 percent slopes, survey area ND103). 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 Heimdal soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Heimdal soils is neutral: pH 7.0 (most land between 6.7 and 7.3), the range most vegetables, flowers and lawn grasses prefer.

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 100% of mapped Heimdal acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is loam (>99% of mapped Heimdal acres).

100% of mapped Heimdal 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 4% of the acres in mapped Heimdal soils very limited, 96% somewhat limited and 0% not limited.

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 Heimdal soil is found

Mapped acres

Heimdal is mapped in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.

Counties with the most mapped Heimdal soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Wells County, ND	109,436	13.5%
Pierce County, ND	92,787	14.0%
Benson County, ND	70,294	7.8%
Eddy County, ND	46,115	11.4%
Roberts County, SD	44,265	6.3%
Foster County, ND	40,658	9.9%
Sheridan County, ND	37,440	6.0%
Griggs County, ND	26,598	5.9%
Grant County, SD	14,372	3.3%
Swift County, MN	12,728	2.7%
Big Stone County, MN	12,197	3.8%
Steele County, ND	10,303	2.3%
Polk County, MN	6,679	0.5%
Lac qui Parle County, MN	5,990	1.2%
Rolette County, ND	5,970	1.0%
Otter Tail County, MN	5,574	0.4%
Kandiyohi County, MN	4,634	0.9%
Mahnomen County, MN	2,410	0.7%
Cass County, ND	1,953	0.2%
Nelson County, ND	1,945	0.3%
Traill County, ND	1,451	0.3%
Ward County, ND	800	0.1%
Ramsey County, ND	297	0.0%
Sargent County, ND	156	0.0%
McHenry County, ND	97	0.0%
Cavalier County, ND	29	0.0%
Grand Forks County, ND	18	0.0%
Pembina County, ND	10	0.0%
Stutsman County, ND	3	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Heimdal acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 96%

Very limited 4%

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

Show as a table

Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Heimdal acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	96.1%
Very limited	3.9%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Heimdal 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 2–8% (median 4%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 4%.

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 Heimdal acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

Show as a table

Drainage class across mapped Heimdal 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 100%

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%

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

Show as a table

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

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 Heimdal (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 555,208 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Heimdal components. The profile comes from the single largest Heimdal component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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