Soil series profile
Lupton soil series
Lupton is a very poorly drained soil with a muck surface, mapped on 1,403,756 acres in 77 counties across 5 states. Hydrologic group A/D.
- Drainage class
- Very poorly drained >99% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- A/D 85% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 6.5 slightly acidic · range 6.5–6.5
- Mapped area
- 1.4M acres in 77 counties, 5 states
Typical Lupton profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–16 in (Oa1) | Muck | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | 65% |
| 16–79 in (Oa2) | Muck | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | 65% |

What this means
What Lupton soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Lupton soils is slightly acidic: pH 6.5, the range most vegetables, flowers and lawn grasses prefer.
Organic muck or peat is the most common topsoil (>99% of mapped Lupton acres). It is rich and holds water, but is often wet, can be acidic, and settles when drained. The most common surface texture is muck (>99% of mapped Lupton acres).
>99% of mapped Lupton 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 >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.
A seasonal high water table comes within 18 inches of the surface on >99% of mapped acres, often in spring. Basements, sump pumps and lawns in low spots feel it first.
For a septic system
For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates >99% of the acres in mapped Lupton 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.
Where Lupton soil is found
Mapped acres
Lupton is mapped in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Massachusetts and Vermont. The 60 counties with the most Lupton acres:
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Itasca County, MN | 79,731 | 4.7% |
| Menominee County, MI | 73,294 | 11.2% |
| Aitkin County, MN | 70,936 | 6.1% |
| Forest County, WI | 54,800 | 8.5% |
| Delta County, MI | 50,882 | 6.8% |
| Marquette County, MI | 47,537 | 3.8% |
| Lake of the Woods County, MN | 42,169 | 5.1% |
| Price County, WI | 41,062 | 5.1% |
| Mackinac County, MI | 40,072 | 6.1% |
| Schoolcraft County, MI | 39,648 | 5.3% |
| Dickinson County, MI | 34,823 | 6.3% |
| Beltrami County, MN | 34,343 | 2.1% |
| Ashland County, WI | 33,754 | 5.1% |
| Chippewa County, MI | 32,372 | 3.2% |
| Marinette County, WI | 31,791 | 3.5% |
| Taylor County, WI | 29,742 | 4.8% |
| Luce County, MI | 29,249 | 5.1% |
| Oneida County, WI | 28,537 | 4.0% |
| Iron County, WI | 28,483 | 5.9% |
| Sawyer County, WI | 27,835 | 3.5% |
| Iron County, MI | 26,966 | 3.6% |
| Lincoln County, WI | 25,893 | 4.6% |
| Gogebic County, MI | 25,452 | 3.6% |
| Alger County, MI | 20,824 | 3.6% |
| Alcona County, MI | 20,330 | 4.7% |
| Rusk County, WI | 20,325 | 3.5% |
| Shawano County, WI | 19,814 | 3.5% |
| Clare County, MI | 19,497 | 5.4% |
| Langlade County, WI | 19,180 | 3.4% |
| Presque Isle County, MI | 18,188 | 4.4% |
| Missaukee County, MI | 17,553 | 4.9% |
| Alpena County, MI | 17,540 | 4.8% |
| Ogemaw County, MI | 17,466 | 4.9% |
| Roseau County, MN | 16,572 | 1.5% |
| Florence County, WI | 16,421 | 5.3% |
| Chippewa County, WI | 15,671 | 2.4% |
| Cheboygan County, MI | 15,495 | 3.4% |
| Oconto County, WI | 14,847 | 2.3% |
| Roscommon County, MI | 14,670 | 4.4% |
| Hubbard County, MN | 14,071 | 2.4% |
| Montmorency County, MI | 13,811 | 3.9% |
| Clearwater County, MN | 13,793 | 2.2% |
| Keweenaw County, MI | 13,204 | 3.7% |
| Mecosta County, MI | 12,897 | 3.6% |
| Menominee County, WI | 9,150 | 4.0% |
| Bayfield County, WI | 9,047 | 0.9% |
| Houghton County, MI | 8,318 | 1.3% |
| Otsego County, MI | 8,002 | 2.4% |
| Leelanau County, MI | 7,073 | 3.3% |
| Cass County, MN | 6,680 | 0.5% |
| Osceola County, MI | 6,218 | 1.7% |
| Iosco County, MI | 6,107 | 1.8% |
| Washburn County, WI | 5,954 | 1.2% |
| Kalkaska County, MI | 5,517 | 1.5% |
| Ontonagon County, MI | 5,464 | 0.7% |
| Charlevoix County, MI | 5,446 | 2.0% |
| Antrim County, MI | 5,046 | 1.7% |
| Grand Traverse County, MI | 4,514 | 1.5% |
| Douglas County, WI | 4,010 | 0.5% |
| Crawford County, MI | 3,897 | 1.1% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Lupton acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 99.3% |
| Not rated | 0.7% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Lupton acres
- Depth to seasonal high water table
- About 0 inches (median where reported); within 18 inches on >99% of acres.
- Flooding
- Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
- Slope
- Typically 0–0% (median 0%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 79.6%.
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 | 0.0% |
| Very poorly drained | 99.3% |
| Not rated | 0.7% |
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) | 0.0% |
| A/D: D as is, A if drained | 84.6% |
| B/D: D as is, B if drained | 14.7% |
| C/D: D as is, C if drained | 0.0% |
| Not rated | 0.7% |
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 Lupton (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 1,403,756 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Lupton components. The profile comes from the single largest Lupton component. Full methodology.