Soil series profile

Maverick soil series

Maverick is a well drained soil with a clay surface, mapped on 496,212 acres in 12 counties in TX. Hydrologic group D.

#570 by mapped area fine Ustollic Camborthids (Aridisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: D
Typical topsoil pH: 8.2
Mapped area: 496k

Typical Maverick 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 Maverick horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–6 in (H1)	Clay	8.2	43%	28%	0.75%
6–15 in (H2)	Clay	7.9	45%	26%	0.75%
15–25 in (H3)	Clay	7.9	45%	26%	0.75%
25–60 in (H4)	Clay	7.9	50%	22%	0.75%

Representative values from the most extensive Maverick map unit (Maverick-Catarina complex, gently rolling, survey area TX479). 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 Maverick soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Maverick soils is moderately alkaline: pH 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).

Clayey topsoil covers 74% of mapped Maverick acres. Clay holds water and nutrients but drains slowly and compacts if worked wet: add compost, avoid tilling soggy soil and consider raised beds. The most common surface texture is clay (71% of mapped Maverick acres).

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

For lawns and yards

On 94% 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 94% of the acres in mapped Maverick soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (6% 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 Maverick soil is found

Mapped acres

Maverick is mapped in Texas.

Counties with the most mapped Maverick soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Webb County, TX	189,930	8.9%
Dimmit County, TX	85,670	10.3%
La Salle County, TX	80,109	8.3%
Zapata County, TX	64,564	9.8%
Maverick County, TX	34,682	4.2%
Zavala County, TX	23,815	2.9%
McMullen County, TX	9,382	1.3%
Starr County, TX	4,594	0.6%
Duval County, TX	2,752	0.2%
Atascosa County, TX	367	0.0%
Medina County, TX	294	0.0%
Live Oak County, TX	52	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Maverick acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 94%

Not rated 6%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Maverick acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	94.3%
Not rated	5.7%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Maverick 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 3–5% (median 3%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 0.8%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained >99%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

Not rated <1%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Maverick acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	99.9%
Moderately well drained	0.0%
Somewhat poorly drained	0.0%
Poorly drained	0.0%
Very poorly drained	0.0%
Not rated	0.1%

Hydrologic soil group

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

B: moderate infiltration 0%

C: slow infiltration 2%

D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) 92%

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 6%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Maverick acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	0.0%
C: slow infiltration	2.2%
D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet)	92.1%
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	5.7%

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 Maverick (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 496,212 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Maverick components. The profile comes from the single largest Maverick component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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