Soil series profile
Mellenthin soil series
Mellenthin is a well drained soil with a very gravelly loam surface, mapped on 532,228 acres in 14 counties across 3 states. Hydrologic group D.
- Drainage class
- Well drained 98% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- D 98% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 8.2 moderately alkaline · range 7.9–8.4
- Mapped area
- 532k acres in 14 counties, 3 states
Typical Mellenthin profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–2 in (A) | Very gravelly loam | 7.9 | 17% | 43% | 1.5% |
| 2–8 in (Bw) | Very gravelly loam | 8.2 | 17% | 43% | 1.5% |
| 8–13 in (Bk) | Extremely gravelly sandy loam | 8.2 | 13% | 68% | 0.75% |
| 13–23 in (2R) | Bedrock | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
What this means
What Mellenthin soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Mellenthin soils is moderately alkaline: pH 8.2 (most land between 7.9 and 8.4). 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 84% of mapped Mellenthin acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is very gravelly loam (55% of mapped Mellenthin acres).
98% of mapped Mellenthin acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.
For lawns and yards
On 98% 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 97% of the acres in mapped Mellenthin soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (3% 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.
Where Mellenthin soil is found
Mapped acres
Mellenthin is mapped in Arizona, Utah and Colorado.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Mohave County, AZ | 249,378 | 2.9% |
| Coconino County, AZ | 145,450 | 1.2% |
| Navajo County, AZ | 66,812 | 1.2% |
| Wayne County, UT | 17,980 | 1.2% |
| Kane County, UT | 16,627 | 0.7% |
| Mesa County, CO | 15,792 | 1.0% |
| Garfield County, UT | 10,890 | 0.6% |
| San Juan County, UT | 4,737 | 0.1% |
| Moffat County, CO | 1,557 | 0.0% |
| Uintah County, UT | 814 | 0.0% |
| Grand County, UT | 139 | 0.0% |
| Montrose County, CO | 124 | 0.0% |
| Sevier County, UT | 44 | 0.0% |
| Emery County, UT | 2 | 0.0% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Mellenthin acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 97.4% |
| Not rated | 2.6% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Mellenthin 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 8–25% (median 13%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 1.5%.
Drainage class
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Somewhat excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Well drained | 97.8% |
| Moderately well drained | 0.0% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Very poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Not rated | 2.2% |
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) | 97.5% |
| 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 | 2.5% |
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 Mellenthin (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 532,228 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Mellenthin components. The profile comes from the single largest Mellenthin component. Full methodology.