Soil series profile

Nekia soil series

Nekia is a well drained soil with a silty clay loam surface, mapped on 150,029 acres in 8 counties in OR. Hydrologic group C.

#2461 by mapped area clayey Xeric Haplohumults (Ultisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 5.6
Mapped area: 150k

Typical Nekia 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 Nekia horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–9 in (H1)	Silty clay loam	5.6	35%	17%	5.5%
9–36 in (H2)	Clay	5.0	45%	26%	2.5%
36–40 in (H3)	Unweathered bedrock	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported

Representative values from the most extensive Nekia map unit (Nekia silty clay loam, 2 to 7 percent slopes, survey area OR643). 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 Nekia soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Nekia soils is moderately acidic: pH 5.6. Many vegetables grow well here, and some gardens benefit from a little lime. Test before adding any.

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 100% of mapped Nekia acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is silty clay loam (96% of mapped Nekia acres).

100% of mapped Nekia acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.

For lawns and yards

On 100% 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 100% of the acres in mapped Nekia 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.

Generated from the mapped numbers above using fixed rules, not a site visit. See how these notes are written.

Where Nekia soil is found

Mapped acres

Nekia is mapped in Oregon.

Counties with the most mapped Nekia soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Marion County, OR	66,255	13.2%
Lane County, OR	34,445	2.2%
Linn County, OR	29,835	3.5%
Polk County, OR	9,400	2.3%
Douglas County, OR	5,534	0.3%
Clackamas County, OR	3,885	0.7%
Benton County, OR	343	0.1%
Yamhill County, OR	333	0.1%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Nekia acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 100%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Nekia acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	100.0%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Nekia 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 5–40% (median 16%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 5.5%.

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

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Drainage class across mapped Nekia 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 0%

C: slow infiltration 100%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Nekia acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	0.0%
C: slow infiltration	100.0%
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 Nekia (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 150,029 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Nekia components. The profile comes from the single largest Nekia component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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