Soil series profile
Persayo soil series
Persayo is a well drained soil with a clay loam surface, mapped on 876,021 acres in 21 counties across 5 states. Hydrologic group D.
- Drainage class
- Well drained >99% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- D 98% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 8.5 strongly alkaline · range 7.9–8.5
- Mapped area
- 876k acres in 21 counties, 5 states
Typical Persayo profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–1 in (A) | Clay loam | 8.5 | 31% | 35% | 0.75% |
| 1–13 in (C) | Clay loam | 8.2 | 30% | 23% | 0.25% |
| 13–23 in (Cr) | Unweathered bedrock | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
What this means
What Persayo soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Persayo soils is strongly alkaline: pH 8.5 (most land between 7.9 and 8.5). 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 99% of mapped Persayo acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is clay loam (31% of mapped Persayo acres).
>99% of mapped Persayo acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.
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.
For a septic system
For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 96% of the acres in mapped Persayo soils very limited, <1% somewhat limited and 2% not limited (1% 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 Persayo soil is found
Mapped acres
Persayo is mapped in Wyoming, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Arizona.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| San Juan County, NM | 177,241 | 4.9% |
| Washakie County, WY | 130,433 | 9.1% |
| Big Horn County, WY | 112,604 | 4.8% |
| Fremont County, WY | 99,748 | 2.9% |
| Emery County, UT | 69,432 | 2.7% |
| Mesa County, CO | 50,047 | 3.2% |
| Sandoval County, NM | 37,225 | 1.9% |
| Coconino County, AZ | 27,847 | 0.2% |
| Carbon County, UT | 26,495 | 3.0% |
| Montrose County, CO | 22,778 | 3.8% |
| Montezuma County, CO | 21,267 | 1.6% |
| Delta County, CO | 17,499 | 3.3% |
| Natrona County, WY | 8,617 | 0.3% |
| Navajo County, AZ | 8,215 | 0.1% |
| Park County, WY | 7,565 | 0.5% |
| Grand County, UT | 1,341 | 0.1% |
| Duchesne County, UT | 1,222 | 0.2% |
| Moffat County, CO | 1,159 | 0.0% |
| Sevier County, UT | 415 | 0.1% |
| Garfield County, CO | 342 | 0.0% |
| Ouray County, CO | 17 | 0.0% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Persayo acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 2.2% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.9% |
| Very limited | 95.5% |
| Not rated | 1.4% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Persayo 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 6–28% (median 15%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 0.8%.
Drainage class
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Somewhat excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Well drained | 99.6% |
| Moderately well drained | 0.0% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Very poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Not rated | 0.4% |
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 | 0.8% |
| D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) | 97.8% |
| 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 | 1.4% |
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 Persayo (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 876,021 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Persayo components. The profile comes from the single largest Persayo component. Full methodology.