Soil series profile
Redding soil series
Redding is a moderately well drained soil with a gravelly loam surface, mapped on 213,763 acres in 17 counties in CA. Hydrologic group D.
- Drainage class
- Moderately well drained 66% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- D 90% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 5.6 moderately acidic · range 5.5–5.8
- Mapped area
- 214k acres in 17 counties, 1 state
Typical Redding profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–5 in (Ap) | Gravelly loam | 5.5 | 14% | 38% | 3.52% |
| 5–17 in (BA) | Gravelly loam | 5.8 | 17% | 36% | 0.93% |
| 17–22 in (2Bt) | Clay | 6.5 | 50% | 25% | 0.4% |
| 22–60 in (2Btqm) | Cemented gravelly material | 5.5 | 26% | 60% | 0.31% |
What this means
What Redding soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Redding soils is moderately acidic: pH 5.6 (most land between 5.5 and 5.8). 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 97% of mapped Redding acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is gravelly loam (76% of mapped Redding acres).
97% of mapped Redding acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.
For lawns and yards
On 97% 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 29% 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 97% of the acres in mapped Redding soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (4% 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 Redding soil is found
Mapped acres
Redding is mapped in California.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego County, CA | 52,972 | 2.3% |
| Sacramento County, CA | 38,614 | 6.3% |
| San Joaquin County, CA | 30,049 | 3.4% |
| Merced County, CA | 28,929 | 2.3% |
| Tehama County, CA | 17,296 | 0.9% |
| Yuba County, CA | 15,198 | 3.8% |
| Stanislaus County, CA | 8,855 | 0.9% |
| Placer County, CA | 6,052 | 1.1% |
| Butte County, CA | 4,290 | 0.3% |
| Madera County, CA | 4,141 | 0.4% |
| Mariposa County, CA | 3,343 | 0.4% |
| Shasta County, CA | 1,562 | 0.1% |
| Calaveras County, CA | 786 | 0.1% |
| Glenn County, CA | 680 | 0.1% |
| Fresno County, CA | 582 | 0.0% |
| Amador County, CA | 266 | 0.1% |
| Tuolumne County, CA | 69 | 0.0% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Redding acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 96.5% |
| Not rated | 3.5% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Redding acres
- Depth to seasonal high water table
- About 1.3 feet (16 in) (median where reported); within 18 inches on 29% of acres.
- Flooding
- Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
- Slope
- Typically 1–33% (median 1%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 1.2%.
Drainage class
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Somewhat excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Well drained | 30.4% |
| Moderately well drained | 66.1% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Very poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Not rated | 3.5% |
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 | 7.0% |
| D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) | 89.5% |
| 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 | 3.5% |
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 Redding (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 213,763 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Redding components. The profile comes from the single largest Redding component. Full methodology.