Soil series profile

Redfeather soil series

Redfeather is a well drained soil with a sandy loam surface, mapped on 83,022 acres in 4 counties across 2 states. Hydrologic group D.

#4080 by mapped area loamy-skeletal Lithic Cryoboralfs (Alfisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: D
Typical topsoil pH: 5.8
Mapped area: 83k

Typical Redfeather 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 Redfeather horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–8 in (H1)	Sandy loam	5.8	15%	66%	0.75%
8–12 in (H2)	Very gravelly sandy loam	6.2	15%	66%	0.25%
12–17 in (H3)	Very gravelly sandy clay loam	6.2	20%	61%	0.25%
17–21 in (H4)	Unweathered bedrock	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported

Representative values from the most extensive Redfeather map unit (Redfeather sandy loam, 5 to 50 percent slopes, survey area CO644). 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 Redfeather soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Redfeather soils is moderately acidic: pH 5.8 (most land between 5.8 and 6.3). 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 99% of mapped Redfeather acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is sandy loam (80% of mapped Redfeather acres).

100% of mapped Redfeather 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 Redfeather 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 Redfeather soil is found

Mapped acres

Redfeather is mapped in Colorado and Wyoming.

Counties with the most mapped Redfeather soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Larimer County, CO	66,083	3.9%
Custer County, CO	12,832	2.7%
Albany County, WY	4,085	0.2%
Converse County, WY	22	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Redfeather acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 100%

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

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

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Redfeather 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 20–28% (median 28%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 0.8%.

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

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Drainage class across mapped Redfeather 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 2%

D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) 99%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Redfeather acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	0.0%
C: slow infiltration	1.5%
D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet)	98.5%
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%

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 Redfeather (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 83,022 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Redfeather components. The profile comes from the single largest Redfeather component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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