Soil series profile
Rentsac soil series
Rentsac is a well drained soil with a channery loam surface, mapped on 815,254 acres in 39 counties across 4 states. Hydrologic group D.
- Drainage class
- Well drained 96% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- D 95% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 7.5 slightly alkaline · range 7.5–8.0
- Mapped area
- 815k acres in 39 counties, 4 states
Typical Rentsac profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–5 in (H1) | Channery loam | 7.5 | 13% | 46% | 1.25% |
| 5–16 in (H2) | Very channery loam | 7.9 | 13% | 46% | 0.75% |
| 16–20 in (H3) | Unweathered bedrock | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
What this means
What Rentsac soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Rentsac soils is slightly alkaline: pH 7.5 (most land between 7.5 and 8.0). 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 98% of mapped Rentsac acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is channery loam (66% of mapped Rentsac acres).
>99% of mapped Rentsac acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.
For lawns and yards
On 95% 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 >99% of the acres in mapped Rentsac 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.
Where Rentsac soil is found
Mapped acres
Rentsac is mapped in Colorado, Montana, Wyoming and Utah.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Rio Blanco County, CO | 374,089 | 18.0% |
| Stillwater County, MT | 60,893 | 5.4% |
| Carbon County, WY | 56,931 | 1.2% |
| Sweet Grass County, MT | 38,810 | 3.1% |
| Golden Valley County, MT | 35,560 | 4.8% |
| Carbon County, MT | 35,012 | 2.9% |
| Madison County, MT | 34,793 | 1.5% |
| Moffat County, CO | 30,426 | 0.9% |
| Eagle County, CO | 24,536 | 5.0% |
| Fergus County, MT | 10,659 | 0.4% |
| Wheatland County, MT | 10,620 | 1.3% |
| Fremont County, CO | 8,742 | 0.9% |
| Glacier County, MT | 7,219 | 0.5% |
| Fremont County, WY | 6,125 | 0.2% |
| Musselshell County, MT | 6,098 | 0.5% |
| Cascade County, MT | 5,381 | 0.4% |
| Gallatin County, MT | 5,306 | 0.3% |
| Big Horn County, WY | 5,075 | 0.2% |
| Teton County, MT | 4,831 | 0.4% |
| Uinta County, WY | 4,338 | 0.3% |
| Yellowstone County, MT | 3,348 | 0.2% |
| Platte County, WY | 3,345 | 0.3% |
| Lincoln County, WY | 3,009 | 0.1% |
| Daggett County, UT | 2,718 | 1.3% |
| Sweetwater County, WY | 2,713 | 0.0% |
| Park County, MT | 2,464 | 0.1% |
| Big Horn County, MT | 2,427 | 0.1% |
| Pitkin County, CO | 1,833 | 1.3% |
| Carter County, MT | 1,728 | 0.1% |
| Meagher County, MT | 1,521 | 0.1% |
| Garfield County, CO | 1,220 | 0.1% |
| Mesa County, CO | 1,062 | 0.1% |
| Park County, WY | 1,048 | 0.1% |
| Hot Springs County, WY | 905 | 0.1% |
| Beaverhead County, MT | 886 | 0.0% |
| Pondera County, MT | 688 | 0.1% |
| Summit County, UT | 98 | 0.0% |
| Missoula County, MT | 49 | 0.0% |
| Treasure County, MT | 0 | 0.0% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Rentsac acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 99.5% |
| Not rated | 0.5% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Rentsac 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 9–40% (median 28%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 1.2%.
Drainage class
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Somewhat excessively drained | 3.7% |
| Well drained | 95.8% |
| Moderately well drained | 0.0% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Very poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Not rated | 0.5% |
Hydrologic soil group
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) | 0.0% |
| B: moderate infiltration | 4.2% |
| C: slow infiltration | 0.0% |
| D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) | 95.2% |
| 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 | 0.5% |
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 Rentsac (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 815,254 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Rentsac components. The profile comes from the single largest Rentsac component. Full methodology.