Soil series profile
Shingle soil series
Shingle is a well drained soil with a clay loam surface, mapped on 1,285,617 acres in 41 counties across 6 states. Hydrologic group D.
- Drainage class
- Well drained >99% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- D >99% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 7.9 moderately alkaline · range 7.6–8.2
- Mapped area
- 1.3M acres in 41 counties, 6 states
Typical Shingle profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 in (A) | Clay loam | 8.2 | 31% | 35% | 1.5% |
| 4–13 in (C) | Clay loam | 8.2 | 31% | 35% | 0.25% |
| 13–79 in (Cr) | Bedrock | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
What this means
What Shingle soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Shingle soils is moderately alkaline: pH 7.9 (most land between 7.6 and 8.2). 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 Shingle acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is loam (58% of mapped Shingle acres).
>99% of mapped Shingle 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 >99% of the acres in mapped Shingle 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 Shingle soil is found
Mapped acres
Shingle is mapped in Wyoming, Colorado, South Dakota, New Mexico, Nebraska and Montana.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Johnson County, WY | 240,987 | 9.3% |
| Converse County, WY | 229,946 | 9.2% |
| Sheridan County, WY | 169,053 | 10.5% |
| Weston County, WY | 112,984 | 7.4% |
| Campbell County, WY | 97,133 | 3.2% |
| Niobrara County, WY | 88,548 | 5.2% |
| Natrona County, WY | 74,299 | 2.2% |
| Las Animas County, CO | 49,305 | 1.6% |
| Washakie County, WY | 49,247 | 3.4% |
| Weld County, CO | 27,785 | 1.1% |
| Park County, WY | 21,979 | 1.4% |
| Otero County, CO | 18,542 | 2.3% |
| Pennington County, SD | 16,588 | 0.9% |
| Fall River County, SD | 12,961 | 1.2% |
| Crook County, WY | 8,954 | 0.5% |
| Logan County, CO | 8,595 | 0.7% |
| Goshen County, WY | 8,095 | 0.6% |
| Fremont County, CO | 6,857 | 0.7% |
| Hot Springs County, WY | 6,226 | 0.6% |
| Bernalillo County, NM | 6,197 | 0.8% |
| Adams County, CO | 5,051 | 0.7% |
| Lincoln County, CO | 3,650 | 0.2% |
| Pueblo County, CO | 3,590 | 0.2% |
| Meade County, SD | 3,133 | 0.1% |
| Boulder County, CO | 2,424 | 0.5% |
| Morgan County, CO | 2,213 | 0.3% |
| Kiowa County, CO | 2,072 | 0.2% |
| Big Horn County, WY | 1,703 | 0.1% |
| Bent County, CO | 1,444 | 0.1% |
| Platte County, WY | 1,222 | 0.1% |
| Huerfano County, CO | 1,211 | 0.1% |
| Broomfield County, CO | 1,029 | 3.6% |
| Crowley County, CO | 833 | 0.2% |
| Haakon County, SD | 597 | 0.1% |
| Denver County, CO | 347 | 0.3% |
| El Paso County, CO | 301 | 0.0% |
| Scotts Bluff County, NE | 172 | 0.0% |
| Sandoval County, NM | 163 | 0.0% |
| Powder River County, MT | 64 | 0.0% |
| Valencia County, NM | 38 | 0.0% |
| Arapahoe County, CO | 10 | 0.0% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Shingle acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 99.7% |
| Not rated | 0.3% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Shingle 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 9–30% (median 20%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 1.5%.
Drainage class
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Somewhat excessively drained | 0.4% |
| Well drained | 99.3% |
| Moderately well drained | 0.0% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Very poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Not rated | 0.3% |
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 | 0.0% |
| D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) | 99.7% |
| 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 | 0.3% |
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 Shingle (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 1,285,617 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Shingle components. The profile comes from the single largest Shingle component. Full methodology.