Soil series profile

Stetattle soil series

Stetattle is a well drained soil with a very stony medial fine sandy loam surface, mapped on 38,811 acres in 4 counties in WA. Hydrologic group A.

#7077 by mapped area medial-skeletal Pachic Fulvicryands (Andisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: A
Typical topsoil pH: 4.4
Mapped area: 39k

Typical Stetattle 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 Stetattle horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–5 in (A1)	Very stony medial fine sandy loam	4.4	5%	56%	17%
5–12 in (A2)	Extremely stony medial sandy loam	4.8	3%	66%	10%
12–22 in (A3)	Extremely stony medial sandy loam	4.6	3%	64%	8%
22–39 in (Bw)	Extremely stony medial sandy loam	4.7	2%	70%	5%
39–60 in (2C)	Cobbles	5.7	1%	80%	0.5%

Representative values from the most extensive Stetattle map unit (Stetattle-Doubtful-Arriva complex, 15 to 100 percent slopes, survey area WA774). 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 Stetattle soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Stetattle soils is extremely acidic: pH 4.4. Most vegetables and lawn grasses do best around 6.0 to 7.0, so lime is often needed; blueberries, azaleas and rhododendrons like it as it is.

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 100% of mapped Stetattle acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is very stony medial fine sandy loam (100% of mapped Stetattle acres).

100% of mapped Stetattle acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.

For lawns and yards

100% of mapped acres is in hydrologic group A, where water soaks in fast. Lawns there dry out quickly; deeper, less frequent watering and organic matter help.

For a septic system

For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates 100% of the acres in mapped Stetattle 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 Stetattle soil is found

Mapped acres

Stetattle is mapped in Washington.

Counties with the most mapped Stetattle soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Whatcom County, WA	23,058	2.2%
Chelan County, WA	7,950	0.4%
Skagit County, WA	7,737	1.0%
Okanogan County, WA	65	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Stetattle acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 100%

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

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

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Stetattle 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 35–65% (median 65%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 17%.

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

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Drainage class across mapped Stetattle 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) 100%

B: moderate infiltration 0%

C: slow infiltration 0%

D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) 0%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Stetattle acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	100.0%
B: moderate infiltration	0.0%
C: slow infiltration	0.0%
D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet)	0.0%
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 Stetattle (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 38,811 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Stetattle components. The profile comes from the single largest Stetattle component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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