Soil series profile
Travessilla soil series
Travessilla is a well drained soil with a sandy loam surface, mapped on 1,533,288 acres in 43 counties across 8 states. Hydrologic group D.
- Drainage class
- Well drained 98% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- D 98% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 7.8 slightly alkaline · range 7.5–7.9
- Mapped area
- 1.5M acres in 43 counties, 8 states
Typical Travessilla profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 in (H1) | Sandy loam | 7.5 | 10% | 67% | 1.5% |
| 4–8 in (H2) | Channery loam | 7.5 | 14% | 45% | 0.75% |
| 8–60 in (H3) | Bedrock | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
What this means
What Travessilla soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Travessilla soils is slightly alkaline: pH 7.8 (most land between 7.5 and 7.9). 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 96% of mapped Travessilla acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is sandy loam (57% of mapped Travessilla acres).
98% of mapped Travessilla acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.
For lawns and yards
On 98% 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 98% of the acres in mapped Travessilla soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (2% 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 Travessilla soil is found
Mapped acres
Travessilla is mapped in New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Oklahoma, Montana, Wyoming, Arizona and Kansas.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Las Animas County, CO | 277,819 | 9.1% |
| Union County, NM | 277,317 | 10.6% |
| Bent County, CO | 101,020 | 10.3% |
| Harding County, NM | 95,606 | 6.7% |
| San Juan County, NM | 85,798 | 2.4% |
| Cimarron County, OK | 80,083 | 6.9% |
| Carbon County, MT | 55,867 | 4.6% |
| Guadalupe County, NM | 45,748 | 2.4% |
| Pueblo County, CO | 41,960 | 2.8% |
| Baca County, CO | 41,770 | 2.6% |
| Carbon County, UT | 35,483 | 4.0% |
| Garfield County, UT | 33,352 | 1.7% |
| Sandoval County, NM | 29,741 | 1.5% |
| Socorro County, NM | 29,367 | 0.8% |
| Huerfano County, CO | 28,908 | 2.8% |
| Otero County, CO | 27,999 | 3.5% |
| Fremont County, CO | 24,567 | 2.6% |
| Lincoln County, NM | 23,977 | 0.9% |
| Navajo County, AZ | 21,352 | 0.4% |
| Mesa County, CO | 20,636 | 1.3% |
| Torrance County, NM | 20,511 | 1.0% |
| Wayne County, UT | 19,843 | 1.3% |
| Big Horn County, WY | 15,883 | 0.7% |
| Prowers County, CO | 14,576 | 1.4% |
| Catron County, NM | 13,305 | 0.6% |
| Washakie County, WY | 13,227 | 0.9% |
| La Plata County, CO | 6,470 | 0.6% |
| Bernalillo County, NM | 6,401 | 0.9% |
| Morgan County, CO | 5,834 | 0.7% |
| Big Horn County, MT | 5,484 | 0.1% |
| El Paso County, CO | 5,385 | 0.4% |
| Johnson County, WY | 4,888 | 0.2% |
| Valencia County, NM | 4,794 | 0.7% |
| Yellowstone County, MT | 2,976 | 0.2% |
| Coconino County, AZ | 2,920 | 0.0% |
| Treasure County, MT | 2,902 | 0.5% |
| Emery County, UT | 2,894 | 0.1% |
| Lincoln County, CO | 2,046 | 0.1% |
| Colfax County, NM | 1,670 | 0.1% |
| Santa Fe County, NM | 900 | 0.1% |
| Garfield County, CO | 598 | 0.0% |
| Kiowa County, CO | 557 | 0.0% |
| Stanton County, KS | 453 | 0.1% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Travessilla acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 98.3% |
| Not rated | 1.7% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Travessilla 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 4–48% (median 8%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 1.2%.
Drainage class
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Excessively drained | 0.1% |
| Somewhat excessively drained | 0.3% |
| Well drained | 97.9% |
| Moderately well drained | 0.0% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Very poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Not rated | 1.7% |
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) | 98.3% |
| 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 | 1.7% |
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 Travessilla (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 1,533,288 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Travessilla components. The profile comes from the single largest Travessilla component. Full methodology.