Soil series profile

Vanzandt soil series

Vanzandt is a moderately well drained soil with a very gravelly medial loam surface, mapped on 47,801 acres in 5 counties in WA. Hydrologic group C.

#6140 by mapped area medial-skeletal Aquic Vitrixerands (Andisols)

Drainage class: Moderately well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 5.8
Mapped area: 48k

Typical Vanzandt 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 Vanzandt horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–6 in (H1)	Very gravelly medial loam	5.8	10%	45%	6%
6–25 in (H2)	Very gravelly medial loam	6.1	10%	45%	2%
25–36 in (H3)	Very gravelly medial sandy loam	6.1	13%	68%	0.75%
36–60 in (H3)	Very gravelly sandy loam	6.1	13%	68%	0.75%

Representative values from the most extensive Vanzandt map unit (Vanzandt very gravelly loam, 15 to 30 percent slopes, survey area WA657). 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 Vanzandt soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Vanzandt soils is moderately acidic: pH 5.8 (most land between 5.2 and 5.8). 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 Vanzandt acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is very gravelly medial loam (77% of mapped Vanzandt acres).

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

For lawns and yards

On 77% 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 Vanzandt 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.

Generated from the mapped numbers above using fixed rules, not a site visit. See how these notes are written.

Where Vanzandt soil is found

Mapped acres

Vanzandt is mapped in Washington.

Counties with the most mapped Vanzandt soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Skagit County, WA	32,448	4.1%
Whatcom County, WA	6,089	0.6%
Snohomish County, WA	5,112	0.9%
King County, WA	4,128	0.3%
Pierce County, WA	23	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Vanzandt acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 99%

Not rated 2%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Vanzandt acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	98.5%
Not rated	1.5%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Vanzandt acres

Depth to seasonal high water table: About 2.2 feet (26 in) (median where reported).
Flooding: Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
Slope: Typically 8–48% (median 23%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 6%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 0%

Moderately well drained 100%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

Drainage class across mapped Vanzandt acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Drainage class across mapped Vanzandt acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	0.0%
Moderately well drained	100.0%
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 77%

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%

Not rated 23%

Hydrologic soil group across mapped Vanzandt acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Vanzandt acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	0.0%
C: slow infiltration	77.1%
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%
Not rated	22.9%

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 Vanzandt (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 47,801 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Vanzandt components. The profile comes from the single largest Vanzandt component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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