Soil series profile

Wetmore soil series

Wetmore is a well drained soil with a gravelly coarse sandy loam surface, mapped on 66,939 acres in 5 counties in CO. Hydrologic group D.

#4787 by mapped area loamy-skeletal Lithic Eutroboralfs (Alfisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: D
Typical topsoil pH: 6.2
Mapped area: 67k

Typical Wetmore 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 Wetmore horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–5 in (H1)	Gravelly coarse sandy loam	6.2	8%	68%	0.75%
5–16 in (H2)	Very gravelly coarse sandy loam	6.5	15%	67%	0.25%
16–20 in (H3)	Unweathered bedrock	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported

Representative values from the most extensive Wetmore map unit (Wetmore-Boyle-Rock outcrop complex, 5 to 60 percent slopes, survey area CO644). 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 Wetmore soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Wetmore soils is slightly acidic: pH 6.2, the range most vegetables, flowers and lawn grasses prefer.

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 99% of mapped Wetmore acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is gravelly coarse sandy loam (72% of mapped Wetmore acres).

99% of mapped Wetmore 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 Wetmore soils very limited, 0% somewhat limited and 0% not limited (1% 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 Wetmore soil is found

Mapped acres

Wetmore is mapped in Colorado.

Counties with the most mapped Wetmore soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Larimer County, CO	48,900	2.9%
Fremont County, CO	11,953	1.3%
Pueblo County, CO	4,752	0.3%
Custer County, CO	852	0.2%
Huerfano County, CO	483	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Wetmore acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 99%

Not rated 1%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Wetmore acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	98.8%
Not rated	1.2%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Wetmore 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 23–50% (median 23%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 0.8%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 99%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

Not rated 1%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Wetmore acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	98.8%
Moderately well drained	0.0%
Somewhat poorly drained	0.0%
Poorly drained	0.0%
Very poorly drained	0.0%
Not rated	1.2%

Hydrologic soil group

A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) 0%

B: moderate infiltration 0%

C: slow infiltration 0%

D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) 99%

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 1%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Wetmore acres.
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)	98.8%
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	1.2%

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 Wetmore (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 66,939 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Wetmore components. The profile comes from the single largest Wetmore component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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