Soil series profile

Winona soil series

Winona is a well drained soil with a stony loam surface, mapped on 806,657 acres in 8 counties across 2 states. Hydrologic group D.

#263 by mapped area loamy-skeletal Lithic Ustollic Calciorthids (Aridisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: D
Typical topsoil pH: 7.9
Mapped area: 807k

Typical Winona 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 Winona horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–2 in (H1)	Stony loam	7.9	20%	42%	0.75%
2–15 in (H2)	Extremely cobbly loam	7.9	20%	42%	0.75%
15–19 in (H3)	Unweathered bedrock	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported

Representative values from the most extensive Winona map unit (Winona stony loam, 0 to 8 percent slopes, survey area AZ631). 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 Winona soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Winona soils is moderately alkaline: pH 7.9 (most land between 7.9 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 96% of mapped Winona acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is gravelly loam (51% of mapped Winona acres).

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

For lawns and yards

On 100% 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 100% of the acres in mapped Winona 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 Winona soil is found

Mapped acres

Winona is mapped in Arizona and New Mexico.

Counties with the most mapped Winona soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Coconino County, AZ	666,256	5.7%
Socorro County, NM	47,316	1.3%
Guadalupe County, NM	43,128	2.2%
Mohave County, AZ	21,443	0.2%
Valencia County, NM	13,620	2.0%
Cibola County, NM	13,390	0.5%
Sandoval County, NM	769	0.0%
Yavapai County, AZ	735	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Winona acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 100%

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

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

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Winona 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 4–25% (median 4%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 0.8%.

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

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Drainage class across mapped Winona 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) 0%

B: moderate infiltration 0%

C: slow infiltration 0%

D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) 100%

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

Show as a table

Hydrologic soil group across mapped Winona 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)	100.0%
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 Winona (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 806,657 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Winona components. The profile comes from the single largest Winona component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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