Somewhat limited
USDA rating, 70.2% of rated acres
checked 2026-10-05
Slow water movement
Most common limiting reason
checked 2026-10-05
Yes
Site evaluation required
checked 2026-09-23
How USDA rates the ground in Lincoln County
Somewhat limited across most of the county
— 70.2% of the rated acres.
A rating describes the ground, not a parcel. The county's site evaluation decides each lot.
- Somewhat limited — 122,361 acres — 70.2% of 174,413 rated acres.
- Very limited — 52,052 acres — 29.8% of 174,413 rated acres.
- Not rated — 9,070 acres, excluded from the denominator — mostly urban land and water.
70.2% of 174,413 rated acres. 9,070 acres unrated. Survey area NC109 version 31, established 2026-08-28.
USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-10-05
What limits absorption here
The reasons USDA gives for the rating, by the acres they affect. A component can carry several, so
the acres overlap.
- Slow water movement — 172,474 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
- Slope — 70,430 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
- Depth to saturated zone — 15,709 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
- Seepage, bottom layer — 14,466 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
- Flooding — 13,157 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
- Depth to bedrock — 2,776 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
- Ponding — 517 acres. Reasons overlap — a component can carry several — so these acres exceed rated acres.
Ratings by soil map unit
The largest map units in the county, each with its rating. A soil survey names the ground.
The county's evaluation of your lot is what a permit turns on.
- CeB2 — Cecil sandy clay loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes, moderately eroded — 56,191 acres in this county — rated Somewhat limited. Dominant component: Cecil (88% of the map unit).
- PeC2 — Pacolet sandy clay loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes, moderately eroded — 37,616 acres in this county — rated Somewhat limited. Dominant component: Pacolet (85% of the map unit).
- PaD — Pacolet sandy loam, 15 to 25 percent slopes — 16,123 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Pacolet (90% of the map unit).
- LdB2 — Lloyd sandy clay loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes, moderately eroded — 10,790 acres in this county — rated Somewhat limited. Dominant component: Lloyd (90% of the map unit).
- ChA — Chewacla loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes, frequently flooded — 10,348 acres in this county — rated Very limited. Dominant component: Chewacla (80% of the map unit).
- PaC — Pacolet sandy loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes — 7,504 acres in this county — rated Somewhat limited. Dominant component: Pacolet (85% of the map unit).
- W — Water — 7,195 acres in this county — rated Not rated. Dominant component: Water (100% of the map unit).
- PeB2 — Pacolet sandy clay loam, 2 to 8 percent slopes, moderately eroded — 6,261 acres in this county — rated Somewhat limited. Dominant component: Pacolet (85% of the map unit).
USDA NRCS Soil Data Access (SSURGO) · checked 2026-10-05
Verify before you act. Septic rules are set locally and they change. Check anything
here before you spend money on it. Call the Lincoln County Environmental Health, on (704) 736-8426.