What soils affect foundations in the Oklahoma Panhandle?

Reviewed by Preston, Oklahoma foundation repair consultant · Updated 2026-10-14

In short: The Oklahoma Panhandle is the state's driest region, with about 17 to 18 inches of rain a year in the west ¹³. Its soils formed mostly in wind-deposited material — thick loess and loamy wind-blown sediments on flat tablelands — rather than from local bedrock ¹². Some, such as Richfield, have smectite-rich clay subsoils that can swell when wetted, and long dry periods mean soils can react sharply when water is added ¹⁵.

Cities covered: Guymon, Boise City, Goodwell and Beaver.

What is the climate like?

Oklahoma's climate grades from humid subtropical in the east to semi-arid in the west, and annual precipitation drops to about 17 inches in the far western Panhandle ³. USDA descriptions for Panhandle soils list typical mean annual precipitation near 18 inches and mean annual temperatures of about 54 to 55 °F ¹². Richfield soils have a frost-free period of about 140 to 201 days ¹. For footing depth in cold weather, see freeze-thaw and frost depth and frost heave.

What is the ground made of?

Loess tablelands

Loess is silt deposited by wind. Richfield soils are very deep, well drained soils formed in calcareous loess about 3 to more than 10 feet thick, on nearly level tablelands with slopes of 0 to 6 percent ¹. Their subsoil contains 35 to 42 percent clay and is classified as smectitic ¹. Smectite clays, including montmorillonite, can adsorb very large amounts of water and have a large shrink-swell potential ⁵. The series extends from western Kansas and Nebraska into the Oklahoma Panhandle ¹.

Wind-blown loamy soils

Dalhart soils are very deep, well drained soils formed in loamy wind-deposited (eolian) sediments of recent geologic age, on interdunes and sand sheets with slopes of 0 to 8 percent ². They belong to the Southern High Plains land resource area, with a type location in Cimarron County ². Lime (calcium carbonate) accumulates in the lower subsoil ².

Bedrock

Older deposits beneath the wind-blown cover are described on the Ogallala Formation and loess page. The Oklahoma Geological Survey also notes that gypsum and shallow salt deposits occur in many areas of western Oklahoma; these soluble rocks can dissolve and form sinkholes ⁴. See gypsum karst and sinkholes.

What are the main soils?

What foundation problems are common?

• Hydrocollapse — some dry, loose wind-deposited soils can compact suddenly when first soaked; see collapsible and loess soils.
• Swelling on wetting in smectitic clay subsoils such as Richfield ¹⁵, especially near lawn irrigation, leaks or ponding.
• Frost heave of shallow footings and flatwork in colder winters.

Statewide research using Mesonet data estimated active zone depths of about 0.5 to 4 meters, with depth depending on soil properties and climate ³.

Related

• Collapsible and Loess Soils
• Ogallala Formation and Loess
• Freeze-Thaw and Frost Depth
• Northwest (Gypsum Hills)
• Surface Drainage and Grading