Soils and land use

Soils and land use

Soils in the El Dorado Hills area (sometimes known as Auburn/Argonaut soils) are brownish in color, hard, and slightly acid. Depth to bedrock is 12 to 26 inches. Tombstone-like rock outcrops are common.

During the Spanish and Mexican periods of history and after the Gold Rush up until about 1920, the land around El Dorado Hills was used mostly for the production of hay and forage for livestock.

Since then, urban uses (that is, buildings constructed for residential and commercial use) have been expanding, except on the steeper slopes, which are typically left as open space.

For more information