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Walsh County, ND Contractor directory
Excavation contractors in Walsh County, ND
2 verified excavating and site work contractors serving Walsh County.
County excavation guide
Ground conditions and project requirements in Walsh County
Use this local research to understand soil, seasonal constraints, permits, and jobsite logistics before choosing a contractor.
Skip to 2 contractorsSoil Regime ProfileEPA Ecoregion 46, 48, 43 (Northern Glaciated Plains, Lake Agassiz Plain, Northwestern Great Plains)
North Dakota Glaciated Prairies, Red River Clay & Badlands Margin
Dominant Soil Order: Mollisols / Vertisols / Entisols
Parent Material: Glacial Lake Agassiz Lacustrine Clay (Red River Valley), Wisconsinan Till, and Fort Union Badlands Sediments in the West
North Dakota is the Red River Valley clay country plus glacial prairie: Lake Agassiz lacustrine silty clay across the eastern valley (Fargo, Grand Forks), Wisconsinan till and prairie potholes across the drift prairie, and Fort Union badlands at the Montana line. The Valley clays are the state's signature excavation constraint: Fargo-area silty clay is wet, frost-susceptible, and moderately shrink-swell, with water tables within inches in spring and the Red River floodplain shaping every site plan. Prairie-pothole wetlands dot the drift prairie (hydric soils 20-50 percent in the eastern counties), seasonal wet spots and alkali flats recur, and frost runs 42-54 inches, among the deepest in the states. The badlands counties (Medora, Watford City west) add buttes, bentonitic shale, lignite coal seams, and oil-country utility work on soft ground. Digging is easy nearly everywhere; the trade is water, frost depth, and clay movement, not rock.
Geographic Footprint:North Dakota's counties (Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot) are glacial prairie end to end: Red River Valley wet clay in the east, pothole till in the center, badlands shale in the west. Water, frost depth (42-54 inches), and clay movement define the utility and foundation work.
Geotechnical Baseline
Physical Ground Conditions & Soil Properties
Shallow Bedrock (<50 in)
1.6%of county land area
Deep soil mantle; rock refusal rare for standard basement or trench cuts.
High Shrink-Swell Clay
16.0%expansive soil
Moderate shrink-swell; verify plasticity index on structural fill.
Median Water Table Depth
30inches from surface
Moderate depth; seasonal wet perched water tables possible in spring.
Hydric / Wetland Soils
25.6%hydric coverage
Indicates poor natural drainage and potential jurisdictional wetland pockets.
Steep Terrain (Slope >15%)
1.9%of terrain
Predominantly gentle to rolling slopes suitable for wheeled earthmoving.
Septic Severe Limitations
75.3%severe rate
High rate of conventional drainfield limitations; engineered or drip systems often required.
Dominant Soil Textures:LoamSilty clay loamSilty clay
Surface Stones / Boulders: 32.9% coverage
Compliance & Permitting
Earthwork Regulations & Permit Thresholds
Stormwater & Erosion Control
NDPDES General Permit NDR110000 for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Construction Activity (ND DEQ; 2025 reissuance, proposed expiration 3/31/2030). Clearing, grading and excavating that disturbs one acre or more, or less than one acre if part of a larger common plan of development ultimately disturbing one acre or more.
Administers NPDES stormwater discharge coverage for land-disturbing construction activities.
State Threshold:1.00 Acre
Local Threshold:Follows state
Onsite Wastewater & Utilities
North Dakota DEQ and local public health unit
Jurisdiction over septic tank permits, soil evaluation perk tests, and drainfield sizing.
Housing on Septic:55.0%
Soil Evaluation:Soil exploration pit or boring at the system location; evaluation by a professional soil classifier or licensed installer with soil endorsement (proposed rule)
811 One-Call Requirements
North Dakota One Call (ND811)
Mandatory notice window: 48 hours prior to mechanized earthwork (excluding weekends and legal holidays).
Licensing & Clearing Permits
Weather & Ecology
Seasonal Constraints & Clearing Windows
Frozen Ground Days
120days / year
Typical days with sub-freezing soil conditions affecting digging.
Supply Chain & Hazards
Logistics, Aggregate Sources & Geohazards
Aggregate & Material Supply
Dvorak Pit & Plant
Nearest active quarry: 14.9 miles haul distance.(2 active crushed stone/sand operations within 50 miles).
Flood & Hazard Overlay
FEMA 100-Yr Flood:14.6%(100% NFHL digital map coverage)
NWI Wetlands:4.3%jurisdictional coverage
Karst Terrain & Sinkhole Risk: Low
8.5% of county underlain by soluble carbonate rock formations.
HUC8 Primary Watersheds:Turtle, Forest, Park, Grand Marais-Red, Middle Red
Public conservation land: 2.5% (USGS PAD-US).
Area-specific FAQ
Do I need to call before digging in Walsh County?
Yes. You should contact North Dakota One Call at least 2 working days before any digging so underground lines can be marked.
How deep do footings need to be in North Dakota?
In North Dakota, footings typically need to extend below the frost line, which is around 60 inches here. A local contractor will confirm the code requirement for your site.
Verified local listings
Excavation contractors serving Walsh County
2 verified listings
