New Threat Surfaces for Playa Lakes
As the high plains reel from oil and gas development, wind energy farms and loss and fragmentation of prairie, a new threat is emerging for playa lakes.
"If someone would have told me this and I had not seen it for myself I would have said it was a joke," said Playa Lakes Joint Venture Coordinator Mike Carter, referring to the new cottage industry of extracting clay from playas for pottery.
Bobby Kaolin, of the Clay Harvesters International Association (CHIA), said, "We extract it and then send it on to the Far East where it is made into biodegradable rice bowls. A couple of meals and you toss it in the dump. We're wondering if we'll see playas showing up in China." Mr. Kaolin has no concerns about impacts. "Am I worried about destroying playas? Heck no, they ain't good for nuthin' and I am here to make a buck."
Geologist Robert Potter explained the attraction to these clay deposits, "Most clays have silica and alumina as a base with other impurities, in this case, oxides of magnesium and titanium give playa clay its handsome brownish-grey patina when fired. It is a low grade clay suitable for things like clay pigeons and biodegradable rice bowls."
Despite the cheap source of clay, the FDA is worried about purity standards for human food vessels. One official stated, "We're not too sure what people are ingesting when they eat food from a playa bowl [the name catching on for the biodegradable bowls]. There is a lot of water that moves through a playa as it heads for the aquifer. There could be herbicides, pesticides, livestock waste - you name it - in the bowls. Clay has a high affinity and absorption rate for organic volatiles. I wouldn't let my kids eat their oaty flakes out of one. But we do have one out back for the dog."
Other companies are squeezing into the limited market such as Biodermitals, Inc. which specializes in facial and body clay rubs and masks.
"Women can't get enough of this playa clay," said Biodermitals' Sediment Secrets Brand Manager Carla Caliche. "It's not too pure and somewhat odorous, but in our market that becomes the selling point. I hear some are mixing it with bran as a cleanser.""If it is that smelly and gooey, it must be good for my skin," said avid Biodermitals customer Barb Putty.
Environmental groups are split about the burgeoning industry. Some have expressed concern that if playa bowls take off, that many playas will be depleted of crucial soils that make them excellent recharge basins and wildlife habitats. Others say that potters would have to remove sediment to get to the clay, which could end up benefitting playas.
Since few people living outside of the High Plains have ever heard of or seen a playa, and since most playas are found on private land, there is hope most playas will be spared. "As long as we don't let them know where playas are, we are safe," said a PLJV GIS analyst at the Great Plains GIS Partnership who wished to remain anonymous.
Many environmental groups are making the best of a sticky situation. "It is a limited impact and we are considering making little figurines of animals and selling them to support our work." said Kim Mudd of the Society for Helping Animals Recover from Disasters (SHARD).
It is too soon to tell if clay extraction will make a significant impact on playas. PLJV has formed the Clay Research and Evaulation on Earthenware Playas (CREEP) committee to explore the issue further. In the meantime, the JV is working with Biodermitals to create an original label facial mask as a giveaway gift to partners and playa landowners, which will add to the JV's popular line of signature products - including hats, pens, t-shirts, DVDs and cigars.
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