Recent News Releases:


New Maps Show Playa Locations Across Six States

Sept. 3, 2008 - Wondering how many playas are in your backyard? New maps are available from the Playa Lakes Joint Venture that pinpoint the locations of more than 60,000 playas in 155 counties across six states in the region.  (More...)

News Release Archive


Top Stories from this Month's Playa Post:

Research News: Recharge Rates and Chemistry Beneath Playas of the High Plains Aquifer—A Literature Review and Synthesis

By Jason J. Gurdak and Cassia D. Roe

Playas are ephemeral, closed-basin wetlands that are important zones of recharge to the High Plains (or Ogallala) aquifer and critical habitat for birds and other wildlife in the otherwise semiarid, shortgrass prairie and agricultural landscape. The ephemeral nature of playas, low regional recharge rates, and a strong reliance on ground water from the High Plains aquifer has prompted many questions regarding the contribution of recharge from playas to the regional aquifer.

To address these questions and concerns, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Playa Lakes Joint Venture, present a review and synthesis of the more than 175 publications about recharge rates and chemistry beneath playas and interplaya settings. Although a number of questions remain regarding the controls on recharge rates and chemistry beneath playas, the results from most published studies indicate that recharge rates beneath playas are substantially (1 to 2 orders of magnitude) higher than recharge rates beneath interplaya settings. The synthesis presented here supports the conceptual model that playas are important zones of recharge to the High Plains aquifer and are not strictly evaporative pans. The major findings of this synthesis yield science-based implications for the protection and management of playas and ground-water resources of the High Plains aquifer and directions for future research.

http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/1333/

Conservation Efforts: Repairing Playa Pits on the Kiowa/Rita Blanca Grasslands—A Q & A With Nancy Walls, District Ranger

1. What exactly are playa pits and how do they made?

Back in the late 1980s and early 1990s the Forest Service implemented a program on the Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grassland to improve wildlife and waterfowl habitat in the playa lake systems on the District.  The program centered on creating deeper ponds and islands within existing playa lake systems.  Pits or trenches were mechanically dug within the playa basins to deepen the pools of open water and the excavated material was then mounded into artificial islands to create nesting and resting habitat for waterfowl.  Wetland vegetation like willows and assorted shrubs were also planted in the vicinity of some excavated ponds.  Most of these areas were then fenced to exclude livestock from the site. 

2. How do playa pits affect playas overall?

The mechanical activity of digging pits or ponds in the playa basin has the potential to break or disrupt the clay seal of a naturally functioning playa.  Once the clay basin has been disrupted the playa may no longer function properly or hold water without the addition of a bentonite clay or other sealant.  These disrupted systems may fill up with water more quickly and have a smaller area of open water that is generally deeper than a natural flat basin.  However, these ponds or pits require repeated maintenance with a sealant to maintain their water holding capacity, and still may not hold water nearly as long during the migratory season when playas provide important habitat for waterfowl.  The addition of woody plants into these systems will also alter their functionality as root systems further disrupt the clay seal. 

3. What programs has the Kiowa/Rita Blanca Grasslands implemented to help fix playa pits?

Approximately eight to nine years ago the Forest Service in a joint effort with Ducks Unlimited, Playa Lakes Joint Venture, and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish developed a program to restore historically altered playa lakes on the Kiowa National Grassland.  Clay material mounded in the playa basin was used to fill in the ponds or pits.  The high content clay material from the original excavation was then packed back into the basin to form the seal.  The natural contour of each playa was re-created and the natural functioning hydrology was restored.  

4. Is there anything that can be done to keep pits from being dug in the future?

The playa pits found on the Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grasslands were man made and not a natural process.  Public education and outreach on the importance of natural functioning playa lake systems continues to be an important aspect of preserving and restoring these special systems.   

5. Are there any measured differences you can share with our readers that have occurred since playa pit removal work started in the Kiowa/Rita Blanca Grasslands?

These playas once again hold water in a closed basin that fill from heavy, sometimes violent summer rain storms; forming broad shallow pools.  When holding water these playa lakes support an increase in shoreline vegetation and attract a diversity of wildlife.   Sedges, annual forbs and milkweeds grow in abundance along the waters edge and throughout the very shallow areas.  These shallow pools support a tremendous biomass of fairy shrimp, daphnia, triops and spade foot tadpoles.  This mudflat habitat provides a  food source rich in protein for a variety of nesting and migratory waterfowl and shorebirds, such as American avocet, and long-billed curlew. These areas are also valued for wildlife viewing and bird watching.

6. Can the average citizen or land steward help contain or repair playa pits?

The most important thing to do is continue to be involved with groups like Playa Lakes Joint Venture, Ducks Unlimited, and state game and fish offices.  These groups and agencies are working to preserve and restore playa lakes systems in the plains ecosystem.

7. Is there anything else you'd like to share regarding the Kiowa/Rita Blanca Grasslands work to erase playa pits from the landscape?

The Kiowa and Rita Blanca National Grassland is again hoping to work cooperatively with partners like Playa Lakes Joint Venture to develop an interpretive site on the importance of playa lakes to the High Plains Ecosystem.