Landscape - Playas

Playas are shallow depressions or playas that collect and store water during periods of runoff. Playas are most prevalent south of the Arkansas River and are critical areas of recharge for southern parts of the Aquifer. Playas are ephemeral closed-basin wetlands above the regional water table that have no external drainage and are critical habitat for birds and other wildlife in the otherwise ecologically vacant landscape dominated by the industry of agriculture production. Unlike the expansive dune sand of the Sandhills of Nebraska, playas are numerous but sporadic and geographically located in slight depression where the clay soil of the playa floor swell when wet and shrink when dry to form cracks. It is this soil dynamic which provides the unique areas of potential recharge through the cement like layer Caliche. 90% of the surface area of the southern High Plains drains into the some 66,000 playas, thus making playa important storage during floods and for irrigation and livestock, yet also potential concentrations for ground water pollutants.