PLAYAS PROVIDE CLEAN WATER|WILDLIFE HABITAT|A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Playas provide clean water for people and habitat for wildlife. By conserving playas, you can help them continue to work for New Mexico — for generations to come.

Playa Benefits RESTORE YOUR PLAYA
For People, Not Just Wildlife

Playa Benefits

Playas provide important wildlife habitat, but they also provide many benefits for people such as cleaner water going back into the Ogallala aquifer that can support families and towns, recreational activities, and flood control.

Groundwater Recharge

Playas are a primary source of groundwater recharge, with an average rate across the region of about three inches per year.

Cleaner Water

Playas are water filtration systems—keeping fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides out of the groundwater.

Recreation

Playas attract wildlife, providing local waterfowl and upland game bird hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities.

Flood Control

Playas collect runoff during high rains, reducing property damage from flooding and reducing erosion.

A few facts about New Mexico playas
2,103
playas in New Mexico
4 %
of acres in cropland
96 %
of acres in grassland
14.9
average size (acres)
A Temporary Lake or Pond

What is a playa?

Playas—also called mud holes, buffalo wallows, and lagoons—are relatively small, round, shallow depressions found primarily in the western Great Plains. Their basins are lined with clay soil, which collects and holds water from rainfall and runoff, creating temporary lakes.

Wet-Dry Cycle is Essential

The extreme wet-dry cycle that playas experience is the lifeblood of their ecosystem. When dry, the clay soils contract and form large cracks in the bottom of the playa basin. Plant seeds and invertebrate eggs from the last wet period lay dormant in the soil, waiting for the next large rainfall to germinate and hatch. When the rain comes, the first flush of water runs into the playa and through the cracks, beginning its journey to the underlying aquifer. As the runoff continues, the clay soils expand; the cracks seal and the playa begins to fill with water. Wetland plants and invertebrates complete their life-cycle, and birds and mammals use the playa for food, water, and shelter.

Blue-winged Teal

Hot Spot for Wildlife

In this grassland landscape, playas are the main source of water, providing much-needed rest stops and food to migrating waterfowl and shorebirds as well as resident prairie birds. Playas are the center of biodiversity on the plains—supporting 185 bird species, 450 plant species, 13 amphibian species, and 37 mammal species at some point in their life-cycle.

Sediment plumes in Priebe playa

Threats to Playas

The greatest continuing threat to playas is culturally-accelerated sediment accumulation from row-crop agriculture. These sediments may interfere with the shrinking and swelling of the clay layer, which is vital to aquifer recharge, and reduce playa volume and length of time a playa will hold water, which significantly affects the plant and wildlife community supported by the playa. Modifications such as pits, ditches, berms, and roads also pose a threat to playas. These modifications concentrate water in a smaller area, thus reducing suitable habitat for water-dependent birds.

Video Spotlight

How Playas Work

Healthy playas are a primary source of groundwater recharge — and provide important, year-round habitat for birds and other wildlife. Unlike many other wetlands, playas have an irregular wet-dry cycle, which is key to how they function. This video shows how playas recharge the Ogallala aquifer and provide critical wildlife habitat as they go through the cycle.

How Playas Work How Playas Work

Discuss Management Options to Fit Your Goals

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What scientists say

Groundwater Recharge

Playa Lakes Joint Venture held a Playa Recharge Summit with scientists and researchers who study various aspects of playas to determine what is known about groundwater recharge through playas. Click on a photo below to read what they had to say and listen to short podcasts that include interviews with some of them.

Amount of Recharge
A primary source of recharge to the Ogallala Aquifer
Water Quality
Higher quality water reaching the Ogallala Aquifer
Direct Benefits
Recharge to the Ogallala Aquifer stays in that area

Clean water for the future

Clean Water for Future Generations

Recharge Directly Benefits Playa Owner

Information and Resources

Latest News

Read More News
We Can Help

Restore Your Playa

We know that every decision by every landowner is a personal one, driven by unique experiences and circumstances. Understanding those decisions can only be appreciated through personal conversations. We’re here to help you put your playa to work in a way that meets your operational goals while providing water for you and future generations as well as habitat for wildlife.

Remove Sediment

Accumulated sediment may interfere with the shrinking and swelling of the clay layer, which is vital to aquifer recharge, and reduce the volume of water the playa will hold.

Restore Hydrology

Playa modifications — such as pits, channels, terraces, and roads — that disrupt aquifer recharge and reduce water surface area can be addressed to restore hydrological function.

Plant Grass Buffers

Native grass buffers, at least 100 ft wide, improve the quality of the water entering the playa basin and the water that subsequently reaches the Ogallala Aquifer through the playa.

Improve Vegetation

Grazing the grass buffer and playa basin provides better wildlife habitat and allows runoff to reach the playa basin, increasing the incidence of groundwater recharge and ponding.

Financial and Technical Assistance

Playa Conservation Programs

There are several conservation programs available to help you restore and protect playas. A few state and federal programs are listed below for comparison. Learn more about these and other programs to see which options may work for you.

NMDGF Playa Conservation Program

  • 20-year agreement
  • 100% of restoration costs
  • One-time reimbursement payment
  • Administered by Playa Lakes Joint Venture and Central Curry Soil and Water Conservation District
Learn More

Environmental Quality Incentives Program

  • Contracts up to 10 years
  • Rates established yearly; can be up to 75% of restoration costs
  • Reimbursement payment
  • Enroll during set period
  • Administered by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Learn More

Wetland Reserve Easements

$
  • 30-year or permanent easement
  • Rates established yearly
  • Payment based on Geographic Area Rate Cap
  • Administered by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Learn More

Continuous Conservation Reserve Program

$
  • 10-15 year program
  • Annual rental payment based on soil types
  • Sign-up incentive
  • Practice incentive
  • Enroll any time
  • Administered by USDA Farm Service Agency
Learn More

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USDA SERVICE CENTER LOCATIONS NEAR YOU

talk to a biologist

GET IN TOUCH

Looking for information about how to manage your playas? We can help you sort through the options, provide technical and financial assistance, and find the solution that is right for you. Call one of our contacts listed below, send us a message via the form, or visit your local USDA Service Center.

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    Christopher Rustay

    Conservation Delivery Leader
    Playa Lakes Joint Venture
    505.414.0342

    Austin Teague

    Regional Wildlife Biologist
    New Mexico Department of Game & Fish
    575.624.6135

    Anna Stearns

    Private Lands Wildlife Biologist
    Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
    575.374.9461 x108

    Gwen Kolb

    State Coordinator
    USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife
    505.761.4711

    USDA Service Centers

    Find your county office