what is a playa?
The Great Southern Plains has the greatest number of playas--more than 50,000. The name for these shallow lakes is a Spanish word meaning shore or beach. But that doesn't really help to explain what a playa is. Scientists use the terms playa and playa lake to describe various types of shallow wetlands in prairie, semiarid, or arid environments throughout the world. They are formed through a combination of wind, wave, and dissolution processes with each wetland existing in its own watershed.

The water in playa lakes comes only from rain water and run off. Any pond or lake fed by spring or river is by definition not a playa. Water is prevented from simply seeping into the ground by a layer of clay at the bottom of the playa basin. However, some seepage does occur at the edges of playas over time and this is the main source of recharge water for the Ogallala Aquifer.

One of the most unique characteristics of a playa ecosystem is the cycle of wet and dry periods or "hydrologic disturbance" (flooding, drying). This allows for a much greater biodiversity throughout the course of a year than an always-wet or always-dry area. In fact it is this cycle that actually creates much of the nutrients that feeds the unique and plentiful communities of flora and fauna.

According to the Playa lake Joint Venture <www.pljv.org> "Playas support 37 mammal species, more than 200 bird species, 13 amphibian species, 124 aquatic invertibrate taxa and greater than 340 species of plants." Fish don't occur naturally in playas, but have been introduced into many, especially those in or near cities.

See some of the birds at my local playa. here>>

See some of the plants that grow at my local playa. here>>

playas in Lubbock
Even though 99% of playas are located on private land, many towns and cities on the Great Southern Plains like Lubbock, Texas have playa lakes within its city limits. So, using and managing these wetlands and their watersheds is an important element of city resource management. In Lubbock, as elsewhere, many of the playas have become beautiful centerpieces of dozens of city parks. They also play a central role in the flood control and drainage system as "stormwater detention basins".

playa links
http://www.rw.ttu.edu/smith/playa.htm
http://www.pljv.org/
http://www2.tltc.ttu.edu/msw/PlayaPartners2/playapartners.htm