PLAYAS PROVIDE CLEAN WATER|WILDLIFE HABITAT|A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

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

Playa Benefits YOUR OPTIONS
For People, Not Just Wildlife

Playa Benefits

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.

“Why I Conserve Playas”

Watch these videos to learn why agricultural producers in western Kansas are restoring and preserving their playas. Each video features a farmer or rancher talking about the benefits they receive by enrolling their playas in conservation programs—from financial returns, hunting habitat, and groundwater recharge to preserving history and leaving a legacy for future generations.

From Dust to Ducks From Dust to Ducks
All Sorts of Wildlife All Sorts of Wildlife
From Dust to Ducks From Dust to Ducks
Leaving a Legacy Leaving a Legacy
Making a Difference for Future Generations Making a Difference for Future Generations
Putting Money in My Pocket Putting Money in My Pocket
Water for Communities Water for Communities

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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

In their own words

Landowner Stories

Dale Schmidt
Farmer

No More Farming Through a Mudhole

"The wetland is productive when you don’t get too much rain, but drought years are the best years."

In a normal year's precipitation, Dale says he might have been planting in mud or harvesting in mud, and with the cost of inputs these days, well. . .

“I decided to enroll it in a Wetlands Reserve Easement; I went with a lifetime perpetual easement. On a normal year, I was going to lose to flooding maybe 25% of that crop. So I decided to enroll. Since then, I’m very pleased. I put back into conservation what really should have probably stayed in something like that. It is a low lying, very heavily clayed property.”

This project is reaching well beyond the property boundaries to improve watershed health, to help recharge the Equus Beds Aquifer, and to provide wonderful habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife.

Chester Peterson
Rancher

Protecting the Heritage and Legacy of this Land

“This land is historic. Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado came north out of Mexico looking for seven silver cities this Indian told him about. He got up to central Kansas, and being human, you know he’s going to go to the highest point of land in the area to look further north and east for a village or city. On a full-moon night, you might be up there and say, ‘Hey, Coronado may have walked here.’”

“If I put four wind turbines on that 1,335 acres, I would double what I’d make from grass rental, so I can see why it’s attractive to some people. But, you know, when you do that, you’re selling something. You’re selling a part of yourself, a part of your heritage. With this perpetual easement, there can be no wind turbines or oil wells. There can’t be antennas. It can’t be sub-divided. It’s going to look just like it was in primeval times before the white man came. I wanted to preserve that.”

Doug Duell
Farmer

Every Little Bit Helps Replenish the Aquifer

“One of my fields has a pretty large playa—we used to call them lagoons—and it seemed like every other year or so we’d get a big rain and that thing would fill up and whatever we planted would pretty much die by being submerged in water.”

The NRCS approached his dad about enrolling that wetland in a Wetlands Reserve Easement, which they did.

“Wildlife enhancement has a lot to do with it. If in fact it is replenishing the Ogallala Aquifer, that is super great! I realize it takes a lot of these [playas] to make a difference. It’s hard to imagine when you only have one, that when that [water] sinks down it’s going to help the aquifer, but every little bit helps.”

“It takes several good rains over the summer to keep it full, but we did notice there was a lot of wildlife came around there when it had water in it.”

A few facts about Kansas playas
22,046
playas in Kansas
85 %
of acres in cropland
15 %
of acres in grassland
3.7
average size (acres)
We Can Help

Exploring your options

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. Our biologists are here to help—from identifying playa management options that fit with your operational goals to assisting with conservation program enrollment—at no cost to you.

Listen to Your Concerns

We tour your playa, listen to your concerns and discuss your operational and habitat goals.

Weigh Options Against Goals

We explain various management and conservation options and discuss how they fit with your goals.

Provide Recommendations

Based on your goals, we provide recommendations for programs or management changes.

Assist with Paperwork

We help you understand how each conservation program works and navigate the enrollment process.

Discuss Management Options to Fit Your Goals

Contact Us
Financial and Technical Assistance

Playa Conservation Programs

These are a few of the conservation programs for playas. Talk to a biologist to learn more about these and other options that may work for you.  

Wetland Reserve Easements

$
Good for wetland and adjacent acres
  • 30-year or permanent easement
  • Up to 75% of restoration cost
  • Payment based on Geographic Area Rate Cap
  • Administered by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Learn More

Conservation Reserve Program

Good for fields that contain multiple playas
  • 10-15 year program
  • Entire field must be planted to a native grass/forb mix
  • Annual rental payment based on soil types
  • Enroll during set period
  • Administered by USDA Farm Service Agency
Learn More

Continuous Conservation Reserve Program

$29.9
Good for a playa and adjacent acres
  • 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

Habitat First State Program

Good for buffer or exclusion fence around small playa
  • Up to 75% of establishment costs
  • One-time payment
  • Not enrolled in a multi-year contract
  • Administered by Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism
Learn More

Schedule a Visit

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We're here to help

Meet Our Team

Aaron Baugh, KDWPT
Counties: Clark, Ford, Hodgeman, Meade
Abby Athen, KDWPT
Counties: Cheyenne, Sherman, Wallace
Abe Lollar, Ducks Unlimited
Area: Western and Central Kansas
Andrew Nelson, KDWPT
Counties: Barton, Ellis, Rush, Ness
Brittany Smith, Pheasants Forever
Area: Western and Central Kansas
Eric Wiens, KDWPT
Counties: Graham, Norton, Phillips, Rooks, Trego
Evan Rodgers, Pheasants Forever
Counties: Decatur, Rawlins, Cheyenne
James Svaty, KDWPT
COUNTIES: RUSSELL
Joe Kramer, DUCKS UNLIMITED
Area: Western and Central Kansas
Kevin Klag, KDWPT
Counties: Decatur, Gove, Logan, Rawlins, Sheridan, Thomas
Kevin Luman, KDWPT
Counties: Gray, Haskell, Lane
Kraig Schultz, KDWPT
Counties: Grant, Morton, Seward, Stanton, Stevens
Kurtis Meier, KDWPT
Counties: Finney, Greeley, Hamilton, Kearny, Wichita
Logan Shoup, KDWPT
Counties: Edwards, Kiowa, Pawnee, Pratt
Lucas Kramer, KDWPT
Counties: Osborne, Smith
Matt Hough, DUCKS UNLIMITED
Area: Western and Central Kansas
Matt Smith, Playa Lakes Joint Venture
Area: Western and Central Kansas
Information and Resources

Latest News

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FIND A BIOLOGIST NEAR YOU

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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. Contact one of our biologists listed below, send us a message or call the Private Landowner Habitat Assistance line at 844.422.2778.

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Aaron Baugh

Clark, Ford, Hodgeman, and Meade Counties
620.227.8609

Abby Athen

Cheyenne, Sherman, and Wallace Counties
785.462.7993

Abe Lollar

Western and Central Kansas
620.214.2693

Andy Nelson

Barton, Ellis, Rush, and Ness Counties
785.628.8614

Brittany Smith

Western and Central Kansas
620.450.6798

Eric Wiens

Graham, Norton, Phillips, Rooks, and Trego Counties
620.203.8942

Evan Rodgers

Decatur, Rawlins, and Cheyenne Counties
785.475.3131

James Svaty

Russell County
785.420.0002

Joe Kramer

Western and Central Kansas
620.388.5878

Kevin Klag

Rawlins, Decatur, Thomas, Sheridan, Logan, and Gove Counties
785.462.3367

Kevin Luman

Lane, Gray, and Haskell Counties
620.227.8609

Kraig Schultz

Stanton, Grant, Morton, Stevens, and Seward Counties
620.450.8287

Kurtis Meier

Greeley, Wichita, Hamilton, Kearny, Scott, and Finney Counties
620.276.8886

Lucas Kramer

Smith and Osborne Counties
620.450.7203

Logan Shoup

Edwards, Kiowa, Pawnee, and Pratt Counties
620.450.7215

Matt Hough

Western and Central Kansas
308.850.2717

Matt Smith

Western and Central Kansas
785.420.7000

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