West Texas landowner and Pheasants Forever chapter president Danny Glenn has restored several playas across multiple counties, driven by a simple belief: better habitat means more wildlife. Clearing out old irrigation pits and unused infrastructure allowed his playas to function the way they were meant to.
Danny says restored playas make an immediate difference. Native plants return, insects flourish, and pheasants gain the cover and food sources they need to survive. With drought intensifying and longtime hunting spots disappearing, protecting habitat has become even more urgent for him.
Playas, he explains, are small but powerful ecosystems. When rain returns, they produce a burst of plants and insects. The surrounding grass buffers also give birds the shelter they rely on.
Restoration has improved the land in ways Danny can see. “It’s amazing how much prettier the land looks,” he said, “and how much better it is for the wildlife.”
Working with the Texas Playa Conservation Initiative made the process easy, with contractors handling the major work.
His message to other landowners is simple: start now. Restoring playas today ensures that wildlife — and future generations — will benefit long into the future.