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Playas Work For Texans

Category: Restoration

Texas Landowner Recalls Irrigation’s Past & Restores Playas Photo by Brian Slobe

Texas Landowner Recalls Irrigation’s Past & Restores Playas

TULIA, Texas – There was a time, not so long ago, when the Texas Panhandle sang a different song.

“You’d drive the backroads at night, windows cracked, and you could hear the hum of gas-powered irrigation engines all around you,” said Norman Burge, a landowner in Floyd County. “Some louder than others, but always there. It was the music of the plains.”

“This land won’t fix itself,” he said. “And it won’t wait around for us to get it right. You have to be willing to do your part.”

That steady rhythm of water being pulled from the Ogallala Aquifer once fueled the region’s agricultural boom. But over the years, the music quieted — and with it came a sobering realization.

“The engines went silent because the water started disappearing,” Burge said. “And it hit me — we can’t keep treating this resource like it’s endless.”

That awareness led Burge to take action. As one of the earliest participants in the Texas Playa Conservation Initiative, he restored playas on two separate properties — 160 acres in Floyd County, Texas, and 480 acres in Curry County, New Mexico.

Found at the lowest point of a watershed, playas are round, shallow basins lined with clay soil that collect and hold rainfall and runoff, forming temporary wetlands. These natural recharge basins play a vital role in replenishing groundwater and supporting wildlife.

“I didn’t know much about playas at first,” he admitted. “They looked like leaky bowls to me. But once I understood their role in recharging the aquifer, it just made sense to restore them.”

Though he’s an absentee landowner and the land has been in the USDA Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) since the late ’80s, the decision to restore was never about short-term gains.

“This land won’t fix itself,” he said. “And it won’t wait around for us to get it right. You have to be willing to do your part.”

Burge hopes his work will not only contribute to aquifer recharge but also spark a change in mindset among landowners. He’s seen the shift firsthand — from years of unchecked water use to growing concern about long-term supply.

“A neighbor of mine used to talk about how they wasted more water in a day back in the ’40s than we have access to now,” Burge said. “It’s a different world. And we have to act like it.”

His restoration efforts have also become a quiet conversation starter in the community.

“People drive by and say, ‘Hey, what happened to that old pit out there?’” he said. “They may not say much at first, but it plants a seed. And that’s how change begins.”

Looking ahead, Burge hopes that seed continues to grow — especially among younger landowners inheriting family ground in a drier, more uncertain climate.

“If I could offer one piece of advice,” he said, “it’s to think about the legacy you’re leaving. What do you want your land to look like in 50 years? Because if you don’t act now, that decision might not be yours to make.”

Get Help Restoring Your Playa

For more information about playa restoration opportunities, contact us.

Heather Johnson, Texas Parks and Wildlife
806-475-1308
heather.johnson@tpwd.texas.gov

Tavin Dotson, Ducks Unlimited
806-392-1473
tdotson@ducks.org.

Land Steward of the Year Restores Playa on Historic Texas Ranch Photo by Texas Parks & Wildlife

Land Steward of the Year Restores Playa on Historic Texas Ranch

LITTLEFIELD, Texas – John Roley never thought he’d win. The longtime landowner and former car dealer had his doubts when he was nominated for the 2025 Texas Land Steward Award from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “We’re in West Texas — it doesn’t rain,” he said. “They came to film in the middle of a drought, and I didn’t think I stood a chance.”

But Roley’s persistence and dedication to conservation earned him the prestigious recognition — and he says the experience has been well worth the wait.

“Conservation isn’t about making dramatic changes overnight. It’s about showing others what’s possible when you give nature a little room to breathe — and then watching it come alive.”

Roley’s 2,200-acre ranch, fondly known as Little Las Vegas, sits along the Yellow House Draw in southern Lamb and northern Hockley Counties — the headwaters of the Brazos River. The land has a colorful past, once serving as a gambling site, a buffalo hunting camp, and a strategic outpost for Comanches and Union soldiers. Today, it’s become a model for modern restoration.

“I bought it to hunt doves,” Roley said with a laugh. “But it’s become a place where wildlife thrives — quail, mule deer, sandhill cranes, red-winged blackbirds. It’s amazing what shows up when you give nature the space and resources it needs.”

With help from the Texas Playa Conservation Initiative and technical support through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Roley restored one playa on his property — fencing it off from cattle, rerouting runoff through a filtration system, and managing surrounding vegetation for long-term health.

Found at the lowest point of a watershed, playas are round, shallow basins lined with clay soil that collect and hold rainfall and runoff, forming temporary wetlands. These natural recharge basins play a vital role in replenishing groundwater and supporting wildlife.

The playa restoration process wasn’t quite as Roley expected.

“I didn’t know what I was doing,” he admitted. “I was used to running a dealership, where you get immediate results. But this? It takes time. You’ve got to trust the process.”

That trust has paid off. His playa is now a magnet for wildlife and serves as a vital water source in a region where rainfall is scarce. Roley says his restored playa has also increased the value of his land — proof that good stewardship makes good economic sense.

He encourages other landowners — especially retirees or those new to agriculture — to give conservation a try.

“Your best resources are your neighbors and the folks at NRCS and Texas Parks and Wildlife,” he said. “Be friendly. Ask questions. Learn. It’s not going to happen overnight, but it will happen — and you’ll be glad you did it.”

Roley now hosts field days, scout troops, and wildlife students on his property. He sees it as a way to give back.

“If you’ve been fortunate enough to own land, you’ve also been given an opportunity,” he said.

“Conservation isn’t about making dramatic changes overnight. It’s about showing others what’s possible when you give nature a little room to breathe — and then watching it come alive.”

Learn more about Roley’s conservation efforts in this video about the 2025 Lone Star Land Steward Award winner.

Get Help Restoring Your Playa

For more information about playa restoration opportunities, contact us.

Heather Johnson, Texas Parks and Wildlife
806-475-1308
heather.johnson@tpwd.texas.gov

Tavin Dotson, Ducks Unlimited
806-392-1473
tdotson@ducks.org.

Landowner Restores Family Playa: “Why Aren’t More People Doing This?” Photo by Heather Johnson

Landowner Restores Family Playa: “Why Aren’t More People Doing This?”

KRESS, Texas – For Jason Lindeman, restoring a playa on his family’s land wasn’t just a conservation decision — it was common sense.

“If you care about your land, your water, and the legacy you’re leaving behind — this is a no-brainer.”

“We weren’t using it for irrigation anymore, and it had become this old, modified pit full of junk infrastructure,” he said. “Restoring it just made sense — for the land, for the water, and for the long-term health of the soil.”

Lindeman’s 80-acre playa restoration in Swisher County is part of a growing effort to bring these natural features back to life across the High Plains. Found at the lowest point of a watershed, playas are round, shallow basins lined with clay soil that collect and hold rainfall and runoff, forming temporary wetlands. These natural recharge basins play a vital role in replenishing groundwater and supporting wildlife.

In the past, pits were often dug in playas to catch runoff from flood irrigation and pumped back out to irrigate surrounding land. Because of these tailwater pits, many playas like Lindeman’s have lost their original function — along with their ecological value.

Since 2017, the Texas Playa Conservation Initiative has worked with landowners to restore nearly 3,900 acres of playas across the Texas Panhandle. The program offers 100% cost-covered restoration and technical support, as well as a one-time incentive payment, helping producers bring these wetlands back to life.

Lindeman coordinated with contractors and the power company to remove old utility poles, fill the pit, and reverse years of human modification. The result is a naturally functioning playa — and a small step toward bigger water resilience goals in the region.

Lindeman, who was raised with a deep respect for conservation by his father, sees the project as part of a broader movement to restore sustainability in a landscape that once brimmed with wetlands and native grasslands.

“I’m surprised more people aren’t doing this,” he said. “Every time I drive around and see a neglected playa that’s just sitting there, I wonder — do they even know there is another option?”

For him, the benefits are clear: improved soil health, better vegetation, a boost to local wildlife — and meaningful aquifer recharge potential, even if just for domestic use.

“And if none of that gets your motor going,” Lindeman added, “there’s always the financial incentive. We can all use a little extra money in our pockets.”

The process, he says, was smooth.

“There were a lot of enrollments happening in the area, so timing was tight — but it worked out really well,” he said. “Honestly, my only regret is not doing it sooner.”

To landowners who think playa restoration sounds too daunting, Lindeman offers a laugh and a quote from a conservation conference speaker: “Your only effort will be walking to the mailbox to get the check — unless you sign up for direct deposit.”

All joking aside, he believes the long-term value far outweighs any temporary land-use changes.

“These playas were designed by nature to function. All we’re doing is helping them get back to that,” he said. “If you care about your land, your water, and the legacy you’re leaving behind — this is a no-brainer.”

Get Help Restoring Your Playa

For more information about playa restoration opportunities, contact us.

Heather Johnson, Texas Parks and Wildlife
806-475-1308
heather.johnson@tpwd.texas.gov

Tavin Dotson, Ducks Unlimited
806-392-1473
tdotson@ducks.org.

Pheasants Forever Chapter President Restores Playas Across the Texas Panhandle Photo by Tom Grey

Pheasants Forever Chapter President Restores Playas Across the Texas Panhandle

PLAINVIEW, Texas – Danny Glenn doesn’t just talk about habitat — he builds it. As president of the Plainview Pheasants Forever chapter and a lifelong landowner in the Texas Panhandle, Glenn has restored multiple playas across Hale, Swisher, and Briscoe counties to bring back the cover, water, and insect life that upland birds — and entire ecosystems — depend on.

“Restoration isn’t just about the past. It’s about leaving something better behind.”

Found at the lowest point of a watershed, playas are round, shallow basins lined with clay soil that collect and hold rainfall and runoff, forming temporary wetlands. These natural recharge basins play a vital role in replenishing groundwater and supporting wildlife.

“We’ve lost so much habitat over the years, it’s alarming,” Glenn said. “I just couldn’t stand by and watch places I hunted as a kid disappear.”

That personal connection to the land, combined with his leadership in the nation’s leading upland habitat organization, sparked Glenn’s commitment to restoration. His local chapter has supported playa buffer projects for nearly a decade, recognizing playas as one of the last strongholds for pheasant nesting and brood-rearing in the region.

“Habitat is everything,” he said. “If you don’t have it, you don’t have wildlife.”

Even during long stretches of drought, Glenn has seen firsthand how a single rainfall can bring a playa back to life — sprouting diverse plants, attracting insects, and giving pheasants the conditions they need to reproduce. And playas require no constant maintenance — just space, stewardship, and a little patience.

“I’ve hunted areas my whole life that are gone now,” he said. “But when we restore these playas, it’s like flipping a switch. You suddenly have cover, food, water — and wildlife starts coming back.”

Today, Glenn has approximately 600 acres enrolled in conservation and has worked with multiple partners to restore these wetlands, including the Texas Playa Conservation Initiative. While drought remains the biggest challenge, the actual restoration process, he says, has been straightforward.

Since 2017, the Texas Playa Conservation Initiative has worked with landowners to restore nearly 3,900 acres of playas across the Texas Panhandle. The program offers 100% cost-covered restoration and technical support, as well as a one-time incentive payment, helping producers bring these wetlands back to life.

“They hired the contractor, handled the technical stuff — I just had to stay out of the way,” Glenn said with a laugh. “It was easy. And it works.”

Glenn sees this work as critical not just for pheasants, but for pollinators, monarch butterflies, and future generations of hunters and landowners alike.

“If we don’t start now, we’re not going to have anything left,” he said. “Restoration isn’t just about the past. It’s about leaving something better behind.”

His advice for other landowners or conservation groups thinking about playa restoration?

“Start yesterday. Talk to your local NRCS office. Work with people who know the programs. You’ll be amazed how quickly things can improve — and how much more beautiful your land becomes.”

Get Help Restoring Your Playa

For more information about playa restoration opportunities, contact us.

Heather Johnson, Texas Parks and Wildlife
806-475-1308
heather.johnson@tpwd.texas.gov

Tavin Dotson, Ducks Unlimited
806-392-1473
tdotson@ducks.org.

Restoring Playas Brings Benefits to Landowners, Wildlife, and Water Supply Photo by Texas Parks & Wildlife

Restoring Playas Brings Benefits to Landowners, Wildlife, and Water Supply

“If your patient’s running out of blood, quit poking holes in it,” says Chris Grotegut, veterinarian, landowner, and playa restoration advocate.

For landowners in the Texas Panhandle like Grotegut, that patient is the Ogallala Aquifer — the lifeblood of agriculture, communities, and ecosystems across the region. As groundwater levels continue to decline, restoring playas has become a practical, proven way to slow the bleed. These shallow, seasonal wetlands not only recharge the aquifer, but also improve water quality, reduce erosion, enhance drought resilience, and support local wildlife.

“Playas are a vital part of a functioning agricultural landscape and have supported life on the plains for generations.”

A shallow, round depression in a field might not look like much to the untrained eye, but if it’s a playa, that low spot is one of the most important features on the Southern High Plains, especially when it rains.

Found at the lowest point of a watershed, playas are round, shallow basins lined with clay soil that collect and hold rainfall and runoff, forming temporary wetlands. These natural recharge basins play a vital role in replenishing groundwater and supporting wildlife. Because playa health is directly tied to the future of rural life and water in the region, more and more landowners are choosing to restore playas on their land.

Since 2017, the Texas Playa Conservation Initiative has worked with landowners to restore nearly 3,900 acres of playas across the Texas Panhandle. The program offers 100% cost-covered restoration and technical support, helping producers bring these wetlands back to life.

“Healthy playas are the primary source of recharge for the Ogallala Aquifer,” explained Tavin Dotson, regional biologist for playa lakes with Ducks Unlimited. “This vital function not only replenishes our groundwater but also improves water quality in the region.”

Playas have an unpredictable and rapidly changing wet-dry cycle that is essential to their function. Whether they are dry, moist, saturated, or flooded, playas are always working. In fact, without this natural cycle, they wouldn’t be as effective at recharging the aquifer.

When dry, the clay soil in the playa basin contracts and forms deep cracks. Then, when it rains, the first flush of water from the surrounding area flows toward the playa. As water moves through the grasses surrounding the playa, sediment that may carry contaminants from farm fields is trapped and stopped from entering the playa. The water continues into the playa and into the cracks — beginning its journey to the underlying aquifer.

It’s not about capturing rainfall directly — the recharge process depends on how water moves through the cracks and continues making its way through the underlying geology over time. In a region where water is limited and groundwater levels are declining, the role of playas as slow, steady contributors to groundwater replenishment is more important than ever.

“Playas are a vital part of a functioning agricultural landscape and have supported life on the plains for generations,” Dotson said. “Restoration doesn’t mean taking land out of production,” he added. “It’s about helping the playa do what it was designed to do — recharge the aquifer, provide habitat and improve the land — while still working for the producer.”

“The program is designed to be landowner-friendly, with minimal restrictions. Most of our new projects come through referrals — landowners telling neighbors about their experience and encouraging them to participate. That kind of word-of-mouth speaks volumes.”

Over the years, many playas have been modified and are no longer fully functioning. Playa restoration reverses past modifications to playas by removing accumulated sediment, filling drainage features, redirecting water back into the playa, and protecting the playa with a native grass buffer. Texas Playa Conservation Initiative works directly with landowners to plan and carry out these projects, all at no cost to the landowner.

Playas have shown remarkable resilience, said Heather Johnson, Region 1 Migratory Game Bird Specialist with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, based in Littlefield. “Even after a century of disturbance, when we restore a playa, it often rebounds quickly, coming back to life with native vegetation and wildlife,” Johnson said.

Interest in playa restoration is largely driven by word of mouth — and by results.

“Landowner response to the program has been overwhelmingly positive,” Johnson said. “The program is designed to be landowner-friendly, with minimal restrictions. Most of our new projects come through referrals — landowners telling neighbors about their experience and encouraging them to participate. That kind of word-of-mouth speaks volumes.”

Besides the incentive payment, landowners are seeing real benefits.

“The program has helped raise awareness about how valuable a healthy, functioning playa can be to a producer,” Johnson said. “Since most of our restoration work happens on land that’s no longer actively farmed, there’s an added benefit of improved forage quality for livestock in and around the playa. Even if the landowner doesn’t see it immediately, restoration likely improves the amount of water returning to the aquifer beneath their property. And without water, they can’t sustain their operation — their ability to stay on the land depends on it.”

Playas also offer a ripple effect across surrounding communities.

“Across the South Plains, our communities depend heavily on groundwater. Restoring playas directly helps us store more of this vital resource underground, ensuring our towns can not just survive but to grow.”

Johnson emphasized that restored playas benefit entire communities, not just individual landowners.

“Many High Plains communities rely entirely on groundwater,” she said. “By restoring playas, we help ensure a sustainable water supply for local communities. However, recharge alone can’t keep pace with the demand created by intensive irrigation and manicured lawns. It’s important to align our water use with what the land can naturally support.

Grotegut has never shied away from hard truths, especially when it comes to the long-term sustainability of agriculture in the Texas High Plains. For him, playa restoration isn’t just good conservation, it’s sound business and moral responsibility. The economics of water use, he says, have too often ignored the deeper costs — the generational debt we’re accumulating by overdrawing a resource that can’t keep up.

“You’re not just killing your farm, you’re killing your kids’ future if they have to follow in your footsteps on that land,” he said.

That’s why he’s shifted his operation away from intensive irrigation and toward grasslands, conservation, and smarter water management.

When functioning properly, playas also provide critical habitat. During wet periods, they support migratory birds, amphibians, small mammals and a variety of other species. In dry times, they sustain native grasses, pollinators and offer grazing value for cattle.

More wildlife means more opportunities for local tourism through hunting and birdwatching. And educational outreach — from landowner workshops to youth events — helps people understand the value of these unique ecosystems.

Looking ahead, playa conservation is a powerful investment in the future.

“Playas are part of a natural system designed to recycle water back into the ground, making them a critical long-term resource,” Johnson said. “While we’re seeing fewer rain events, the storms we do get tend to be more intense. It’s essential that our playas are intact and functioning so they can absorb and filter that water when it does come, supporting aquifer recharge and providing vital habitat for wildlife. Restoring and protecting these playas now ensures they’ll be there when future generations need them most.”

“By focusing on playa conservation now, we’re safeguarding the water resources that our kids and grandkids will depend on,” Dotson added. “It’s about leaving them a legacy — a resilient landscape, where the natural resources and the unique character of the Texas High Plains are preserved.”

Put Your Playa Back to Work

For more information about playa restoration opportunities, contact us.

Heather Johnson, Texas Parks and Wildlife
806-475-1308
heather.johnson@tpwd.texas.gov

Tavin Dotson, Ducks Unlimited
806-392-1473
tdotson@ducks.org

Grounded in Water: A Landowner Rethinks Future Supply Photo by Heather Johnson

Grounded in Water: A Landowner Rethinks Future Supply

HEREFORD, Texas — In the heart of the High Plains, where drought is more familiar than flood, veterinarian and landowner Dr. Chris Grotegut is helping his community face a difficult truth: if Hereford wants water tomorrow, it has to act today.

“We’ve been outpacing our recharge since the 1950s,” Grotegut said. “That’s the fallacy of the irrigation experiment — nobody stopped to ask how long the aquifer could keep up.”

A fourth-generation steward of his family’s land, Grotegut has spent the last 15 years shifting away from intensive irrigation. He restored more than seven playas across his ranch and helped spearhead a community-wide water plan aimed at securing Hereford’s water future — not just for the next decade, but for the next 150 years.

“People think we’ve got time,” he said. “We don’t.”

The concept is simple: reduce water demand, increase natural recharge, and stop betting the future on short-term extraction. At the center of that plan is playas — shallow depressions in the landscape that funnel rainfall into the Ogallala Aquifer.

“A single year of irrigation can burn through six years’ worth of urban water supply,” he said. “If we want our towns to survive, we need to stop using water like there’s no limit. Because there is.”

Playas are round, shallow depressions found at the lowest point of a watershed. Their basins are lined with clay soil, which allows them to temporarily hold water from rainfall and runoff. Though they may appear dry much of the year, these unique features play a critical role in the landscape — helping recharge groundwater aquifers and providing habitat for wildlife when wet.

“You can see how fast a playa recharges just by watching how long water stays after a rain,” he explained. “The faster it disappears, the better. That means it’s going down — into the aquifer — not just evaporating.”

Grotegut’s community plan combines playa restoration, native grassland conversion, urban water efficiency, and even wastewater reuse. He believes this multi-pronged approach can help Hereford meet its needs — without relying on costly, long-shot solutions like desalination or water importation.

“A single year of irrigation can burn through six years’ worth of urban water supply,” he said. “If we want our towns to survive, we need to stop using water like there’s no limit. Because there is.”

For Grotegut, the turning point came during the 2011 drought. Despite full irrigation, his crop yields were wildly inconsistent. “We realized that if droughts got worse — and they will — we’d have no tools left to adapt,” he said. “That’s when we started putting land back into grass.”

The change worked. Since transitioning much of his operation from row crops to grazing lands, his wells have stabilized, and in some areas, water levels have even risen.

“It’s not about quitting farming — it’s about doing it in a way that works with nature, not against it,” he said. “Playas are part of that. So is native grass. So is thinking beyond the next season.”

A trained veterinarian, Grotegut says his conservation mindset comes naturally. “If your patient’s bleeding out, you don’t keep poking holes,” he said. “The aquifer’s no different.”

Today, Grotegut sees playa restoration as both a practical and ethical responsibility — especially for those who’ve benefited from the land’s productivity. He believes the cost of doing nothing is far greater than the investment required to fix it.

“Bringing water back to this region isn’t going to happen,” he said. “But we can stretch what we have. We can protect it. And we can do it in a way that honors the landowners who built these communities.”

His message to skeptics is clear: Playas aren’t a liability — they’re an asset. As water becomes scarcer, properties with healthy recharge zones and native vegetation are only becoming more valuable.

“You don’t win a race by going the fastest. You win by not running out of fuel,” Grotegut said. “In the High Plains, water is our fuel. And playas are our best bet to keep running.”

Learn more about Grotegut’s conservation efforts in this video about the 2022 Lone Star Land Steward Award winner.

Get Help Restoring Your Playa

For more information about playa restoration opportunities, contact us.

Heather Johnson, Texas Parks and Wildlife
806-475-1308
heather.johnson@tpwd.texas.gov

Tavin Dotson, Ducks Unlimited
806-392-1473
tdotson@ducks.org.

Playas for the Plains

Playas for the Plains

Many playa lakes of the Southern Plains have been plowed under cropland, silted over, or diverted into irrigation pits. But the value of these shallow lakes for groundwater recharge and wildlife habitat has landowners and conservation groups working together to restore playa lakes for the Plains and the future of its economy and biodiversity.

Leave Things as God Made Them Photo by Texan by Nature

Leave Things as God Made Them

In early 2018, Dustin McNabb helped his mother-in-law fill a large, deep pit (600’ x 50’ x 20’) in an unfarmed playa on her dryland farm through the Texas Playa Conservation Initiative. The playa sits on the front half of 80 acres, next to a highway in Lubbock County. The family is letting the whole 80 acres go back to natural vegetation, and Dustin is managing it for upland birds.

“I’m the president of the local chapter of Quail Forever. That’s what got me started messing around out there. I’ve always been a hunter and have an affinity for quail and pheasant. So I’ve been working on restoring everything to a native habitat that’s more beneficial to those birds—and anything else that wants to roam around out there.

“Over the last few years, I’ve learned a lot about how important things are and in some cases you need to leave things the way God made ‘em—those playas being one of them. They are designed that way for a reason.

“The Texas Playa Conservation Initiative—how it’s designed, what it’s doing, the way that it’s run—is done very well and done with the best ideas at heart. It really is something I think everyone could benefit from if they would just consider allowing somebody on their property to do some work. It was a great program for us. The wildlife, vegetation, groundwater, and everything is going to benefit in the long run.”

Texas Playa Conservation Initiative

Texas Playa Conservation Initiative

Beneath the feet of millions of Texans, below the waring grasslands of the panhandle, lie thousands of access points to the biggest aquifer in America. These shallow basins, called playas, are Texas’ recharge points for the Ogallala Aquifer, and they play a critical role in providing a plentiful amount of clean water for the entire region. However, the health and integrity of the playas, and ultimately the assurance of a steady water supply, is declining. Over-grazing, modifications from older irrigation practices, accumulation of silt deposits from erosion, and many other factors contribute to the declining quality of playas in the Texas panhandle. To counter this trend, the Texas Playa Conservation Initiative works with landowners and other stakeholders across the panhandle region to incentivize the restoration and rejuvenation of healthy playas.

Clovis Looks to Playas to Help Supply Municipal Water Photo by Brian Slobe

Clovis Looks to Playas to Help Supply Municipal Water

 

Read the Transcript

The city of Clovis, New Mexico, is taking an innovative approach to ensuring its future water supply — playa conservation. And what this city of 38,000 is doing might become a model for other municipalities on the High Plains. The city government put a million dollars of economic development funds toward playa conservation. Most immediately they’re doing a stormwater runoff project to fill playa lakes. Longer range, Clovis city officials are talking with adjacent landowners and ag producers about rehabbing those playas, and obtaining water rights.

“The farmer is converting to dryland farming, enhancing their playa lake recharge and getting a long-term agreement to save that water for municipal and industrial use.”

Clovis mayor David Lansford, who told me cattle feedlots came in decades ago. But more recently the region’s seen huge dairy farms established. It’s lucrative for local producers to grow forage for those milk cows.

“We can only wait so long to start implementing conservation methods outside the city where the water is being mined aggressively. Eighty-five or ninety percent of the water in Curry County is used to put on crops, and the rate that is going is unsustainable by a long shot.”

Lansford says in the county, there are 10 to 15 ag producers who understand their water supply will be critical for Clovis and the adjacent Cannon Air Force Base.

“They don’t want to be the ones that ran the well dry. They are community minded people. They understand and care about the survival and sustainability of Curry County’s economy.”

The challenge is finding a way to compensate those producers for going dryland.

“They’re going to participate as long as it makes business sense. They aren’t going to go along with $100, let’s say, when they can make $500. That doesn’t make any sense.”

One Clovis neighbor is rancher Vincent de Maio.

“The idea that we retire some water closer to the city is certainly the first step they want to take. I see it as a much bigger project, and I see it much more extensive. I see the Clovis area as really being the model going forward, because what’s happening here is happening in west Texas, is happening in Kansas and Nebraska, all the way across the Ogallala.”

Mayor Landsford understands playas recharge the aquifer the city pulls its water from, and Clovis has playas in town. One project Clovis is pursuing diverts storm runoff into those lakes “as opposed to running them down the bar ditches and onto the highway.”

Then find methods, engineering, land- and vegetation-management methods that return playas to their natural functioning form.

“And then divert that water into those playa lakes and create not only a recharge funnel for the aquifer, but create a habitat for wildlife and various living species.”

Ken Rainwater’s a water-resources engineer at Texas Tech. He’s involved with the consulting firm doing the Clovis drainage master plan.

“As the stormwater runs through the city of Clovis, the flow paths are controlled by where the playa lakes are. Part of my job is to work with the information they’ve gathered to try to get an idea about how the playas behave during and between storms.”

Mike Carter is Playa Lakes Joint Venture coordinator. This project to capture storm runoff and send it into playas, Mike says that’s new and innovative thinking.

“If you triple the amount of water going into a playa by diverting runoff that’s doing damage to roads anyway and then you do it with sediment buffers so that you don’t do damage to the playa, you could be looking at a situation where you’re tripling the amount of recharge. That’s exactly the kind of solution that we’re looking for. That’s brilliant thinking.”

Playa Country, which ended in late 2016, was a weekly show that featured conservation and wildlife experts — as well as farmers, ranchers and land managers — talking about conservation practices that improve wildlife habitat and landowners’ bottom-line. This episode of Playa Country was made possible by a grant from the Wildlife Conservation Society, with support provided by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.