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.”
Learn more about Jason’s story. Hear him talk about how playa restoration is a natural part of stewardship and sustainability.