Playas are ephemeral wetlands that are dry most of the time. While this is normal and natural, it makes it more difficult to see playas when they are filled with surface water as well as amphibians, insects, avian species, and mammals.
In May 2025, Ogallala Commons (OC) recognized that a rare moment had arrived. Weeks of abundant rainfall had filled playas in the Texas Panhandle with a profusion of life that hadn’t been seen in decades! OC staff worked through the summer months with Sol.TV to create an educational video during field days and in-person interviews.
This video displays the rebirth that occurred in the basin and uplands around OC’s Playa Classroom in Nazareth, TX. Additionally, this video features the voices of a half-dozen experts and practitioners who have worked with Ogallala Commons in our multi-year efforts to educate the public about how playas function as a keystone ecosystem.