Kansas, the Land of 10,000 Lakes

by Bobby D. Tricks, Soil Scientist
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Hays, Kansas

Playa lakes are unique, freshwater wetlands of the High Plains region of the Western Great Plains. These depressional wetlands have clay-lined basins and naturally fill periodically with water from rainfall and its associated runoff. While there is no official count of playa lakes, it has been estimated that there are more than 50,000 playas found in the Western Great Plains and that western Kansas has more than 10,000 of these unique wetlands.

Because of their unpredictable presence, the playa lakes have had a defining role in life on the High Plains. Paleo-Indian, Native Americans, Spanish explorers, buffalo hunters, ranchers, and eventually settlers have relied on and been tormented by the playas.

How Playas Developed

Theories abound on how the playas came to be. Among the theories of playa development are karst topography, land subsidence, isolation of early pluvial lake and rivers, soil slumpage, wind deflation, buffalo wallows, and meteor impact. While there are various theories on playa formation, the two most current theories attempting to explain playa formation are: Osterkamp and Wood (1978) proposal that the dissolution of calcic soils and calcretes that underlie the High Plains is the principal reason for playa formation, and Gustavson etal. (1995) proposed that no single process was responsible for formation of the playa basins. They have proposed that combinations of depositional, pedogenic, geomorphic, and hydrologic processes have contributed to playa formation.

Playas Threatened

The majority of playa lakes are located in cropland and grazing land with a few found in feedlots. Due to their diverse locations, a number of adverse impacts can threaten the playa ecosystem. Some of these impacts are pesticide and fertilizer runoff, contaminant runoff from feedlots, over grazing, sedimentation, development, oil field water dumping, and altered water cycles and basin structure. However, sedimentation is the primary threat to playa lakes. The accumulation of sediment in playa basins reduces the volume of water the playa can hold. This reduction of water storage capacity can disrupt the wet-dry cycles necessary for vegetation growth. The ephemeral nature of water in playa lakes may enhance vegetative diversity of playa lakes. Additionally, many playa lake basins have been manipulated to increase water storage capacity for irrigation purposes, and the presence of additional water from irrigation runoff also alters natural playa hydrology.

Importance of Playas

Rich Food Source - Precipitation is inconsistent, and drought is a common occurrence. The resulting wet-dry cycle of playas produces a highly diverse plant community. These plants produce large quantities of nutritious seeds essential for waterfowl and other birds that migrate and winter in the region. Playa lakes may be the most important wetland habitat type for birds in the region.

Wildlife Habitat - Playa lakes are a vital habitat for wildlife, especially for migrating birds that depend on the region's resources to "refuel" for their journey between Canada, the United States, and South America. More than 200 species of birds use playas during the breeding, wintering, or migrating seasons.

Groundwater Recharge - Studies in the Southern High Plains are suggesting that playas also play a vital role in groundwater recharge. These studies have found that water in playas percolates underground from basin edges into the Ogallala Aquifer (174,000 square-mile formation spanning sections of eight states). The Ogallala Aquifer is an important resource for farmers, many of whom pump water from it for irrigation. Water is mined from this massive underground formation much more rapidly than it is replenished. Researchers have recorded declines in the aquifer's water table since the 1940’s. Recharge from playas, coupled with water conservation practices, may slow this decline and maintain the resource for future generations.

Conservation of Playas

Just as playas have diverse biological communities, there is a wide diversity of opinion on what does, or should, constitute policy governing them. Whatever your opinion is on playa lakes, they are and have been a complex and perplexing part of the High Plains ecosystem. The goal of all parties involved with playas should be what is best for the playa resource. This will provide a well-reasoned compromise on their use and sensible regulation.

There are several keys to the conservation of playas. The importance of playas must be recognized by lawmakers, government agencies, conservation groups, agricultural organizations, and local citizens. Over 99 percent of the playas are privately owned; therefore, conservation efforts need to be acceptable to landowners and compatible with local farming practices. There are state and federal programs designed to assist private landowners in the management and conservation of playa lakes. To find out more about potential financial and technical assistance, please contact:

Natural Resources Conservation Service, www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov,(785-823-4558)
Farm Service Agency, www.fsa.usda.gov/ks, (785-539-3531)
Fish and Wildlife Service, Kansas Partners for Fish and Wildlife, kansaspartners.fws.gov, (785-539-3474)
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, www.kdwp.state.ks.us, (785-462-3367 or 620-227-8609)
Playa Lakes Joint Venture, www.pljv.org, (303-926-0777)
Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams, www.kaws.org, (620-241-3636)

“Common Flora of the Playa Lakes” by David A. Haukos and Loren M. Smith
“Ground-Water Recharge in the Southern High Plains of Texas and New Mexico” by Warren Wood
“Playas – Jewels of the Plains” - Jim Steirt
“Playas and the Ogallala Aquifer-What’s the Connection” - Playa Lakes Joint Venture
“Kansas Playas-Unique Wetlands on the High Plains” - Playa Lakes Joint Venture

This article is also available in Microsoft Word format.

Kansas, the land of 10,000 Lakes (DOC; 56 KB)

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Last Modified: 08/13/2008