In eastern New Mexico, there are over 2,100 playas, which are temporary wetlands that provide important benefits for both people and wildlife. Most of them are located in areas of native grass or rangeland, including 370 playas located on lands owned by the New Mexico State Land Office (NMSLO). To ensure that playas on state trust lands are healthy and continue to benefit New Mexico residents and wildlife, the State Land Office is partnering with PLJV and local Soil and Water Conservation Districts to restore playas on leased lands.
“Healthy playas recharge aquifers, provide important wildlife habitat, and can also benefit livestock operations when alternative clean water sources are developed.”
“Healthy playas recharge aquifers, provide important wildlife habitat, and can also benefit livestock operations when alternative clean water sources are developed,” says Will Barnes, NMSLO Deputy Director of Surface Resources Division.
Using the PLJV playa dataset, 50 playas have been identified as needing some type of restoration. For the first phase of this project, NMSLO and PLJV decided to focus on the 19 playas that are on land leased for grazing and began by working on an outreach plan, developing communication materials, and identifying a potential pilot restoration project.
In February, the first playa restoration project was completed on Weaver Ranch, in Roosevelt County, after working with the lessee to get approval and to develop a restoration plan. The lessee was interested in returning the land back to as natural a condition as possible. In the past, a pit had been dug in the playa to water cattle; however, it was no longer needed since an alternative water source had been developed. After the pit was filled, grass was planted around the playa before the spring rains.
Learn more about the NMSLO Playa Restoration Initiative and hear why one rancher decided to restore his playas in the video below.
Rancher Restores Playas for Water Quality
Dwight Parker ran a cattle operation in Quay County, New Mexico, which included rangeland leased from the New Mexico State Land Office. In 2020, he participated in a program to fill pits in three playas – restoring them for the benefit of his cattle and the land. His main focus was providing clean water for his cattle, rather than having them drink water that had been standing in the pit and could be contaminated.