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The Southern Great Plains (SGP) extend throughout the central and western section of the panhandle of Texas, western Oklahoma, the southwest corner of Kansas, and the eastern edge of New Mexico. These "Great Plains" were left when erosion from all sides was stopped eventually by the calcium carbonate-cemented, wash-resistant caliche layer that underlies this section of the country.

Wetlands of high value to waterfowl in the SGP include playa lakes, large saline lakes, man-made ponds, and reservoirs. Each provides unique and valuable wintering and migration habitat for waterfowl.

The playa lakes are the most valuable waterfowl habitat in the SGP. It has been estimated that 31,000 playas are interspersed throughout the region; these wetlands encompass approximately 400,000 acres. Most playas have seasonal water regimes, and generally less than 5% of playas hold water at any given time due to the spotty nature of precipitation in the region. In most cases, in this intensively farmed area, playas provide the only suitable wetland habitat. In dry years when few playas are flooded, waterfowl have few natural foods available and consume mostly waste grain.

During winters with good moisture, more than a million ducks (mostly pintail, blue-winged teal, mallards, and wigeon), 500,000 geese, and over 350,000 sandhill cranes use the region. Millions more waterfowl, shorebirds, and other migratory species pass through each spring and fall. Historically, playas were second in importance only to the Gulf Coast as winter habitat for waterfowl in the Central Flyway. About 20% of all waterfowl wintering in Texas depend on playa wetlands. In addition to providing wintering and migration habitat in good years, up to 250,000 ducks (mostly blue-winged teal and mallards) are produced in the playas.

What are Playa Lakes?

Projects in the Southern Great Plains:

Texas