Special to the Leader & Times

The City of Guymon has partnered with Tomorrow’s Water, a multi-state, multi-partner effort to support playa restoration in Texas County. This collaborative effort focuses on restoring playas, which are natural recharge wetlands, to help sustain local water supplies and support wildlife habitat.

“Water conservation is not simply about getting through a drought—it is about protecting Oklahoma’s future,” said Micheal W. Shannon, City Manager of Guymon, Oklahoma. “Every gallon of water we conserve today helps protect the water supply our communities, agriculture, businesses, and future generations will depend upon.”

Playas – also called mud holes, buffalo wallows, and lagoons – are round, shallow depressions found at the lowest point of a watershed. Their basins, which are lined with clay soil, collect and hold water from rainfall and runoff, creating temporary wetlands.

Because they are recharge wetlands, water flows through them to the underlying aquifer. Playas are a primary source of groundwater recharge, contributing up to 95 percent of water flowing to the aquifer, with recharge rates in playas 10 to 1,000 times higher than under other areas.

Within 10 miles of Guymon, there are 1,000 playa acres that can potentially be restored. If all playa acres within this area are restored, these playas could contribute an estimated 82 million gallons of recharge to the aquifer annually.

“Playa restoration is an important tool in supporting sustainable water supplies for future generations,” said Maggie Woods, Wetland Conservation Specialist with the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, which works in partnership with Tomorrow’s Water. “Healthy playas also improve water quality, reduce flood risks, and provide wildlife habitat.”

Although playas are a primary source of recharge, irrigation pumping from the aquifer greatly exceeds groundwater recharge from playas. Communities can proactively address a declining water supply by restoring playas and adopting irrigation practices that reduce the impacts from aquifer overuse. Once water use has been reduced, healthy playas can help stabilize groundwater levels over time.

By reducing aquifer overuse, restoring playas, and managing runoff within playa watersheds, communities can ensure a sustainable water supply for communities and future generations.

“As Oklahomans, we have a responsibility to be good stewards of our groundwater and surface water resources,” Shannon said. “Conservation, responsible development, and long-term planning must work together if we are going to ensure that Oklahoma has a reliable water supply for generations to come.”

Tomorrow’s Water, which supports communities in these efforts, is an adaptive, collaborative process in which local communities partner with conservation organizations to create an actionable plan to stabilize their water supply — with playa conservation playing a key role alongside broader water quantity and quality strategies.

Landowners in Texas County can receive financial and technical assistance to restore playas on their land, which will strengthen their operation and help protect water resources for future generations.

The Oklahoma Conservation Commission’s Restoring Natural Ecology in Wetlands (ReNEW) Program offers producers 80 percent cost-share for playa restoration.

“The ReNEW Program is just one option among many programs that aim to make wetland restoration more feasible by lowering the costs to the landowner,” Woods said. “If you are a landowner, our team can help determine how your playas can contribute to your operation and your community, and we will work with you to find programs and management practices that meet your specific goals while supporting your community and future generations.”

“We cannot take our water resources for granted. We must protect them, manage them wisely, and work together to preserve Oklahoma’s water future,” Shannon said.

For additional information about playas and the benefits they provide, visit tomorrowswater.org. To discuss programs and options that can help meet conservation objectives, contact Maggie Woods, Wetland Conservation Specialist with the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, at 405-431-0958 or visit wetlands.ok.gov.