Playas are variably sized depressions in the prairie that are usually dry. However, during wet periods, especially after heavy thunderstorms, these depressions are often filled with water and teeming with birds. Playas provide nesting, feeding, or resting grounds for an abundance of waterfowl, wading birds, and shorebirds.

Common conservation practices include fencing playas to better manage grazing efforts, providing alternate water sources, and filling pits adjacent to or within playas to restore the native hydrology of the basin.

Grissom Playa Restoration, Las Animas County, Colorado

In June of 2005 the landowner filled a 1400 cu. yd. pit in the playa basin in an effort to restore the natural hydrology of the playa. The disturbed area was re-seeded to a native warm season shortgrass mix. In August 2006, a 21,000 gallon storage tank was installed to provide alternate water storage/ source for the livestock grazing operation. The landowner will continue a rotational grazing system with the playa basin being deferred for one year.

Playa pit before filling, 2005	Playa pit after filling, June 2006	Wet playa after rain, August 2006