INFLUENCES OF LAND USE AND WETLAND CHARACTERISTICS ON WATER LOSS RATES AND HYDROPERIODS OF PLAYAS IN THE SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS, USA

• Published in: Wetlands (Wilmington, N.C.) Vol. 27; no. 3; pp. 683 - 692
• Main Authors: Tsai, Jo-Szu, Venne, Louise S., McMurry, Scott T., Smith, Loren M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 1313 Dolley Madison Boulevard, Suite 402, McLean, Virginia, USA 22101 The Society of Wetland Scientists 01.09.2007; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agricultural land; agricultural watersheds; correlation; Evaporation; evapotranspiration; Freshwater; Grasslands; High plains; infiltration (hydrology); Land use; linear models; Multiple regression models; playa area; playa soils; Playas; Regression analysis; REGULAR SUBMISSIONS; sediment deposition; sedimentation; Sediments; Soil properties; Soil texture; Soil water; Soils; spatial variation; Surface water; surface water level; temporal variation; Texture; tillage; tilled index; Transpiration; Vegetation; Vegetation cover; volume; volume loss; Water depth; Water levels; Water loss; water surface area; water-level fluctuations; watershed size; Watersheds; wetland soils; Wetlands; Texas; High Plains (United States); United States > US; USA, Southern High Plains; USA
• ISSN: 0277-5212; 1943-6246
• DOI: 10.1672/0277-5212(2007)27[683:IOLUAW]2.0.CO;2

More than 25,000 playa wetlands are embedded in the Southern High Plains (SHP), USA. The SHP is one of the most intensively cultivated areas in the world and, as a result, the function of playas has been altered by deposition of eroded sediments. We monitored water levels in 33 playas in summer 2003 to examine the influence of land use (cropland vs. native grassland) and playa characteristics (playa area, watershed size, starting water level, volume loss, sediment depth, percent playa vegetation cover, and soil texture zone) on water loss rate and hydroperiod (consecutive days a playa held measurable surface water). Multiple regression models (selected using Akaike's Information Criterion) indicated that land use, percent playa vegetation cover, and soil texture zone were important factors explaining water loss rate while starting water level and land use were important in explaining hydroperiod. Playas with cropland watersheds have lost their hydric soil-defined volume due to sedimentation, which results in an increase in water surface area and evaporation, and possibly infiltration, thus shortening hydroperiod. Hydroperiod was not related to playa area. Based on hydroperiod, small playas should receive the same conservation consideration as larger playas. Future research should examine transpiration rates in playas within grassland and cropland landscapes.