Hundreds of Playa Lakes Dot the County

A 1968 survey counted 922 playa lakes in Lubbock County. Playas are small, round, shallow lakes. They fill up after heavy rains and then dry out. On the flat High Plains, they are one of the most important water sources for birds that migrate through the area. Ducks, geese, and shorebirds rely on them.

Most playas sit on private farmland and are not open to the public. But they matter a lot to landowners. If you own land with a playa, it can help you attract waterfowl for duck hunting. Playas can also help you qualify for wildlife management valuation, which is a way to lower your property taxes. The Playa Lakes Joint Venture, a nonprofit migratory bird joint venture affiliated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has studied them closely.