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EFFECTS OF SEDIMENTATION ON PLAYA WETLAND VOLUME
Author(s) -
Luo Hong-Ren,
Smith Loren M.,
Allen B. L.,
Haukos David A.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
ecological applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.864
H-Index - 213
eISSN - 1939-5582
pISSN - 1051-0761
DOI - 10.1890/1051-0761(1997)007[0247:eosopw]2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - sedimentation , rangeland , wetland , environmental science , hydrology (agriculture) , soil texture , ecosystem , soil water , erosion , ecology , sediment , geology , soil science , agroforestry , geomorphology , biology , geotechnical engineering
Over 50% of the wetlands in the conterminous United States have been lost; however, few studies have investigated the more insidious effects of sedimentation on wetland volume. We examined the effects of sedimentation on playa wetland volume in the Southern High Plains (Texas, USA). We compared 20 playas with watersheds dominated by rangeland to 20 playas that had cropland watersheds. Playas were located in fine‐ and medium‐texture soil zones. Playas with cultivated watersheds contained more sediments than those with rangeland watersheds. Playas with cultivated watersheds had lost all of their original volume, on average, whereas playas with rangeland watersheds had lost only about one third of their volume. Of the ≈30000 playas in the region, most have cultivated watersheds, and therefore the hydroperiod of playas has been drastically altered over the last 60 yr, changing the structure and function of these ecosystems. Also, sedimentation in playas in the medium‐texture soil zone was greater than in the fine‐texture soil zone. Therefore, management efforts should first focus on the coarser soil areas to prevent the greatest sedimentation rates. Permanent vegetative cover (e.g., buffer strips) should be encouraged on playa watersheds to prevent further degradation.