Shallow wetlands that occur primarily in semi-arid to arid environments, playas are keystone ecosystems in the western Great Plains of North America. Providing irreplaceable habitat for native plants and animals, including migratory birds, they are essential for the maintenance of biotic diversity throughout the region. Playas also serve to recharge the aquifer that supplies much of the water for the Plains states. At the same time, however, large-scale habitat changes have endangered playas across the Great Plains, making urgent the need to understand their ecology and implement effective conservation measures. This book provides a state-of-the-art survey of all that is currently known about Great Plains playa ecology and conservation. Loren Smith synthesizes his own extensive research with other published studies to define playas and characterize their origin, development, flora, fauna, structure, function, and diversity. He also thoroughly explores the human relationship with playas from prehistoric times, when they served as campsites for the Clovis peoples, to today's threats to playa ecosystems from agricultural activities and global climate change. A blueprint for government agencies, private conservation groups, and concerned citizens to save these unique prairie ecosystems concludes this landmark study.

Playa Lakes are unique, freshwater wetlands found in Southeastern Colorado, Southwestern Kansas, Western Oklahoma, Eastern New Mexico, and Northwest Texas. These wetlands provide the principal remaining native habitat for wildlife in this area. More that three hundred species of plants have been identified from the twenty-five to thirty thousand Playa wetlands occurring throughout the High Plains Region of the Southern Great Plains. This guide provides quick, accurate identification of seventy-two of the most common plants occurring in the Playa wetlands. More than 140 color photographs highlight key field identification characteristics for each species description. An introduction to the ecology of Playa Lakes, complete list of all known plant species, and a glossary of terms will make this a valuable reference for amateur and professional alike.