After the Rain

Playa Lakes Joint Venture

A storytelling podcast from Playa Lakes Joint Venture. These are the voices stewarding the land and the stories that surface after the rain.

  1. Jun 1

    Episode 19: Balance the Ledger

    Veterinarian and landowner Dr. Chris Grotegut says the central challenge in the Texas Panhandle is simple: for decades, the region has pumped more water from the aquifer than nature can replace. Irrigation boosted production after WWII, but it created a long-term imbalance underground. To move back toward sustainability, Chris transitioned much of his irrigated farmland into grassland and reduced pumping, especially after the extreme 2011 drought. When water levels stabilized, it confirmed that cutting back could protect his wells and his operation over the long haul. Playas are a key part of the solution. Chris has restored seven on his property and says removing pits and sediment dramatically speeds infiltration. “The faster it disappears,” he explains, “the better the recharge.” He also sees restoration as a smart investment. In today’s market, water and grassland drive property value more than irrigated acres ever did. Chris’s message is clear: conserving water now is the only way to secure a future for the High Plains.

    7 min

  2. Jun 1

    Episode 18: Why Wouldn’t You Restore a Playa?

    In the Texas Panhandle, Jason Lindeman saw restoring a modified playa on his family’s land as a natural extension of the conservation mindset he grew up with. His father had long emphasized stewardship and sustainability, so participating in the Texas Playa Conservation Initiative just made sense. Through the initiative, contractors removed the outdated infrastructure and reshaped the basin. Jason says the restored playa looks clean, natural, and meaningful for his family, especially since his parents have deep roots on that land. For him, the project fits into a larger water story on the High Plains. Restored playas won’t solve aquifer decline alone, but they support recharge, improve vegetation, and provide habitat for wildlife. “It seems like a win-win,” he says. Jason encourages other landowners to consider the benefits, from soil health to wildlife to the financial incentive. The process was far easier than he expected. His restored 80-acre playa is just one basin on the map, but to Jason, it’s proof that every bit of recharge helps.

    6 min

  3. Jun 1

    Episode 17: Back the Way God Made It

    West Texas landowner and Pheasants Forever chapter president Danny Glenn has restored several playas across multiple counties, driven by a simple belief: better habitat means more wildlife. Clearing out old irrigation pits and unused infrastructure allowed his playas to function the way they were meant to. Danny says restored playas make an immediate difference. Native plants return, insects flourish, and pheasants gain the cover and food sources they need to survive. With drought intensifying and longtime hunting spots disappearing, protecting habitat has become even more urgent for him. Playas, he explains, are small but powerful ecosystems. When rain returns, they produce a burst of plants and insects. The surrounding grass buffers also give birds the shelter they rely on. Restoration has improved the land in ways Danny can see. “It’s amazing how much prettier the land looks,” he said, “and how much better it is for the wildlife.” Working with the Texas Playa Conservation Initiative made the process easy, with contractors handling the major work. His message to other landowners is simple: start now. Restoring playas today ensures that wildlife — and future generations — will benefit long into the future.

    6 min

  4. Jun 1

    Episode 16: Do Your Part

    When the Texas Playa Conservation Initiative launched, Norman Burge was one of the first to get involved. Managing land in both Floyd County, Texas, and Curry County, New Mexico, he wanted better habitat for game birds and quickly saw how restoring a playa could help. Because his acres have been in CRP for decades, the restoration didn’t change his daily operation. But filling a long-standing pit helped him understand how playas actually work — not as leaky bowls, but as natural recharge points feeding the aquifer. Norman has seen Texas’ irrigation history shift dramatically, from roaring pumps in the 1960s to quiet, dry fields today. Windmills on his own land no longer produce water. Restoring a playa won’t fix everything, he says, but it’s something he can do. “For me, it’s just doing my part.” Through small but meaningful restoration efforts, Norman Burge is helping support water, wildlife, and the long-term future of the High Plains.

    5 min

  5. Jun 1

    Episode 15: How One West Texas Ranch Got Its Groove Back

    In the headwaters of the Brazos River, landowner John Roley has turned a rundown West Texas property called Little Las Vegas into a thriving example of restoration. What started as a bank-repossessed grow yard is now part of why he earned the 2025 Texas Land Steward of the Year award. When John first reclaimed the land, improved fencing, and restored water, mule deer began returning from eastern New Mexico. What started as a handful, grew into the land suddenly having life again. John later partnered with Texas Parks and Wildlife to restore one of his playas. By fixing the basin, he helped water flow naturally back into the playa. The restoration wasn’t without setbacks. Early grass seedings failed and progress felt slow, but John stayed committed. “You just have to have faith,” he said. Today, the playa holds water, supports diverse grasses, and attracts everything from mule deer to migrating birds. The ranch has become a place where wildlife is visible, constant, and thriving. John now opens his gates to students and community groups to show what conservation looks like in real life. For him, stewardship is simple: “If you’ve got this land, it’s a blessing, and it needs to be shared.”

    4 min

  6. Jun 1

    Episode 14: Restoring Playas on Dryland Acres

    In northwest Kearny County, farmer Ryan Barnhardt realized the low pockets in his dryland fields, called playas, weren’t helping his operation. Those temporary wetlands either burned up or flooded out, leaving bare ground and no real production. About a decade ago, Ryan enrolled those areas in a playa restoration program through the USDA Conservation Reserve Program Migratory Birds, Butterflies and Pollinators State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) practice. The program restored the playas and added surrounding grass buffers. “Those acres were never productive,” he said. “Putting them into grass made sense.” Restored playas now catch rainfall, reduce erosion, and help water soak back into the Ogallala Aquifer. Wildlife quickly returned. Pheasants, quail, geese, and other birds now use the grass and wetland basins throughout the year. “It’s great to see the bird life out there,” Ryan said. Financially, he says the conservation payments are far more reliable than trying to farm those acres. “You get a more consistent income stream than what those spots ever produced,” he said. For other producers considering playa conservation, his advice is simple: look into it. “The recharge and the wildlife alone make it worth it,” he said. By turning marginal acres into habitat and recharge zones, Ryan Barnhardt is proving conservation can benefit both the land and the operation.

    5 min

  7. Jun 1

    Episode 13: Preserving Wetlands for the Long Haul

    Nearly 25 years ago, Dan and Brenda Pace enrolled two Kansas properties — a river corridor in Kingman County and a shallow playa in Meade County — into the USDA Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) program. He wanted to conserve both places “as close to their original condition as possible.” Today, beavers, ducks, shorebirds, and native wetland plants thrive on the restored acres. The Meade site, once a mud-prone irrigated circle, now functions as a healthy playa that helps recharge the Ogallala Aquifer. “Just seeing the wildlife and knowing it will stay that way is very satisfying,” Dan said. Managing the easements takes some work, especially keeping invasive brush under control, but new tools like herbicide-spraying drones help him stay ahead of it. Dan says the program has been flexible and easy to work with. “The restrictions are very few,” he said. His advice to other landowners considering WRE? “Do it. It’s good for native species, and it’s not hard if you enjoy working on the land.” By restoring both wetlands, Dan and Brenda Pace are preserving two unique Kansas landscapes for generations to come.

    4 min

  8. Jun 1

    Episode 12: Bringing a Small Wetland Back to Life

    Nearly 40 years ago, Greg Meador bought a 35-acre wetland in Rice County after first leasing it for duck hunting. Over time, sediment filled the shallow basins and the birds stopped coming. After a rainy weekend camping there with his son and hearing ducks overhead again, Greg decided to restore the wetland instead of letting it fade away. He enrolled the property in the USDA Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) program and took on much of the work himself, from paperwork to managing the dirt work. Partners like NRCS, Ducks Unlimited, and a NAWCA grant helped move the project forward. The restored basins now hold water longer, provide habitat, and even reduce flooding on a neighboring farm. Wildlife has returned as well. “Seeing that kind of wildlife again has made it worthwhile,” Greg said. He plans more improvements, including tree removal and pollinator seeding. But the biggest motivation is family. “I’ve got two grandsons,” he said. “This is something I can pass on to them.” For Greg, restoring the wetland is about stewardship and making sure the landscape is healthier for the next generation.

    6 min
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About

A storytelling podcast from Playa Lakes Joint Venture. These are the voices stewarding the land and the stories that surface after the rain.

Information

  • Creator
    Playa Lakes Joint Venture
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Playa Lakes Joint Venture
  • Show Website
    After the Rain