A Novel Approach to Wetland Management in Arid Regions: Harnessing the Power of the Playa

Tayler A. Rocha

Living in the intermountain west, I believe that there isn’t a more important resource to both humans and wildlife as water. Along with my early childhood interest in science, I have always been concerned about the availability of water, remembering times when our well water was low, barely yielding enough water for bathing due to the diversion of surface water for agriculture, as well as worsening drought conditions. I was also worried about the overuse of water by humans for seemingly trivial reasons, with little regard to wildlife or habitat needs. After I learned about the BLM trying reverse decades of dewatering by reestablishing wetlands in the high mountain valley where I live, I became intensely interested in how both humans and wildlife would benefit from this unique management effort … My study examines how temporary wetlands, called playas, can be beneficial to wildlife by serving as a rich food source for migratory birds, as well as a source of groundwater recharge for humans needs. Wetlands, particularly those in the West, have been in sharp decline for many years due to human demands, and are becoming less functional and more disconnected as wildlife habitat. By understanding how wetland habitats and groundwater are interdependent and linked, water application strategies can be developed that can support wildlife as well as the farming needs of humans … Math as it is taught in the classroom has not captured my intense interest as has science throughout my years in high school. However, while conducting my research on this project, I realized that math is what allowed me to visualize and deduce my conclusions: it is the tool that validates and describes the differences and findings of any scientific endeavor … I gained a tremendous amount of confidence when I realized that I had the ability to understand and use math as I conducted science, giving it a much deeper meaning than just textbook examples …