The final Ogallala Commons Playa Field Day for 2025 will focus on a plant that holds the world together—grass, the role of grasses as buffers, and their importance to playa water quality and wildlife.

Panhandle residents likely have no idea that water can be polished, but grass buffers surrounding playas filter out sediment and impurities from rainwater flowing into playas, resulting in cleaner, purer water.

The field day on this topic is set for Tuesday, October 14 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will launch from Joe’s Pizza & Pasta, located on the south side of Interstate 40 (19151 I-40 Frontage Rd) in Bushland.

Speakers and topics that contribute to sound management of playa ecosystems are traditional at Playa Field Days and the October 14 session is no exception. Those attending will hear about upland game birds as well as warm season grass species that can improve playa habitat. A tour of grass trials at the Bushland Texas AgriLife Experiment Station, plus a trip to a nearby playa will be held after lunch.

At 9:40 an overview of playa ecosystems and the Texas Playa Conservation Initiative will be given by Heather Johnson, Migratory Game Bird Specialist: Region I, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, Littlefield.

“Supporting Upland Game Birds around Playas and Grass Buffers” will be outlined by Nolan Talkington, Coordinating Wildlife Biologist- Texas Panhandle Quail Forever, Amarillo.

After a break, the final presentation entitled, “Successful Grass Options for Playa Uplands and Grass Buffers” will be offered by Jameson Crumpler, Assistant Director, Texas Native Seeds Program, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, from Lubbock.

Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. followed by closing remarks at 12:10.

Attendees will then depart to tour warm season grass trials at the nearby USDA-ARS Conservation & Production Research Lab at Bushland, followed by a visit to a nearby playa led by Nolan Talkington.

Those planning to attend should register by October 11. Registration fee is $25 per person.

Register by contacting Darryl Birkenfeld, Ogallala Commons Director by phone at 806-336-1713.