Sculpture by: Jonathan Whitfill
Photo by: Victoria Marie Bee
Here, the artists depict common MISCONCEPTIONS that the public has about bodies of water in the Texas Panhandle.
Lakes are not Playas
Lakes always hold water, playas do not.
& Lakes are not a Source of Recharge for the Ogallala Aquifer
Playas have a clay base which cracks during dry periods and allows water to percolate downward to the aquifer. Lake bottoms have a different soil composition which does not facilitate downward movement of water.
THE SCIENCE
Ogallala Aquifer –Recharge
Recharge rates vary according to climate, precipitation, soil, and vegetation. Because of this variability, recharge rates are difficult to determine; however, its well know that the Ogallala is not a sustainable water source for the Texas Panhandle. Playas are the most important source for recharge – about 95% of aquifer recharge comes from playas.
*The photo was taken on March 16, 2015 at Caprock Canyon State Park – Lake Theo. Lakes are not a source of recharge and this particular lake exists east of the Caprock Escarpment and therefore is not geographically located above the Ogallala Aquifer. Did you know that most playa wetlands are located west of the Caprock Escarpment in the Texas Panhandle?
Soil and foliage samples are from (left to right): 1 Earl Crow Park, 2 N.B. McCullough Park, and 3 Charles A. Guy Park.
Dearth: Communicating Science Through Art 