Size, Distribution, and Orientation Pattern of Playa Lakes in Northwestern Castro County, Texas

Abstract

Playa basins and their associated ephemeral lakes are the most significant expression of surface hydrology on the Southern High Plains of Texas. A better understanding of the spatial character-istics of these lakes is critical for land use management planning. In Northwest Castro County, Texas playa lakes display a bidirec-tional linear orientation. Playa lake size was not a function ofthe east-west and north-south orientation. The bidirectional orien-tation pattern indicates a potential hazard for large area COD-tamination from waste storage or disposal activities in the playa lake complex.