Ørsted Invests in Playa Restoration Across Southern High Plains

A partnership between renewable energy company Ørsted and Playa Lakes Joint Venture (PLJV) is helping restore an important wetland in eastern New Mexico, bringing benefits to migratory birds, wildlife, and local water resources.

Earlier this year, Ørsted contributed $100,000 to PLJV to restore and conserve an 8.8-acre playa near Blackwater Solar, their new 200-MW project in Roosevelt County, New Mexico. The investment will help improve wildlife habitat, support groundwater recharge, and provide valuable insight into the benefits of wetland restoration.

Playas collect rainfall and runoff, creating temporary wetlands that provide essential habitat for wildlife and are a primary source of groundwater recharge. Despite their importance, more than 80% of playas have been modified by land disturbance and are no longer functioning as healthy wetlands.

Through Ørsted’s contribution, PLJV will help restore the natural function of the 8.8-acre playa by filling two excavated pits within its basin. The playa already has a native grass buffer that helps prevent sediment and contaminants from entering the wetland. The project will also include three years of biodiversity monitoring to better understand how restoration benefits wildlife.

Ørsted’s recent contribution builds on their previous partnership with PLJV in West Texas, where the company’s support helped restore more than 700 acres of playa habitat across five counties through the Texas Playa Conservation Initiative.

“PLJV is committed to working with a diverse group of partners to conserve natural resources for the benefit of both people and wildlife,” PLJV Coordinator Rich Schultheis said. “It is rewarding to see Ørsted supporting bird habitat restoration and increasing the biological function of playas. We appreciate not only Ørsted’s financial commitment to restoring these critical wetlands, but also the shared understanding of the importance of maintaining biodiversity.”

This is an example of  how partnerships between conservation organizations and private industry can help protect natural resources for generations to come.

Photo of restored playa by Rich Schultheis.