Elevation-Derived Hydrography READ Rules: Playa
A Playa is the flat area at the lowest part of an undrained desert basin, generally devoid of vegetation.
Attribute/Attribute Value
Each feature requires domain codes to be entered into the attribute table for the feature class (Elevation-Derived Hydrography Feature type description, associated geometry, and use classification table in the Elevation-Derived Hydrography Data Acquisition Specifications 2023 revision A2). See “Field Definitions and Domain Values for Attributes” section for more information on Elevation-Derived Hydrography code definitions.
Delineation
The limit of playa is the extent of the lowest part of the basin.
Representation Rules
When delineating a feature, it must be created with the appropriate geometry, either point, line, or polygon, which is determined by the size of the feature or the length along different axes of the feature (table 12).
Special conditions: none.
Table 12. Playa Representation Rules.
| Kind of feature object | Area | Shortest Axis | Longest Axis |
| 0-dimensional (point) | -- | -- | -- |
| 1-dimensional (line) | -- | -- | -- |
| 2-dimensional (polygon) | greater than 0 | -- | -- |
Data Extraction
Capture Conditions
If playa is greater than or equal to 1 acre (4,000 square meters)
then capture.
Attribute Information
FClass 1—Hydrography feature defined within the collection criteria of the elevation-derived hydrography specifications.
FCode 36100—Playa (the flat area at the lowest part of an undrained desert basin, generally devoid of vegetation).
EClass 0— Not used for elevation derivative.
Source Interpretation Guidelines
A sink feature should be placed at the lowest point of elevation in a playa feature.
