Why do some playa lakes overflow onto developed properties when heavy rains occur; for instance, sometimes Buster Long floods the South Plains Mall parking lot after heavy rains?
In the case of Buster Long, as well as other properties around Lubbock, developers have taken advantage of cheaper land that is subject to flooding. In other words, they have developed land that would otherwise be of no commercial value because it lies below high water elevations. Developers use this cheap land to build such things as parking lots, playgrounds, or golf courses. These structures then spend a small part of a typical year under some water because they are actually built on part of the playa lake bed. Businesses are made aware of such conditions and have made the decision to build at these locations because the site is free of water for most of the year. Such encroachment on the lakes is accepted by the City because it allows use of land that would otherwise not be used.
