Tinajas and Potholes

Tinajas ("little jars" in Spanish) are natural surface water impoundments that occur in step pool drainages in mountains and plateaus of the American Southwest. Ranging in size from small ephemeral "potholes" to large perennial pools several meters across, tinajas represent some of the most critical surface water resources of the region, and typically support unique aquatic ecosystems that are rich in biodiversity.