WSP08554 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I -f".r\ 4 J') f'L'." f.J '~; .cO-',) ~ ;~ Nebraska River Basins Each of the river basins of the High Plains of Nebraska is discussed below briefly. Only the most significant features and general charac- teristics such as vegetation communities, fisheries potential, etc., are described. Fish and wildlife resources are listed in Nebraska's Water Quality Management Plans for each basin. o Niobrara River Basin - The headwaters of the Niobrara are located in Wyoming. The river runs across the northern portion of Nebraska to its mouth at the Missouri River. From west to east, vegetati ve zones are Dakota prai rie, shortgrass prai rie, Rocky Mountain forest, mixed Rocky Mountain forest and eastern deciduous forest and mixed grass prairie (Niobrara River Basin Water Quality Management Plan, November 1976). Several fisheries in the basin are of statewide importance, some are of regional importance and a number are locally important. Although the Niobrara does not originate in the Sandhills region, several tributary streams which flow from the Sandhills serve to stabil ize the flow of the Niobrara. Streams and river originating in the Sandhills often are ground water fed and have very stable flows, or a high percentage of base flow in relation to total annual discharge. Most of the surface water in the basin is classified as warm water, although a few streams are mixed or cold water. The central reach of the river has been identified for possible inclusion in the U.S. Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. There are two National Wildlife Refuges in the basin--Fort Niobrara and Valentine. Fort Niobrara includes the Niobrara River and its adjoining woodlands and uplands, while the Val enti ne Refuge incl udes Sandhi 11 slakes, marshes and sand- hills. (Niobrara River Basin Water Quality Management Plan, Nov. 1976). Three Nebraska State threatened speci es have been collected in the basin. These are the northern redbelly dace, pearl dace and brook stickleback. A rare species, the bluntnose minnow, may also occur in the basin. o Loup River Basin - The headwaters of the Loup River are located in the Sandhill s region. The basin occupies a central area of the state. Major vegetative types include Sandhills prairie, mixed prairie and tall grass prairie with elm-ash-cottonwood riparian forest along the stream and river banks. Most of the Loup River system is of regional or local importance in fishery value. Most of the surface water in the basin is classified as warm water, but some tributaries and the upper portion of the North Loup and Dismal Rivers are cold water streams. Baseflow in the upper portion of the Basin is extremely uniform due to the ground water discharge in that area. The Bessey Division of the Nebraska National Forest is located in the Loup River Basin. There are two large water storage 1-17