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DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA <br />Blo- Geography <br />The Platte River drains approximately 90,000 mil from the states of Nebraska, <br />Colorado, and Wyoming. This drainage system is composed of three major segments: the <br />North Platte River, the South Platte River, and the main stem of the Platte River (Figure 1). <br />The main stem of the Platte River begins at North Platte, Nebraska, where the North and <br />South Platte Rivers join. From this point, the River flows in an easterly direction across the <br />plains of Nebraska to its confluence with the Missouri River near Plattsmouth, Nebraska. <br />Between North Platte and Columbus, Nebraska, the River forms a wide bend to the south. <br />This wide bend is often called the "Big Bend" section of the River, and is considered a critical <br />area for wildlife. Throughout this section, the Platte River forms a wide, braided channel with <br />numerous islands. Our three study sites were located within this section between the cities of <br />Lexington and Grand Island, Nebraska (Figure 2). <br />The wet meadows along the Platte River typically occur in low -lying areas within the <br />Platte River valley. The Platte River valley within the study area is approximately 7 to <br />15 miles wide. Although much of the land is presently under cultivation, the remaining wet <br />meadows are generally used as pastureland for livestock and contain plant species that are <br />absent in the adjacent uplands. <br />Hydrology <br />The Platte River flows in response to surface water inputs from numerous tributaries, <br />surrounding groundwater fluctuations, and to storage and withdrawals from upstream <br />reservoirs. Before flow regulation, much of this flow originated from melting snowpacks in <br />the higher elevations of Wyoming and Colorado during the spring. This snow melt, together <br />with spring rainfall, recharges the alluvial aquifers and causes the hydrograph to peak in May <br />4 <br />