Platte River Wetland Hydrology Study

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Pumping from adjacent irrigation wells (within 1 mile) was also monitored. Irrigators were requested to provide their pumping times and approximate flows. These data were collected after the growing season and examined for relationships between pumping and groundwater levels. Studv Site Descriptions and Instrumentation Elm Creek Site The Elm Creek site (Figure 3) was on the south bank of the Platte River approximately 5 miles west of the Elm Creek exit on Interstate 80. This site is owned and managed by the Platte River Whooping Crane Habitat Maintenance Trust. Elm Creek was the "driest" of the three sites, and was characterized by a widely spaced drainage pattern with few depressions where the land surface intersected the water table. The southwestern portion of the site, however, had a wet pothole area with seasonal standing water. This standing water was maintained primarily by groundwater flowing from the south toward the river, and was isolated from the river by a groundwater drainage canal. Groundwater drainage canals are used in the area surrounding the study site to make croplands more accessible by lowering the water table. The site was managed for wildlife habitat, and was hayed once a year through 1989. Beginning in 1990, the site was seasonally grazed by cattle. The well grid was composed of 16 observation wells located east of the north -south county road. Wells EC 16DBA and EC 16DBC were used to evaluate groundwater elevations in a pothole -type meadow. The three side wells (EC10CAC -SW, ECI5BBB -SW, and ECI5ACC -SW), and Mike LO and Mike HI were installed for a study by the National Audubon Society, but these data were also used for our analysis. All wells were drilled to a depth of 10 feet with a Giddings Rig, except Mike LO and Mike HI which were installed by the National Audubon Society by pounding an open- ended, non- perforated 20 ft pipe approximately 16 ft into the ground. 11