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<br />a ~int near North P!at~,~Nebraskaj.::flows eastward through 'a rather broad, shallow valley.
<br />Where the L9up River joins,the Platte, the elevation is,apprQximately 1420 feet (mean sea level).
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<br />The Platte River system provides important habitat for fish and wildlife resqurces, of natio~al and
<br />international significance. In regard to endangered species, the Platte River is probably best
<br />~ __:...>-" ~_,lgtown ,as, a migration 'slo ver'area f~r ,~e whQOpingcraJ)es. The platte~v~r als.o provides
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<br />,~?~ WOrld'ssandhill~p~~on-:sta~es~nUallY on~te_and-:-~ ~ to
<br />~ ~ -D prepare for the contilluation o~on.-The~latte lQver and ralDW teI'-baSin supports
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<br />~ 1-: most 'o!JIJe-mid-continenqJOpulation .of greater white-front geese, and provides important
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<br />The U.S. Department of Interior (DOl) has listed the whooping crane, the interior least tern, ;
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<br />and the bald eagle as endangered, and the northern great plains population of the piping plover , E..
<br />as threatened. Recovery plans have been developed which give goals and objectives for these;,J
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<br />species and their habitats that must be achieved for down listing and in some cases delisting. '.'3
<br />Recognizing the importance of the Platte River system to whooping cranes, the DOl designated i,
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<br />There iS,significant <<hange in the ~ I,esll~ooes from the_uti, :r ,IL.....2Jatte River to
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<br />headwaters of the tributaries. The land maulsea ll' pilllhlp":Ar habitabdiffer throughout the basin
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<br />based on the diverse \op?graphy and geology along with the wide variation in climatic
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<br />conditions. The b\....l (MICe IU'ea this Program will focus on is referred to as the Big Bend
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<br />area and is located, along the mainstem of the Platte River between Lexington and Chapman,
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<br />Nebraska (see Figure 1). ThtlandsleSOurm Ll-tbis ar~ used as habitat by the threatened and
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<br />endangered species include~ the river channel, grasslands, wet meadows, and cultivated lands
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<br />located adjacent to the river. eAIIi.nA
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<br />about 53 miles of the river system as critical habitat in 1978 (43 Fed. Reg. 20938-20942).
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