The North Platte River begins as a trickle in the mountains surrounding Walden, Colorado and flows north through the Northgate Wilderness Area. Take out is at a very new and modern boat ramp on the north side of the river, 1 mile west of the HWY 77 bridge. Protecting the wetland and water resources of the Platte River alone will not sustain the waterfowl migrations to the river and the rich heritage that surrounds them. The Platte River has been described in folklore as "a mile wide and an inch deep." After a five-hour ride from Denver, Colorado, we were on the banks of the mighty North Platte River just outside of Casper, Wyoming. Avista Corporation and DU Partner to Improve Habitat in Idaho, DU improves 2,000 acres at Loess Bluffs refuge, More Great Dismal Swamp acres will be protected, One of America 's great waterfowl migration corridors. The river carries snowmelt from the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and Wyoming to the Missouri River, which drains into the Mississippi. Take out is at a very new and modern boat ramp on the north side of the river,… Whether there are thousands of kids attending an Outdoor Discovery day or just a few vehicles, I can always take a deep, relaxing breath whenever I pull into the park. West of Divide, Colo., the river turns sharply northeast, flows through the Front Range via the Platte River Canyon, and emerges on the flatland Visitation Information. Platte River wells and surface water projects irrigate millions of acres of farmland and more than three million people get their drinking water largely from the Platte or nearby … Port-a-potties at the Fremont boat ramp. Cool off with a relaxing float on a tube or raft down the Platte River on a hot summer day. Band returns have shown that waterfowl harvested on the Platte are produced throughout the Great Plains with the most important source being the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of the United States and Canada. Be careful around the rip-rap which stablizes the bank in many areas. Today's river contains only a portion of the wetland habitat that existed historically. The North Platte River was named La Riviere Plate or "flat river" by French explorers Paul and Pierre Mallet in June 1839 when they came across it in what is now Nebraska. The Platte River watershed is comprised of several connected river and lake segments surrounded large areas of contiguous forestland with isolated kettle lakes. More recently, housing developments, especially on stretches near the Rocky Mountains, are threatening the rural character of the river and placing increasing demands on its limited water supplies. Countless channels, large and small, divert the water of the Platte over and around sand bars, vegetation, quicksand and farmland in complex, changing shimmering ribbons. Another method is leasing Platte river water—using federal funds—from irrigators who switch to … I love the north route, my canoe partner the south. Sometimes the changing current causes nasty eddys. It meanders north through mountains, cottonwood-lined meadows of the Platte Valley and, finally, through majestic desert vistas. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Wildlife Program, the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust, and the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, DU biologists and engineers are helping to restore some of the seasonal wetlands and backwater channels that have been lost from the river's floodplain. Because of the slow flow rate, boaters will have to paddle. The river is also the Monument’s north boundary for approximately one and one-fourth miles. I did this at 3.45′ which is considered very low. (Private ramps are at the HWY 77 bridge a mile further down the river.). The changing channel and rivulets of water will keep you heeding the "still waters run deep" philosophy...just under those ripples are the sandbars you'll be dragging your canoe over if you don't pay attention. Denver, CO – Platte River Equity (“Platte River”) is pleased to announce that it has made a significant investment in GME Supply Co (“GME” or the “Company”) in partnership with the Company’s founder. The nearest gauge is on the Platte River and is probably accurate enough. ), rising in the Mosquito Range of central Colorado, U.S., and flowing southeast. About a foot deep. This congregation represents 80 percent of the world's population of sandhills, the largest gathering of cranes in the world. Shallow channels of water weave around sandy islands along the 310-mile course of the Platte River through Nebraska. The river is shallow and clear, and while it moves along at a good pace, there are no rapids to contend with. (You will find that it is true.) Few places on earth match the spectacle of migration that occurs on the Platte River each year. It encompasses over 150 miles of free flowing, undammed water. The deep river canyon creates outstanding opportunities for solitude. For reference, the guys at American Whitewater consider 4.5′ to 5.5′ barely runnable ! Keep your PFD on. Although the Platte River remains a unique wildlife resource, decades of development have dramatically changed the quality and quantity of its habitat. Major tributaries of the Smoky Hill River include the Saline and Solomon rivers, which drain … Nebraska's Platte River is said to be "a mile wide and an inch deep". This winged spectacle is celebrated by local migration festivals and tourism ventures and infuses millions of dollars annually into rural communities, adding an important, diverse source of income. In a straight line, it travels about 550 miles (890 km), along its course through the U.S. states of Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska. The Upper North Platte River is among Wyoming’s best for fishing and scenic float trips or plunging through rapids. One mile south. The Platte has historical significance, but if you have ever been to another state with a decent river, you might be unimpressed. The water may be too deep … Year in and year out, the Platte River boasts some of the highest mallard harvests in the entire Central Flyway. Early settlers described the Platte as "a mile wide and an inch deep," a wild, meandering river with abundant sand bars and backwater sloughs. The river is also the Monument’s north boundary for approximately one and one-fourth miles. The river enters Wyoming through a deep, rocky canyon in the Platte River Wilderness of the Snowy Range. “OK, we’re going to the North Platte,” he said. True to their nature, waterfowlers are doing their part to preserve the rich wetland resources of the Platte and the traditions that surround them. Early settlers described the Platte as "a mile wide and an inch deep," a wild, meandering river with abundant sand bars and backwater sloughs. There's a gaping hole on the bank of the Platte River near Plattsmouth that has been wreaking havoc on the town and the river system. We had to paddle the entire length of the lake using our hands (we did not bring oars), which was very exhausting. About the Upper North Platte River. Floating the Platte River . Although wintering waterfowl numbers have declined on the Platte in recent years, it continues to offer some of the finest waterfowling in the country, attracting hunters from across the nation, including people from as far away as Florida, California, and Washington. It provides habitat for four threatened and endangered species in central Nebraska, while also providing drinking water to 3.5 million people and irrigation for 2 million acres of farmland. David Carr, Central Platte Natural Resources District, said the channel of the river is backed up and causing minor lowland flooding. The North Platte actually begins in the mountains of Colorado, where Rocky Mountain peaks scratch the sky at more than 11,000 feet. GIBBON — A total ice jam has formed north of Gibbon, Nebraska on the Platte River. When nearby wetlands are dry or frozen, millions of migrating ducks and geese loaf on the river in between feeding flights to agricultural fields. Either is a fun trip. Approximately half a million sandhill cranes descend on the Platte River in central Nebraska. The South Platte River as a whole flows for 439 miles and eventually meets the mighty Mississippi River. This basin averages 130 miles (208 km) in width and covers an area of just over 60,000 square miles (155,000 km… After years of water diversions and reservoir developments, the Platte has lost 70 percent of its historic flows and 80 percent of its channel width. It's only about 1-2 feet deep and there is trash all over the place. This trip will take from 6-8 hours, depending on the level of the river and how often you stop to wade. The changing current and shifting sandbars can be dangerous. Those who have only driven over the bridges spanning the Platte won't believe the beauty of the river, or the hidden backwaters and channels. Despite all of these changes, the river continues to provide some of the most important waterfowl migration habitat on the continent. Early settlers referred to the Platte as the river that was a mile wide and an inch deep. No facilities at the North Bend bridge. Black Eagle Falls (26 feet 5 inches or 8.05 meters); Colter Falls (6 feet 7 inches or 2.01 meters); Rainbow Falls (44 feet 6 inches or 13.56 meters) Some is contributed by the three states. The WSA provides outstanding opportunities for whitewater float boating in Class III-IV rapids, hiking, backpacking, fishing, hunting, and observing wildlife. The river is casual paddling without a need to concentrate on water signs. The Great Falls of the Missouri River are a series of waterfalls on the upper Missouri River in north-central Montana in the United States.From upstream to downstream, the five falls along a 10-mile (16 km) segment of the river are: . The Platte River meets the Missouri River about mile downriver from the Hwy 45 Bridge just south of Farley, Mo. (You will find that it is true.) The city's future connection to its latest water supply is waiting on the east side of the Platte River, but the 1,500-foot pipe will soon be buried deep beneath the river bed. As momentum for preserving the Platte River builds, more landowners are embracing this dual conservation need: to protect the wetlands of the river and the prairie breeding grounds that feed them (see sidebar). After years of water diversions and reservoir developments, the Platte has lost 70 percent of its historic flows and 80 percent of its channel width. Most of Nebraska south of the Platte River, 16,916 square miles (43,812 km 2), is drained by the Kansas River as well as 8,775 square miles (22,727 km 2) in northeast Colorado (Colby et al., 1956). The science is clear that in order to maintain Platte River waterfowl populations, we also have to secure the wetlands and grasslands of the prairies that are producing migratory birds each year. Recent studies of female pintails equipped with satellite transmitters show that the Platte is a favorite stopping point for birds migrating north from wintering grounds in Texas and New Mexico. This is the trip to test that out. The main impact would be along the north bank of the North Platte River from U.S. Highway 83 west approximately 4 miles and south of North River Road. Platte River, river of Nebraska, U.S., formed at the city of North Platte by the confluence of the North Platte and South Platte rivers. 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