The Platte River Does More Than Support Wildlife

The Platte River is well known for supporting migrating Sandhill Cranes, providing habitat for dozens of other priority species, and sustaining the region’s agricultural economy. But its benefits extend beyond wildlife and ecology. The Platte plays an important role in the health and well-being of communities throughout Nebraska and the broader region. 

Healthy wetlands help provide cleaner water. 

Did you know that the Platte River’s wetlands do more than provide habitat for birds and wildlife? Wetlands help filter water, improve its quality, and support cleaner drinking water for nearby communities. 

The Platte helps replenish groundwater supplies. 

Did you know that many Nebraska communities rely on groundwater for household, agricultural, and industrial uses? When streamflow is high, water moves down through the riverbed and surrounding soils to replenish underlying aquifers. In the Central Platte area, streamflow replenishes the aquifers that supply most Nebraska communities with water for homes and industry, especially after dry years. Water moving down the Platte can help sustain the our water supplies long after flows recede. 

The river supports local economies and outdoor recreation. 

Did you know the Platte River supports local economies and outdoor recreation? Visitors from around the world travel to the Central Platte for the unprecedented wildlife viewing and hunting opportunities that bring millions of dollars into the local economy. These activities support local businesses, tourism, and jobs. Periods of high streamflow moves water more readily into neighboring wetlands, allowing an exchange of nutrients and aquatic species that boosts wetland function. Waterfowl are drawn to highly productive wetlands, and nearby towns benefit from both cleaner water and enhanced recreational opportunities. 

River flows can help maintain the channel.

Did you know there making room for higher streamflow can protect communities from flooding? Recurring higher flows that run through the Platte River channel can also be beneficial to communities as a strategy for preventing localized flooding and can protect property and livelihoods. Especially in areas where the river channel has been constricted, streamflow of greater volume scours and flushes built-up sediment and vegetation downstream, which widens the channel and gives the water more room to spread out the next time historic flooding occurs.    

Keeping water in the river benefits people and wildlife.

The value of the Platte River is easy to overlook because many of its benefits are part of everyday life. Groundwater recharge, wetland function, wildlife habitat, recreation, and local economic activity all depend, in different ways, on the movement of water through the watershed. 

These natural services would be difficult and costly to replace. Understanding how streamflow supports both ecosystems and communities illustrates the importance of the Platte River, not only to the birds and wildlife that depend on it, but also to the people who live, work, and explore Nebraska.