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GOAL: Provide objective scientific information that will contribute to
science-based decisions for managing natural resources.
The central Platte River Valley in Nebraska is a critical staging area for migratory waterbirds of
the Central Flyway.
The riparian habitats and other wetlands and prairies within the watershed provide migratory and
breeding habitat for numerous species of birds. The several million waterfowl that migrate annually
through the valley use open sandbars and wet meadows each spring for food and roosting. Nine
endangered species use the central Platte River Valley for habitat, including the whooping crane,
least tern, and piping plover.
Over the last century, the structure of riparian habitats has responded to changes in the hydrology of
the river to the extent that the sustainability of migratory and resident birds and other biota is in
question. Developing successful strategies to sustain or manage the riparian ecosystem of the
central Platte River requires a better understanding of the linkages between hydrology, river morphology,
biological communities, and ecosystem processes.
In 1995, a memorandum of agreement was signed by the Secretary of the Interior and the governors of
the States of Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska to begin developing a basinwide habitat
recovery program for the Platte River. This agreement was implemented by the Platte River
Endangered Species Partnership (PRESP) beginning in 1997. Major aspects of the program call for the
acquisition and restoration of habitat areas, design and implementation of water augmentation and
conservation measures, and development of an overall monitoring and research plan to
determine the effectiveness of an adaptive management plan. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has
joined in several of the committees and working groups of the PRESP to help develop a
monitoring and research plan and provide study results. Such interaction with the PRESP helps to
reduce duplication of effort and provide a management focus for the USGS studies.
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STRATEGY:
The USGS will contribute information about natural resources relevant to water
users and managers of the central Platte River. The USGS Platte River Ecosystem Initiative will
provide a core of work and develop partnerships
to provide relevant information to stakeholders. This initiative will provide high-quality,
impartial scientific information that can be used by various parties in assessing resource management issues.
INFORMATION NEEDS:
Needs for scientific information on the central Platte River have been discussed and assigned priorities by
managers and scientists. In response to the natural resources management community, the
Ecosystem Initiative is planned as a multiyear effort that will bring interdisciplinary teams together.
TEAMWORK:
The Platte River Ecosystem Initiative will depend greatly upon the interdisciplinary teams and
partnerships to accomplish its goals.
The initiative will be led by an interdisciplinary team of USGS scientists.
The Platte River Ecosystem Team will develop collaborative partnerships and opportunities to
share information with stakeholders.
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For information about the Platte River Ecosystem Initiative, contact:
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Randy Parker
U.S. Geological Survey
Water Resources Discipline
Denver Federal Center, MS 415
Lakewood, CO 80225
303-236-4882, Ext. 295
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U.S. Geological Survey
Biological Resources Discipline
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
8711 37th St. SE
Jamestown, ND 58401
701-253-5522
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Michael J. Starbuck
U.S. Geological Survey
Geography Discipline
Geospatial Research and Applications
1400 Independence Road, MS 808
Rolla, MO 65401
573-308-3652
mstarbuck@usgs.gov
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