Niobrara River
Niobrara River | |
---|---|
Etymology | Ponca, Ní Ubthátha khe, translating to "water spread-out horizontal-the" |
Native name | Ní Ubthátha khe (Omaha–Ponca) |
Location | |
Country | United States |
State | Wyoming, Nebraska |
Cities | Niobrara, NE, Anncar, NE, Valentine, NE, Agate, NE, Van Tassell, WY, Lusk, WY |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | |
• location | Niobrara County, near Manville, Wyoming |
• coordinates | 42°49′15″N 104°38′50″W / 42.82083°N 104.64722°W[1] |
• elevation | 5,500 ft (1,700 m) |
Verdel, NE | |
• average | 1,718 cu ft/s (48.6 m3/s) |
• minimum | 102 cu ft/s (2.9 m3/s) |
• maximum | 39,100 cu ft/s (1,110 m3/s) |
Basin features | |
Tributaries | |
• left | Long Pine Creek, Elk Creek, Coon Creek, Laughing Water Creek, Rock Creek, Willow Creek, Oak Creek, Ash Creek, Otter Creek, Clay Creek, Beaver Creek, Big Sandy Creek, Little Sandy Creek, Brush Creek, Turkey Creek, Eagle Creek, Redbird Creek, Louse Creek, Sand Creek, Red Otter Creek, Steel Creek, Pishel Creek, Soldier Creek, Schindler Creek, Verdigre Creek, Bingham Creek, Burgess Creek |
Designated | May 24, 1991 |
The Niobrara River (
Course
The river rises in the
Discharge
Although the annual runoff is low relative to the size of its drainage basin, the Niobrara has a stronger and more consistent flow than many other streams in the region. An estimated 70 percent of the river's water results from seepage from the Ogallala Aquifer that underlies the area, with the remaining 30 percent from precipitation.[4] The river is highest in the spring and early summer (February through April) and lowest in early fall (August and September).[5] By late fall, river levels begin to rise as demands for river water for irrigation subside.[6]
The Niobrara's average discharge between 1958 and 2013, measured at the
History
The lower Niobrara valley is the traditional home of the Ponca tribe of Native Americans. Between 1861 and 1882, the stretch of the Niobrara River from the mouth of the Keya Paha to its confluence with the Missouri marked the boundary between Nebraska and the Dakota Territory.
National Scenic River
A 76-mile (122 km) stretch of the Niobrara River in central Nebraska, from the town of Valentine east to Nebraska State Highway 137, has been designated as the Niobrara National Scenic River since 1991. It is managed by the Department of the Interior (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and National Park Service) to protect the water quality, geologic, paleontologic, fish and wildlife, scenic and recreation values.[8]
Most of the lands within the boundary of the National Scenic River are, and will remain, in private ownership. Management is based upon working with private, county, state and federal landowners and stakeholders to coordinate protection of the river while ensuring a quality experience for river visitors. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages the 9 miles of river that flow through the Fort Niobrara Refuge primarily for wilderness and wildlife habitat, but allows recreation downstream from Cornell Dam. The National Park Service manages the remaining 67 miles, acting as a facilitator for resource protection by landowners and river users, providing law enforcement and visitor education services, and coordinating resource management activities.[citation needed]
River modifications
The Box Butte Dam, completed in 1946 by the
The
Cornell Dam, built in 1915 at the confluence of Minnechaduza Creek near Valentine, generated power until 1985. The following year the dam was acquired by the
Spencer Dam, about 50 miles (80 km) from the mouth of the Niobrara, was the last operational hydroelectric plant on the river. The dam was built in 1927 and was operated by the Nebraska Public Power District. It includes two Westinghouse generators, with a combined capacity of 3,000 kW.[14] In a 2015 agreement with Nebraska local and state government entities, NPPD agreed to decommission the dam in 2017.[15] The dam was breached by flooding caused by a March 2019 storm.[16]
Native American languages
In the Cheyenne language, the river is Hisse Yovi Yoe, meaning "surprise river";[citation needed] in Pawnee, Kíckatariʾ;[17] and in Lakota, Wakpá Tȟáŋka, meaning “great river”.[18]
See also
- Agate Fossil Beds National Monument
- Box Butte Reservoir
- U.S. Armyoutpost (1880–1906)
- Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge
- Niobrara National Scenic River
- Niobrara State Park, located at the confluence of the Niobrara and Missouri Rivers
- Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest
- Smith Falls
- List of longest rivers of the United States (by main stem)
- List of Nebraska rivers
- List of Wyoming rivers
References
- ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Niobrara River
- ^ U.S. Geological Survey. Many early settlers, such as Mari Sandoz, referred to the river as Running Water. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed March 30, 2011
- ^ "Nature & Science". National Park Service: Niobrara National Scenic River. Retrieved 2011-03-10.
- ^ "Current River Level - Niobrara National Scenic River". Archived from the original on 2012-11-10.
- ^ "USGS Surface Water data for USA: USGS Surface-Water Monthly Statistics".
- ^ "Niobrara National Scenic River - Niobrara River conditions (U.S. National Park Service)". Archived from the original on 2007-09-01.
- ^ "USGS Gage #06465500 on the Niobrara River at Verdel, NE" (PDF). National Water Information System. U.S. Geological Survey. 2013. Retrieved 2014-11-04.
- ^ "Niobrara National Scenic River (U.S. National Park Service)".
- ^ "Project details - Mirage Flats Project - Bureau of Reclamation". Archived from the original on 2014-11-05. Retrieved 2014-11-05.
- ^ http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Project.jsp?proj_Name=Ainsworth+Unit [dead link]
- ^ "Places - Niobrara National Scenic River (U.S. National Park Service)".
- ^ "Studies under way to determine feasibility of removing Cornell Dam".
- ^ "Dam on Niobrara River may be removed".
- ^ "Hydropower".
- ^ "NPPD to shut down Spencer Dam hydropower plant, give up water rights on Niobrara River".
- ^ "Sheriff reports Spencer, NE dam compromised". 14 March 2019.
- ^ "AISRI Dictionary Database Search--prototype version. "River", Southband Pawnee". American Indian Studies Research Institute. Retrieved 2012-05-26.
- LCCN 2008922508.
External links
- Niobrara National Scenic River - U.S. National Park Service
- Niobrara State Park - Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
- Smith Falls State Park - Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
- Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
- Agate Fossil Beds National Monument - U.S. National Park Service