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The Platte River
The Middle Platte Region of Nebraska

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Sandhills Crane Migration Update
The Middle Platte Region is one of nature's great crossroads. Here the east-west human transportation corridor provided by the river valley crosses the North American Central Flyway. Changing land use patterns and development of the Missouri River have shaped the Flyway into an hourglass figure, with its narrow waist in south central Nebraska.

Millions of waterfowl pass through the region on their annual migration. Each spring several hundred thousand Sandhill Cranes spend four to six weeks in the Platte Valley, gaining strength before moving north to nesting grounds spread across Canada, Alaska, and Siberia. The Middle Platte provides critical habitat for a number of endangered species, including the whooping crane.

The Middle Platte Valley is also a region of tremendous agricultural production. Irrigation water from the Platte, combined with groundwater from the Ogallala Aquifer, allows farmers to successfully produce on land once described as "The Great American Desert."

National Geographic Magazine Cranes Site

  • Webcam on the Platte River
  • Highlights from the 2004 migration
  • National Geographic kids & cranes (Choose Week 01 to see what UNK students can do!)

    • Platte River Photos
    Purple Loosestrife (Full Text Article) (Powerpoint Slides)     National Social Science Association, April, 2003

    The Platte River Atlas

    Sample Pages
    Table Of Contents
    Ordering Information

    In 1993 a group of faculty members at the University of Nebraska - Kearney created a comprehensive reference guide to the Big Bend Region of the Platte River. The 194 page Atlas includes sections covering history, biology, climate, settlement patterns, economic conditions, art, literature, language, water law, agricultural issues and recreational opportunities. Beautiful color photographs, detailed maps, and local information references make the Atlas a useful tool for tourists, hunters, or other visitors to the region.

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    Platte River Think-Tank

    Purpose and structure
    Active members

    Platte-Related Legislation and Litigation

    Three State Memorandum of Agreement
    Cooperative Agreement for Platte River Research and Other Efforts Relating to Endangered Species Habitat Along the Central Platte River, Nebraska

    EPA Platte Watershed Program

    General Information
    Regional Economic Information
    Platte Watershed Program

    Other Links and Information

    Sandhill Crane Migration Update
    Related Platte River Links
    Send comments to:
    Konecnyr@UNK.EDU