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Rivers





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  Nebraska
 River
County
Reach
Length (miles)
Description
Potential Classification
ORVs
Watershed (HUC Code 8)
Year Listed/ Updated
Other StateCalamus River
Garfield, Loup, Brown, Rock
Headwaters to confluence with North Loup River, excluding Virginia Smith Reservoir
106
Virginia Smith Reservoir extends approximately from about 5 1/2 miles NW of Burwell to just upstream of the confluence with Gracie Creek. The length of the reservoir is approximately 9 miles.

Cultural, Scenic, Wildlife
Lower North Loup
1982/ 1995Dismal River
Blaine, Thomas
Headwaters (confluence of North and South Forks) to confluence with Middle Loup River
72
Within Sand Hill region, offers vistas of rolling prairie; trout fishery in upper reaches; highest-priority fishery resource (FWS)

Scenic
Dismal
1982Long Pine Creek
Rock, Brown
Headwaters to confluence with Niobrara River
42
Important trout fishery; highest-priority fishery resource (FWS).

Fish
Middle Niobrara
1982Middle Loup River
Blaine, Thomas, Hooker, Cherry
Headwaters (confluence of North and South Branches) to Milburn Diversion Dam
104
Good scenic qualities with occasional bluffs, scattered trees, good clear flow; highest-priority fishery resource (FWS); wintering bald eagles and small least tern nesting colony.

Fish, Scenic, Wildlife
Upper Middle Loup
1982Niobrara River
Sioux
(seg 1): Entire segment within Agate Fossil Beds National Monument
11
Rare example of a free-flowing, perennial, prairie stream ecosystem. Nine species of native fish exist in stream. Protects fossil resources which represent golden age of mammals.
Scenic
Cultural, Fish, Geologic, Scenic, Wildlife
Niobrara Headwaters
1982Niobrara River
Boyd, Holt, Keya Paha, Rock, Brown, Cherry
(seg 3): State Highway 137 (ending of WSR segment) to Keya Paha River confluence.
21
Sometimes braided river with good flow meandering between high bluffs on either side of valley; many areas highly used for recreation, including excellent canoeing; wintering and migratory bald eagle populations, recent migratory use by whooping cranes, a federally listed endangered species; highest-priority fishery resource (FWS); many collecting sites for miocene, pliocene and some pleistocene vertebrates; high potential for cultural resources of National Register quality.

Cultural, Fish, Geologic, Historic, Recreational, Scenic, Wildlife, Other
Niobrara Headwaters
1982Niobrara River
Knox, Holt, Boyd
(seg 4): Keya Paha River confluence to Eastern boundary of Boyd County (begining of WSR segment).
40
Classic Miocene and Pliocene stratiographic sections; area of great interest to vertebrate paleontologists; federally listed endangered least tern nesting colonies and possible whooping crane, also a federally listed endangered species, migratory use; high potential for cultural resources of National Register quality.

Cultural, Geologic, Scenic, Wildlife
Niobrara Headwaters
1982Niobrara River
Boyd, Holt, Keya Paha, Rock, Brown, Cherry
(seg 2): Antelope Creek to Borman Bridge SE of Valentine (begining of WSR segment)
112
Sometimes braided river with good flow meandering between high bluffs on either side of valley; many areas highly used for recreation, including excellent canoeing; wintering and migratory bald eagle populations, recent migratory use by whooping cranes, a federally listed endangered species; highest-priority fishery resource (FWS); many collecting sites for miocene, pliocene and some pleistocene vertebrates; high potential for cultural resources of National Register quality.

Cultural, Fish, Geologic, Historic, Recreational, Scenic, Wildlife, Other
Niobrara Headwaters
1982Snake River
Cherry, Sheridan
Headwaters to confluence with Niobrara River (omit Merrit Reservoir)
115
Scenic spring-fed river with some whitewater and falls in narrow valley; fragile ecosystem with pockets of deciduous trees mixed with cedars; mixed tall and short grass prairie in Sand Hills environment; good canoeing stream; abundant wildlife, wintering bald eagle population, a federally listed endangered species, unusual insect types; highest-valued fishery resource (FWS); high potential for cultural resources of National Register quality.

Fish, Recreational, Scenic, Wildlife
Snake
1982
 Last updated: November 30, 2016
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