North Platte NWR The North Platte NWR is superimposed over four Bureau of Reclamation projects. Many wildlife species use the refuge. Bald eagles have successfully nested on the refuge each year since 1992. The 1992 nest was the 2nd successful "Nebraska" nest in over 100 years. As many as 20 bald eagles and over 200,000 waterfowl may concentrate on the refuge during fall migration. Over 200 bird species have been observed on the Refuge since 1975. Mammals common to the refuge include: raccoon, striped skunk, black-tailed prairie dog, eastern cottontail, and mule and white-tailed deer. Some of the fish species found in Refuge lakes include: walleye, crappie, yellow perch, goldeye, northern pike, white bass, catfish and carp. A bird checklist is available through the Refuge Manager. The refuge is used primarily as a resting and feeding area for waterfowl and shorebirds and, to a lesser extent, for waterfowl production. The refuge provides habitat for migrating and nesting bald eagles.Under a lease agreement, NE Game and Parks Commission manages Lake Minatare as a State Recreation Area with over 250,000 public use visits annually. The refuge lies within a 30-mile radius of 36,000 people providing an ideal location where people can learn about wildlife and their habitat while enjoying a variety of recreational opportunities.
Olive Creek Lake This Corps area is leased to the State of Nebraska. This is a small 175-acre lake with two campgrounds offering only primitive camping. Visit their web page, or contact them at; Nebraska Game and Parks, 2200 N. 33rd Street, P.O. Box 30370, Lincoln, NE 68503-0370, 402-471-0641.
Pawnee Lake This Corps area is leased to the State of Nebraska. The lake has a surface area of 737 acres. Visit the Pawnee Lake web page or contact the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, 2200 N. 33rd Street, P.O. Box 30370, Lincoln, NE 68503-0370, 402-471-0641, for more information.
Pine Ridge National Recreation Area 6600 acres of Ponderosa pine mountains, providing primitive and semi-primitive recreation. Non-motorized, but many miles of popular mountain biking and horseback riding in an undiscovered part of Nebraska. Roberts Tract Trailhead provides fully accessible rider ramp, nice vault toilet, water, and picnic tables. Fees only for camping at trailhead, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Outside of summer season, pack-in, pack-out, and water not provided.
Rainwater Basin WMD The Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District consists of small parcels of land scattered in 13 counties. Land is composed of wetland habitat, generally semipermanent and seasonal wetlands with adjacent uplands that have been restored to tall grass prairie. Occasional shelterbelts are present. These lands are wildlife oases in an intensively farmed landscape. The Rainwater Basin Area is a major spring staging area for Central Flyway migratory birds. Millions of geese and ducks are present in February , March and April followed by thousands of shorebirds, wading birds, and neotropical migrants in May. Ninety percent of the mid-continent white-fronted geese and 50 percent of the continental mallard population use the basins during the spring migration. Fall migration and winter use by waterfowl and other migratory use is substantial but not in the same magnitude as spring migration. Resident wildlife occur on all areas and public use of hunting and bird watching averages 50,000 visits/year. The Rainwater Basin, in association with the Platte River, is used each spring and fall by migrating whooping cranes.
Scotts Bluff National Monument A prominent natural landmark for emigrants on the Oregon Trail, Scotts Bluff, Mitchell Pass and the adjacent prairie lands are set aside in a 3,000 acre national monument. This site preserves the memory of the historic Oregon, California and Mormon Trails. The monument museum contains exhibits about the human and natural history of the area and also holds a unique collection of watercolor paintings by the frontier photographer and artist William Henry Jackson.
