Greater Platte River Basins - Science to sustain ecosystems and communities

Fact Sheet 2009-3097
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Abstract

The Greater Platte River Basins (GPRB), located in the heartland of the United States, provides a collaborative opportunity for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and its partners to understand the sustainability of natural and managed ecosystems under changing climate and resource requirements.The Greater Platte River Basins, an area of about 140,000 square miles, sustains thousands of acres of lakes and wetlands, which provide a staging and resting area for the North American Central Flyway. Part of the GPRB is within the U.S. Corn Belt, one of the most productive agricultural ecosystems on Earth. Changes in water and land use, changing patterns of snowmelt in the Rocky Mountains, drought, and increasing demands for irrigation have reduced flows in the Platte River. These changes raise questions about the sustainability of the region for both wildlife and agriculture.The USGS and partners are developing a science strategy that will help natural-resource managers address and balance the needs of this region.

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Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Greater Platte River Basins - Science to sustain ecosystems and communities
Series title Fact Sheet
Series number 2009-3097
DOI 10.3133/fs20093097
Year Published 2009
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Contributing office(s) Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center, U.S. Geological Survey
Description 6 p.
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