Platte River

Number: 1990-22

 

WHEREAS, the Platte River is a vital symbol of the West’s proud heritage and a treasure shared by all Americans; and

WHEREAS, the Platte Valley is located in the hourglass of the Central Flyway, offering exceptional habitat to as many as nine million ducks and geese and a fantastic array of other bird species; and

WHEREAS, each March in a wildlife spectacle unparalleled on the continent, the Big Bend reach of the Platte River is transformed into a staging area for a half million sandhill cranes–four-fifths of the world population; and

WHEREAS, the Big Bend of the Platte River provides critical stopover habitat for the world’s only native flock of whooping cranes, important wintering habitat for the bald eagle, and essential nesting habitat for the endangered least tern and threatened piping plover; and

WHEREAS, the South Platte River in Colorado flows through Cheesman Canyon, site of the proposed Two Forks Dam and location of what many consider the most productive trout fishery in the West; and

WHEREAS, stretches of the North Platte River in Wyoming that have been managed in conjunction with wildlife values provide outstanding fish and wildlife habitat, attracting anglers and hunters from across the West; and

WHEREAS, the North and South Platte Rivers already are obstructed by sixteen major impoundments, over seventy percent of the natural flows of the Platte drainage are consumed by human development, and much of the river’s diverse, historic wildlife habitats in Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming are severely altered or degraded; and

WHEREAS, new water development projects, as well as expansions, modifications and relicensing of existing projects, are proposed throughout the Platte River Basin; and

WHEREAS, the economic health of Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming is vitally linked to the health of the Platte River ecosystem and the unique recreational opportunities it affords tourists and residents alike; and

WHEREAS, despite the widespread habitat destruction wrought by water projects on the Platte River in Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming, great opportunities lie ahead for improving the flow regime and reversing the decline in suitable habitat; and

WHEREAS, if properly managed, the Platte River may continue to meet the needs of the people of Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming–without sacrificing wildlife values; and

WHEREAS, the federal government, which regulates Kingsley Dam in Nebraska, the series of Bureau of Reclamation reservoirs in Wyoming, and non-federal projects in Colorado, has an obligation under the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, the Federal Power Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, Reclamation Law and other laws to operate these projects so as not to perpetuate the destruction of vital habitat;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in annual meeting assembled March 15-18, 1990, in Denver, Colorado, hereby calls upon the federal government, the States of Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming, agricultural interests, electric utilities, municipalities, conservationists and all other interested parties, to work together to develop and implement sound management plans for operation of existing reservoirs in the Platte River Basin in order to maximize wildlife values in conjunction with other uses; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation calls upon the federal government and the states to limit further depletions of water from the Platte River Basin unless consistent with a comprehensive plan for basin management designed to ensure the protection of wildlife habitat throughout the basin; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation calls upon the Congress to recognize the Platte as an “Endangered River” and provide financial, scientific, managerial, educational and regulatory assistance to aid in its recovery.