57
GUIDE TO NEBRASKA'S WETLANDS
ELKHORN RIVER
Profi le
The Elkhorn River arises out of the eastern Sandhills
and joins with the Platte River just west of Omaha.
The Elkhorn River contains numerous sandbars and
side channels, similar in some ways to the Platte River.
Numerous wetlands are associated with the fl oodplain
of the Elkhorn River. Most of these wetlands are
oxbows, occurring in former channels of the river
that were left isolated as the river changed its course.
These wetlands range from permanent lakes to
temporarily-fl ooded meadow areas.
Loss and Threats
The wetlands along the Elkhorn River appear to have
been less affected by drainage and diversion than
those along the Platte River and many other Nebraska
rivers. However, some drainage and fi lling have
occurred, and the remaining wetlands are threatened
by continued conversion, sand and gravel mining,
potential diversions of river water, sedimentation from
surrounding cropland, bank stabilization, and channel
straightening.
Freshwater mussels are found in places like the Elkhorn River and benefi t from nearby wetlands that provide food for them.
GRANT REINER, PLATTE BASIN TIMELAPSE
