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GUIDE TO NEBRASKA'S WETLANDS
tourism related to the river has greatly increased. Use
has grown from 25,000-30,000 to an average of 84,000
people per year in 2019-2021.
Conservation Success Stories
An early success that recognized the beauty and
importance of the Niobrara River was its designation
as a National Scenic River. This designation afforded
certain portions of the river some protection, but also
recognized the important role private landowners
would play in sustaining the beauty of the river. In
more recent times, the Nebraska Natural Legacy
Project has had coordinating wildlife biologists
working with private landowners to help with
conservation projects in the Middle and Lower
Niobrara River Biological Unique Landscapes and
The Niobrara River by Butte in Boyd County. MICHAEL FORSBERG