ch11_Platte River

Platte River and irrigated agriculture


Water table in High Plains aquifer has risen along stretches of the Platte River in central Nebraska in contrast to a regional decrease in water table elevation. Box highlights confluence of North and South Platte Rivers in western Nebraska. Area inside box shown in image on left below.


Lake McConaughy on the North Platte River is in the upper (northern) half of the image. Agriculture is limited in the northern region as this area is covered by the Nebraska sand hills, sand dunes formed during the last ice age. The rectangular and circular patterns in the southern half of the image indicate irrigated fields. Area in the red box is shown in the image to the right.	Close up of agricultural lands south of the South Platte River. Note circular shapes formed by center-pivot irrigation systems. Both images courtesy of NASA's Earth from Space program.