History Moments Niobrara Nat'l Scenic Waterway

Less than one quarter of one percent of rivers in America are designated National Scenic Rivers. In 1991, the 76 mile stretch of the Niobrara River that begins east of Valentine, gained that prestigious designation. In this crossroads where plant and animal species of the Western Ponderosa Pine Forests, Eastern Deciduous Forests, Tall Grass Prairies, Short Grass Prairies, and the Nebraska Sandhills meet, certain species have evolved that can only be found here. An equally unique management model integrates state, local, and federal stakeholders to ensure that the Niobrara will continue to support the people, ecosystems and the economies that depend upon it.