About the Platte Basin
WHAT IS THE Platte River BASIN?
The Platte River Basin is a watershed in the heart of North America. A watershed is like a giant bathtub that collects and drains the rain, groundwater, and snowmelt of an area.
The Platte River Basin is one of the most appropriated river systems in the world. Every drop of water is spoken for, and little is free.
WHY IS THE PLATTE BASIN IMPORTANT?
The Platte Basin is more than just an industrial and agricultural powerhouse. It is a unique and vital ecosystem — home to millions of people and thousands of species of plants and animals. The Platte Basin paints a stunning portrait of nature’s rhythms, from the annual migration of sandhill cranes to the ebb and flow of the Platte River.
Beneath the ground, it harbors more than half of the mighty Ogallala Aquifer. In an age of climate change and economic uncertainty, this basin is asked to be both food producer and energy pump. Everything that happens in this watershed affects the quality and quantity of water that flows through it.
Despite these challenges, there is reason to believe in a promising future for this vital region. By managing our natural resources responsibly, we can sustain the water that all living things need to survive.
Field Guide TO COMMON TERMS
Aquifer
Underground rock and sediment that can store and transmit water–not to be confused with an underground lake.
Basin
A depression on the Earth’s surface, typically containing water.
Conservation
To safeguard the Earth’s biodiversity, ecosystems, and natural processes, recognizing their intrinsic value and the critical role they play in supporting life on the planet.
Conservation Storytelling
Storytelling that focuses on topics involving the natural world and aims to make an impact or inspire change.
Ecosystem
A community of living and non-living things that interact with each other.
Timelapse
The compression of change over time relating to visual imagery.
Tributary
A stream or river that flows into and joins a larger stream or river.
Watershed
An area of land where all flowing surface water converges to a single point.
Working Lands
Grasslands, farms, or forests that are used to support a person’s livelihood, while providing habitat for wildlife through the conservation of open space.
About PBT
Our team seeks to deepen appreciation and care for our natural world through the power of story.
Explore THE PLATTE BASIN
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Join us in cultivating community and conversation surrounding our most valuable resource: water.