Missouri

https://www.nps.gov/mnrr/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_National_Recreational_River The Missouri National Recreational River is located on the border between Nebraska and South Dakota. The designation was first applied in 1978 to a 59-mile section of the Missouri River between Gavins Point Dam and Ponca State Park. In 1991, an additional 39-mile section between Fort Randall Dam and Niobrara, Nebraska, was added to the designation. These two stretches of the Missouri River are the only parts of the river between Montana and the mouth of the Missouri that remain undammed or unchannelized. The last 20 miles of the Niobrara River and 6 miles of Verdigre Creek were also added in 1991. Imagine a 100-mile stretch of North America's longest river, a vestige of the untamed American West. The Missouri National Recreational River is where imagination meets reality. Two free flowing stretches of the Missouri make up the National Park. Relive the past by exploring the wild, untamed and mighty river that continues to flow as nature intended. The National Park Service headquarters is located at 508 East Second Street in Yankton, South Dakota. Missouri National Recreational River Headquarters The Missouri National Recreational River has a visitor contact station located inside their headquarters building in Yankton, South Dakota. Information about the park including junior ranger booklets, passport stamps, park maps, and an 18-minute video are available 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The building is closed on all federal holidays including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's days. For more information, please call 605-665-0209.  From US Highway 81 in Nebraska: Cross the bridge into South Dakota and take the first right onto Second Street. Go east 5 blocks; the office will be on your left. From US Highway 81 in South Dakota: Go through Yankton and take the last left turn before the bridge (2nd St.). Go east 5 blocks; the office will be on your left. From US Highway 50 west of Yankton: Turn right on Highway 81, go through Yankton and take the last left before the bridge (Second St) Go east 5 blocks; the office will be on your left. Bow Creek Primitive Camping Primitive, Leave No Trace camping is allowed and free. Camp only in designated sites marked with brown camping signs and metal fire rings. Please call us at 605-665-0209 and leave your basic itinerary for your safety. Located along Bow Creek and the Missouri River in Cedar County about 2 miles northeast of Wynot, Nebraska. A series of gravel roads wind you to the location by car. Follow the brown Bow Creek Recreational Area directional signs to the gravel parking lot and trailhead. Primitive Camping 0.00 Primitive, Leave No Trace camping. Bow Creek Primitive Camping Bow Creek bending to the left. Mowed grass trail bends to the right of the image. Bow Creek and mowed nature trail Goat Island Primitive Camping Two designated tent camping only areas. The first (southern) campground area is in the process of being established. The second (northern) is targeted to be established in 2022. Primitive camping is allowed anywhere on the Island, with the exception of the established hunting season after Labor Day to January when camping is restricted to the two designated camping areas. Please email or call (605-665-0209) for a back country use permit issued by the Park's HQ Office. Primitive Camping 0.00 Primitive, Leave No Trace camping. Aerial View of Goat Island Aerial view of Goat Island featuring sandbars and parallel channels of the Missouri River Aerial view of Goat Island Goat Island in the Autumn Aerial view of Goat Island in the fall at sunset. Burnt orange leafed trees and blue sky with clouds Goat Island Recreation Area in Autumn Goat Island Camping Primitive Camping site enclosed by trees. Leaves scatter the ground and two trees frame the image Goat Island Primitive Camping Green Island Primitive Camping Green Island has five primitive tent campsites with fire rings. Two isolated tent sites on the east side of the island & three adjacent sites on the west side. Fires allowed only in designated fire rings. Island access is by boat only. Please visit the Camping page for rules and regulations. Primitive, Leave No Trace camping is allowed and free. Camp only in designated sites marked with brown camping signs and metal fire rings. Please call us at 605-665-0209 and leave your basic itinerary for your safety. Primitive Camping 0.00 Primitive, Leave No Trace camping. Green Island Map Aerial map of Green Island Recreation Area with hiking trail, water trail access and campsites Green Island has five primitive campsites with fire rings. Two isolated tent sites on the east side of the island and three adjacent sites on the west side. Fires allowed only in designated fire rings. Island access is by boat only. Aerial of Missouri River Aerial view of the Missouri River and surrounding landscape. Aerial view of the Missouri River and surrounding landscape. Remains of a sunken steamboat in Missouri River. Sunken remains of the North Alabama steamboat appears only when water is low. Sunken remains of the North Alabama steamboat appears only when water is low. View of Missouri River Scenic view of Missouri River on a sunny day Scenic view of Missouri River on a sunny day Park trailer Park educational trailer Educational trailer with painted pictures All alone with my canoe A canoe loaded with gear sits quietly on a sandy river bank with blue sky above. Get into nature by paddling the Missouri River. Missouri Virtual Ranger Online Activities Missouri National Recreational River is an amazing place to explore in person and online. Become a MNRR Junior Ranger today by participating in our online activities that will help you explore the park virtually! View of blue water from the Missouri River overlooking the hills with green foliage NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Missouri National Recreational River, South Dakota and Nebraska Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. missouri river Bat Acoustic Monitoring at Missouri National Recreational River The Northern Great Plains Inventory and Monitoring Network monitors bats to detect long-term trends in bat populations at Missouri National Recreational River. Acoustic recorders detect the unique ultrasonic calls bats use for echolocation. Monitoring helps protect the bat communities that live and forage in the park. A gloved hand holds a brown bat. It has its mouth open and wing outstretched Landbird Monitoring at Missouri National Recreational River The lands surrounding the river corridors of Missouri National Recreational River support a broad diversity of ecosystems, ranging from wetlands and sand bars to cottonwood and bur oak woodlands as well as native prairie and grasslands. These diverse habitats support an equally diverse community of birds, including the endangered interior least tern and the threatened piping plover. Landbird surveys at Missouri National Recreational River started in 2015. greeny brown songbird with a striking black face, and yellow chest, perching on a twig National Park Service Commemoration of the 19th Amendment In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment the National Park Service has developed a number of special programs. This includes online content, exhibits, and special events. The National Park Service’s Cultural Resources Geographic Information Systems (CRGIS) announces the release of a story map that highlights some of these programs and provides information for the public to locate and participate. Opening slide of the 19th Amendment NPS Commemoration Story Map Series: Geologic Time Periods in the Mesozoic Era The Mesozoic Era (251.9 to 66 million years ago) was the "Age of Reptiles." During the Mesozoic, Pangaea began separating into the modern continents, and the modern Rocky Mountains rose. Dinosaurs, crocodiles, and pterosaurs ruled the land and air. As climate changed and rapid plate tectonics resulted in shallow ocean basins, sea levels rose world-wide and seas expanded across the center of North America. fossil dinosaur skull in rock face Cretaceous Period—145.0 to 66.0 MYA Many now-arid western parks, including Chaco Culture National Historical Park and Mesa Verde National Park, were inundated by the Cretaceous Interior Seaway that bisected North America. Massive dinosaur and other reptile fossils are found in Cretaceous rocks of Big Bend National Park. dinosaur footprint in stone Mesozoic Era The Mesozoic Era (251.9 to 66 million years ago) was the "Age of Reptiles." During the Mesozoic, Pangaea began separating into the modern continents, and the modern Rocky Mountains rose. Dinosaurs, crocodiles, and pterosaurs ruled the land and air. As climate changed and rapid plate tectonics resulted in shallow ocean basins, sea levels rose world-wide and seas expanded across the center of North America. fossil dinosaur skull in rock face Imagining the Lewis and Clark Expedition competing in the Olympics The different members of the Corps of Discovery came from varied, unique backgrounds, and because of those backgrounds brought a variety of useful skills to the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Many of the skills and abilities possessed by Corps members translate well to the different events of the modern-day Olympics. As such, we’ve compiled a list of Olympic events, and which members of the Corps of Discovery had the best shot at bringing home gold! Olympic Training Center. Large building with American Flad Changing Patterns of Water Availability May Change Vegetation Composition in US National Parks Across the US, changes in water availability are altering which plants grow where. These changes are evident at a broad scale. But not all areas experience the same climate in the same way, even within the boundaries of a single national park. A new dataset gives park managers a valuable tool for understanding why vegetation has changed and how it might change in the future under different climate-change scenarios. Green, orange, and dead grey junipers in red soil, mountains in background Things to Do in Nebraska Find things to do, trip ideas, and more in Nebraska. Steep bluff with pink sky above and yellow leaves below. Things to Do in South Dakota Find things to do and trip ideas in South Dakota. The setting sun illuminates several sharp ridge lines under a moon. Series: Things to Do in the Midwest There is something for everyone in the Midwest. See what makes the Great Plains great. Dip your toes in the continent's inland seas. Learn about Native American heritage and history. Paddle miles of scenic rivers and waterways. Explore the homes of former presidents. From the Civil War to Civil Rights, discover the stories that shape our journey as a nation. Steep bluff with pink sky above and yellow leaves below. Series: Geologic Time—Major Divisions and NPS Fossils The National Park System contains a magnificent record of geologic time because rocks from each period of the geologic time scale are preserved in park landscapes. The geologic time scale is divided into four large periods of time—the Cenozoic Era, Mesozoic Era, Paleozoic Era, and The Precambrian. photo of desert landscape with a petrified wood log on the surface Outside Science (inside parks): Floating down the Missouri River Float down the Missouri River with an excited group of 4th graders as they get a hands on experience in park science. students on a boat Shaping the System Under President Jimmy Carter President Jimmy Carter oversaw one of the largest growths in the National Park System. Explore some of the parks that are part of the legacy of the presidency of Jimmy Carter, who served as the 39th president of the United States from January 20, 1977, to January 20, 1981. Historic photo of Jimmy Carter walking through a crowd at Harpers Ferry Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park System To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation. A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera. Project Profile: Produce Seed for Central Grassland Ecosystems The National Park Service will increase native seed availability for plants in the mixed grass and tallgrass prairie of the Central U.S., advancing the National Seed Strategy priorities. The project will support established relationships with academic, interagency, and Tribal partners, as well as other stakeholders for seed production. Close up view of a rye plant in a green grassland field.

Missouri River Missouri National Recreational River Nebraska/South Dakota National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Missouri National Recreational River The Missouri River—North America's longest river—had abundant braided channels, chutes, sloughs, sandbars, islands, and backwater areas. Historically it carried high loads of sediment, earning it the nickname "Big Muddy." Wetlands may be created during major floods if the Missouri slices a new channel through the banks of a meander and diverts water into a natural containment area. Wetlands are nature's way of controlling floods and providing new habitats. A Great American Riverway The Missouri has a story like no other river. Beginning at the confluence of three tributaries at Three Forks, Montana, it flows southeast for more than 2,300 miles before joining the Mississippi River a few miles north of St. Louis, Missouri. It was the great waterway of American Indians, fur trappers, Lewis and Clark, and early settlers. In the 1800s the river shared with the Oregon and Santa Fe trails the distinction of being one of the three main thoroughfares to the Far West. For centuries it was a wild and unpredictable river that transported tons of silt and rocky freight. Forced into much of its present course by glaciers, the river rushed along their faces. Eventually the glaciers receded. The river remained, continuing its job of transporting the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of Mexico grain by grain. As it changed course any permanence of its channel and banks was accidental. Its floodplain was a mixture of wetlands, sandbars, wet prairies, and bottomland forests. Sandbars are created when fast flowing waters lose their energy while moving downstream and deposit sand and soils picked up from the river bottom and banks. Sandbars are prime habitat for nesting terns and plovers. ds develop (typically during floods) when the river follows its older channel and breaks open a new channel to encircle a sandbar or piece of land. Islands are stable enough to support vegetation and a variety of wildlife, including eagles. Looking southeast Nebraska is o n t h e right o f t h e Missouri River, and South Dakota is On t h e l e f t (above), The Missouri River touches seven states on its journey from its headwaters in Montana to St. Louis, Mo., and drains a watershed encompassing the heartland of America. ERIC FOWLER, NEBRASKALAND MAGAZINE/NEBRASKA GAME AND PARKS COMMISSION <NGPO The Lewis and Clark Expedition traveled along this section of the Missouri from late August to early September 1804, and again on their return trip in 1806. They explored landscape features such as Spirit Mound, held a council with the Yankton Sioux, and wrote the first reports on pronghorns, mule deer, and prairie dogs that were previously unknown to western science. Taming the Missouri—The Pick-Sloan Plan After a series of floods devastated farms and towns in the early 1940s, Congress enacted the Flood Control Act of 1944. A component known as the PickSloan Plan called for construction of five dams along the Missouri. By the mid-1960s, after the dams were built and reservoirs filled, the river ceased to be the meandering and high sediment-carrying sculptor of scenery. Although seasonal floods no longer replenish the floodFlooding—Doing What Comes Naturally During the time of west- plains, dam-controlled fluctuations provide habitats for an amazing ward expansion the Missouri River had a vast floodplain. It periodically array of plants and animals. overflowed its banks, creating new channels as the main one moved from side to side. A shifting channel was normal, especially below Yank- Today two stretches of the Missouri River along the ton and downstream to the confluence with the Platte River. Typically, Nebraska-South Dakota border are vital remnants of in April brief floods of one to two weeks occurred as a result of local the historic river. In 1978 and 1991 Congress preserved snowmelt and spring rains. In June floods lasted longer and inundated these free-flowing sections by designating them as the larger portions of the plains when melting snowpack from the Rockies Missouri National Recreational River and adding and rain from lower elevations swelled the Missouri beyond its banks. them to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. E*U«7JJiBJL«M««:«_ Restoring the Past Original Highway West American Indians :_• In 1879 Ponca Chief Standing Bear (right) won a court battle to have Indians recognized as. "persons with rights of citizenship" under United States lawLewis and Clark kept trip notes in this journal (right). jtj For centuries Yankton Sioux (camp at left) have carved ceremonial pipes ^ from red catlinite (below)B S 3 s -' Q I \l MISSOURI HISTORICAL SOCIETY True pioneers along the Mnisose Wakpa (tu lent river) were the American Indians for whom the river valley was a highway and a home. It provided shelter, wild game, and garden plots of fertile soil. The "Grea