Evaluation of Native Plant Communities on Nebraska Game and Parks Commission State Parks

Authors

Robert F. Steinauer

Citation

Steinauer, Robert F. Undated. Evaluation of Native Plant Communities on Nebraska Game and Parks Commission State Parks. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. 41 pp.

Abstract

This report evaluates the Native Plant Communities on Nebraska Game and Parks Commission State Parks East Region, also known as Region 3, which includes much of northeast and extreme eastern Nebraska, including portions of the lower Niobrara, Elkhorn and Platte Rivers and nearly the entire east border formed by the Missouri River. Fifteen state-listed threatened and endangered species have been recorded within the boundaries of Region 3 within the last twenty years. Several of these occupy habitats within major river channels.

Surveyed areas which contained habitat for legally protected species include Dead Timber State Recreation Area, Indian Cave State Park, Lewis & Clark State Recreation Area, Louisville State Recreation Area, Platte River State Park, Ponca State Park, Schramm Park State Recreation Area, and Two Rivers State Recreation Area. Areas that provide access to potential protected species habitat in the Missouri River include Brownville State Recreation Area, Pelican Point State Recreation Area, and Riverview Marina State Recreation Area. Exemplary plant communities were recorded at all sites surveyed with the exception of Brownville SRA, Fremont Lakes SRA, and Riverview Marina SRA. The foremost management considerations in Region 3 include control of invasive exotic species that could pose a serious threat to existing natural communities.