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South Platte River

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424: 749:. At its completion in 1905, the dam was the world's tallest gravity dam, at 221 ft (67 m) above the streambed. The reservoir and related facilities were purchased in November 1918 by the Denver Water Board. Cheesman was the first reservoir of Denver's mountain storage facilities, and has been designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. Cheesman Reservoir feeds Cheesman Canyon. Six miles below Cheesman Reservoir is the town of Deckers; there, the river bends north for about 17 mi (27 km) to the confluence with the North Fork of the South Platte. 701:
New Mexico Indian Auxiliaries, who was ordered by the viceroy of New Spain to search the Tierra Incognita for a French incursion into New Mexico. The South Platte also served as a vital water source in Colorado. Long before the city of Denver was created, many travelers came to the South Platte River to escape the arid Great Plains. These people could survive the heat, but not without the vital water source that the South Platte gave them. Buckets and wells sufficed as a water system for a while, but eventually, the Denver Water System was created.
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The South Platte was originally called Niinéniiniicíihéhe by the native Arapaho people who lived on its banks. The early Spanish explorers called it the Rio Chato (calm river). In 1702, it was named the Rio Jesus Maria by Captain Jose Naranjo, the Indigenous-Spanish scout and captain of war of the
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The flows of the South Platte have been greatly modified by human activity. Originally the river was seasonal north of Fort Morgan to its confluence with the North Platte. In the 1800s the river would disappear in July, August, and September due to low flows and a sandy river bottom. By 1910 the
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The South Platte River is a gold medal western trout river on the eastern slope of Colorado, meaning it produces at least 12 trout of greater than 14 inches in length or greater per acre in areas accessible to the public. The river is well known for its wild trophy population of
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In the late 1980s, a proposal was put forth for the Two Forks Dam, which would have created a reservoir flooding the entire section from the North Fork confluence to the town of Deckers. In 1990, the US EPA vetoed the permit, calling the project an "environmental catastrophe."
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fishery. Most of these dams are bottom released, which allows for both stable water temperatures and year-round fly fishing. Popular fly-fishing stretches of the river include
720:. "Antero" is derived from the Spanish word "delantero", which means "foremost" or "head", as the reservoir was the first dam on the South Platte River near the river's origin. 723:
The next dam is Spinney Mountain Reservoir. At capacity, Spinney Mountain covers 2,500 acres (10 km). A bottom-release dam, Spinney releases to the east of the inlet.
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region that was formed through erosion by the ancestor of the river following the creation of the Rockies). It flows directly past the communities of
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In an arid region of the United States, the South Platte is marked with several dams. The first notable water impoundment on the South Platte is
1178: 1168: 499:. The river serves as the principal source of water for eastern Colorado. In its valley along the foothills in Colorado, it has permitted 763:
before entering Chatfield Reservoir. Chatfield marks the seventh and final dam on the South Platte until it merges with the North Platte.
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Laura King Van Dusen, "Forty-Six Years in Howbert: 1887-1933: Former Ranching, Railroading Community Covered by Eleven-Mile Reservoir",
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land. Three former Colorado towns, Howbert, Idlewild, and Freshwater Station, were submerged under the reservoir when it was built.
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Two miles below Spinney Mountain Reservoir, the river enters Eleven Mile Reservoir, with a capacity of 97,000
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The river flows north through central Denver, which was founded along its banks at its confluence with
460: 587: 564: 456: 147: 574:. The valley through Denver is highly industrialized, serving generally as the route for both the 892: 626: 571: 480: 423: 43: 914: 828:, the historic trail along the South Platte River, from northwestern Colorado to the Denver area 90: 658: 583: 673: 646: 630: 615: 607: 599: 520: 788:
enthusiasts visit each year. With seven dams on the river, the South Platte is considered a
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increase in agriculture caused the river to reach the border of Colorado and Wyoming due to
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From the confluence, the river flows towards Denver and enters Strontia Springs Reservoir.
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as the representative pathogen species. Other water issues involve the appearance of the
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U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data.
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and dams holding back water later in the year. Increasing diversions from the upper
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in western Nebraska to form the Platte, which then flows across Nebraska to the
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in the 20th century mean that flows reach the North Platte year round.
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before emerging from the foothills southwest of the Denver suburb of
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Water Transfers in the West: Efficiency, Equity, and the Environment
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and its lower section, Waterton Canyon. Here, it is joined by the
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University of Colorado: GIS Hydro Data for the South Platte
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East of Greeley, it turns eastward, flowing across the
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in Colorado, much of the populated region known as the
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Below Strontia Springs, the South Platte runs through
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The South Platte River through Denver is on the U.S.
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Historic Tales from Park County: Parked in the Past
637:, where it turns northeastward. It continues past 57:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. 820:South Platte River Trail Scenic and Historic Byway 543:. Both forks rise along the eastern flank of the 1130: 559:. At Littleton, the river is impounded to form 390:0 to 4,640 cu ft/s (0 to 131 m/s) 983:"The Early Fur Trade Posts on the South Platte" 1124:Strontia Springs Reservoir and Waterton Canyon 913:Committee on Western Water Management (1992). 822:, a 19-mile byway in Sedgwick County, Colorado 897:Water Resources Data Colorado Water Year 2003 539:, about 15 mi (24 km) southeast of 455:, it is itself a major river of the American 129:River in Colorado and Nebraska, United States 171: 947:Nebraska: A Guide to the Cornhusker State. 471:includes much of the eastern flank of the 159: 780:. As a result of its close proximity to 531:grassland basin by the confluence of the 117:Learn how and when to remove this message 987:The Mississippi Valley Historical Review 861:United States Department of the Interior 708:outposts were established on the river. 422: 411: 399: 210:Confluence of South Fork and Middle Fork 1104:City of Denver: South Platte Initiative 766: 14: 1131: 980: 741:, the South Platte runs northeast to 1179:Rivers of Jefferson County, Colorado 355:174 cu ft/s (4.9 m/s) 55:adding citations to reliable sources 26: 1169:Rivers of Sedgwick County, Colorado 852:Geographic Names Information System 839: 24: 1174:Rivers of Douglas County, Colorado 886: 873: 745:, named for Denver water pioneer 649:. In Nebraska, it passes south of 25: 1205: 1189:Rivers of Morgan County, Colorado 1072: 950:Nebraska State Historical Society 641:, and runs into Nebraska between 618:, which it receives just east of 602:, and is joined in succession by 1194:Rivers of Logan County, Colorado 1159:Rivers of Keith County, Nebraska 1154:Rivers of Deuel County, Nebraska 893:Water Data Report, Colorado 2003 563:, a flood-control basin for the 483:, and a portion of southeastern 140: 31: 1184:Rivers of Weld County, Colorado 1164:Tributaries of the Platte River 1149:Rivers of Park County, Colorado 857:United States Geological Survey 666:Environmental Protection Agency 487:in the vicinity of the city of 42:needs additional citations for 1094:USGS: South Platte River Basin 1042: 1013: 974: 955: 940: 906: 514: 427:Kayakers in Eleven Mile Canyon 282: • coordinates 216: • coordinates 13: 1: 832: 784:, the river has thousands of 188:Physical characteristics 1031:: The History Press, 2013), 435:is one of the two principal 321: • elevation 7: 803: 269: • location 206: • location 10: 1210: 1119:Spinney Mountain Reservoir 1054:Colorado Gold Medal Waters 815:List of rivers of Nebraska 810:List of rivers of Colorado 695: 404:The South Platte River in 351: • average 325:2,762 ft (842 m) 971:. Accessed June 23, 2014. 883:, accessed March 25, 2011 394: 386: 368: 363: 359: 349: 341: 337: 333:439 mi (707 km) 329: 319: 280: 267: 257: 253: 214: 204: 196: 192: 187: 167: 158: 139: 134: 800:, and the Dream Stream. 704:In the late 1830s, four 565:Denver metropolitan area 511:that is otherwise arid. 1114:The Greenway Foundation 711: 627:Colorado Eastern Plains 519:The river is formed in 172: 1050:"Colorado Gold Waters" 443:. Flowing through the 428: 420: 416:South Platte River in 409: 304:41.11389°N 100.67583°W 238:39.01111°N 105.74028°W 146:South Platte River in 1109:Eleven Mile Reservoir 981:Hafen, L. R. (1925). 674:New Zealand mud snail 647:Big Springs, Nebraska 616:Cache la Poudre River 608:Little Thompson River 588:Pike's Peak Gold Rush 521:Park County, Colorado 426: 415: 403: 962:Denver Water History 847:"South Platte River" 767:Fly fishing overview 477:Colorado Front Range 309:41.11389; -100.67583 243:39.01111; -105.74028 66:"South Platte River" 51:improve this article 1084:Chatfield Reservoir 643:Julesburg, Colorado 561:Chatfield Reservoir 364:Basin features 300: /  234: /  1144:Rivers of Nebraska 1139:Rivers of Colorado 1089:Cheesman Reservoir 967:2016-09-03 at the 826:South Platte Trail 747:Walter S. Cheesman 743:Cheesman Reservoir 739:Eleven Mile Canyon 655:North Platte River 612:Big Thompson River 578:lines, as well as 503:in an area of the 493:North Platte River 433:South Platte River 429: 421: 410: 275:North Platte River 135:South Platte River 1056:. Trout Unlimited 1037:978-1-62619-161-7 926:978-0-309-04528-5 657:near the city of 604:Saint Vrain Creek 505:Colorado Piedmont 459:and the American 398: 397: 127: 126: 119: 101: 16:(Redirected from 1201: 1079:Antero Reservoir 1066: 1065: 1063: 1061: 1046: 1040: 1017: 1011: 1010: 978: 972: 959: 953: 944: 938: 937: 935: 933: 910: 904: 890: 884: 881:The National Map 877: 871: 870: 868: 867: 843: 718:Antero Reservoir 491:. It joins the 418:Denver, Colorado 352: 315: 314: 312: 311: 310: 305: 301: 298: 297: 296: 293: 273:Confluence with 249: 248: 246: 245: 244: 239: 235: 232: 231: 230: 227: 217: 207: 183: 175: 163: 144: 132: 131: 122: 115: 111: 108: 102: 100: 59: 35: 27: 21: 1209: 1208: 1204: 1203: 1202: 1200: 1199: 1198: 1129: 1128: 1075: 1070: 1069: 1059: 1057: 1048: 1047: 1043: 1018: 1014: 999:10.2307/1889565 979: 975: 969:Wayback Machine 960: 956: 945: 941: 931: 929: 927: 911: 907: 891: 887: 878: 874: 865: 863: 845: 844: 840: 835: 806: 798:Cheesman Canyon 794:Waterton Canyon 769: 761:Waterton Canyon 714: 698: 523:, southwest of 517: 473:Rocky Mountains 387:Discharge range 350: 322: 308: 306: 302: 299: 294: 291: 289: 287: 286: 283: 270: 242: 240: 236: 233: 228: 225: 223: 221: 220: 215: 205: 177: 154: 130: 123: 112: 106: 103: 60: 58: 48: 36: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1207: 1197: 1196: 1191: 1186: 1181: 1176: 1171: 1166: 1161: 1156: 1151: 1146: 1141: 1127: 1126: 1121: 1116: 1111: 1106: 1101: 1096: 1091: 1086: 1081: 1074: 1073:External links 1071: 1068: 1067: 1041: 1029:South Carolina 1012: 993:(3): 334–341. 973: 954: 939: 925: 905: 885: 872: 837: 836: 834: 831: 830: 829: 823: 817: 812: 805: 802: 768: 765: 732:Forest Service 713: 710: 697: 694: 690:Colorado River 653:and joins the 545:Mosquito Range 516: 513: 481:Eastern Plains 469:drainage basin 396: 395: 392: 391: 388: 384: 383: 370: 366: 365: 361: 360: 357: 356: 353: 347: 346: 343: 339: 338: 335: 334: 331: 327: 326: 323: 320: 317: 316: 284: 281: 278: 277: 271: 268: 265: 264: 261: 255: 254: 251: 250: 218: 212: 211: 208: 202: 201: 198: 194: 193: 190: 189: 185: 184: 169: 165: 164: 156: 155: 148:Douglas County 145: 137: 136: 128: 125: 124: 39: 37: 30: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1206: 1195: 1192: 1190: 1187: 1185: 1182: 1180: 1177: 1175: 1172: 1170: 1167: 1165: 1162: 1160: 1157: 1155: 1152: 1150: 1147: 1145: 1142: 1140: 1137: 1136: 1134: 1125: 1122: 1120: 1117: 1115: 1112: 1110: 1107: 1105: 1102: 1100: 1097: 1095: 1092: 1090: 1087: 1085: 1082: 1080: 1077: 1076: 1055: 1051: 1045: 1039:, pp. 97-104. 1038: 1034: 1030: 1026: 1022: 1016: 1008: 1004: 1000: 996: 992: 988: 984: 977: 970: 966: 963: 958: 951: 948: 943: 928: 922: 918: 917: 909: 902: 898: 894: 889: 882: 876: 862: 858: 854: 853: 848: 842: 838: 827: 824: 821: 818: 816: 813: 811: 808: 807: 801: 799: 795: 791: 787: 783: 779: 778:rainbow trout 775: 764: 762: 757: 754: 750: 748: 744: 740: 735: 733: 729: 724: 721: 719: 709: 707: 702: 693: 691: 687: 681: 679: 675: 671: 667: 662: 660: 656: 652: 648: 644: 640: 636: 632: 628: 623: 621: 617: 613: 609: 605: 601: 597: 593: 589: 585: 581: 580:Interstate 25 577: 573: 568: 566: 562: 558: 554: 550: 549:Platte Canyon 546: 542: 538: 534: 530: 526: 522: 512: 510: 506: 502: 498: 494: 490: 486: 482: 478: 474: 470: 466: 465:Mountain West 462: 458: 454: 450: 446: 442: 438: 434: 425: 419: 414: 407: 406:Platte Canyon 402: 393: 389: 385: 382: 378: 374: 371: 367: 362: 358: 354: 348: 344: 340: 336: 332: 328: 324: 318: 313: 285: 279: 276: 272: 266: 262: 260: 256: 252: 247: 219: 213: 209: 203: 199: 195: 191: 186: 181: 174: 170: 166: 162: 157: 153: 149: 143: 138: 133: 121: 118: 110: 99: 96: 92: 89: 85: 82: 78: 75: 71: 68: –  67: 63: 62:Find sources: 56: 52: 46: 45: 40:This article 38: 34: 29: 28: 19: 1058:. Retrieved 1053: 1044: 1020: 1015: 990: 986: 976: 957: 946: 942: 930:. Retrieved 915: 908: 888: 875: 864:. Retrieved 850: 841: 770: 758: 755: 751: 736: 725: 722: 715: 703: 699: 686:return flows 682: 678:zebra mussel 669: 663: 659:North Platte 624: 572:Cherry Creek 569: 518: 509:Great Plains 441:Platte River 432: 430: 113: 107:January 2011 104: 94: 87: 80: 73: 61: 49:Please help 44:verification 41: 18:South Platte 786:fly fishing 706:fur trading 631:Fort Morgan 600:Fort Lupton 584:Clear Creek 537:Middle Fork 515:Description 501:agriculture 445:U.S. states 437:tributaries 381:Mississippi 369:Progression 307: / 295:100°40′33″W 241: / 229:105°44′25″W 173:Wašíŋ Wakpá 168:Native name 1133:Categories 1025:Charleston 866:2011-01-29 833:References 614:, and the 553:North Fork 533:South Fork 529:South Park 408:, Colorado 292:41°06′50″N 226:39°00′40″N 77:newspapers 1007:0161-391X 790:tailwater 728:acre-feet 557:Littleton 461:Southwest 342:Discharge 965:Archived 952:. p. 46. 804:See also 670:E. coli 651:Ogallala 639:Sterling 596:Brighton 576:railroad 541:Fairplay 497:Missouri 489:Cheyenne 453:Nebraska 449:Colorado 377:Missouri 152:Colorado 895:, from 696:History 629:, past 620:Greeley 527:in the 485:Wyoming 457:Midwest 439:of the 91:scholar 1060:28 May 1035:  1005:  932:28 May 923:  782:Denver 645:, and 610:, the 606:, the 525:Denver 467:. Its 373:Platte 345:  330:Length 263:  200:  197:Source 180:Lakota 176:  93:  86:  79:  72:  64:  774:brown 737:From 635:Brush 592:shale 259:Mouth 98:JSTOR 84:books 1062:2024 1033:ISBN 1003:ISSN 934:2024 921:ISBN 901:USGS 776:and 712:Dams 676:and 633:and 598:and 535:and 507:and 479:and 451:and 431:The 70:news 995:doi 447:of 53:by 1135:: 1052:. 1027:, 1001:. 991:12 989:. 985:. 899:, 859:, 855:. 849:. 796:, 680:. 661:. 622:. 567:. 150:, 1064:. 1023:( 1009:. 997:: 936:. 903:. 869:. 463:/ 379:— 375:— 182:) 178:( 120:) 114:( 109:) 105:( 95:· 88:· 81:· 74:· 47:. 20:)

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South Platte

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Douglas County
Colorado
South Platte River watershed
Lakota
39°00′40″N 105°44′25″W / 39.01111°N 105.74028°W / 39.01111; -105.74028
Mouth
North Platte River
41°06′50″N 100°40′33″W / 41.11389°N 100.67583°W / 41.11389; -100.67583
Platte
Missouri
Mississippi

Platte Canyon

Denver, Colorado

tributaries

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