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Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies Nebraska Academy of Sciences

1991

Ditching of Wetlands in the Nebraska Sandhills: A Case Study of Grant County

James E. Ducey [email protected]

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Ducey, James E., "Ditching of Wetlands in the Nebraska Sandhills: A Case Study of Grant County" (1991). Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies. 145. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/tnas/145

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Nebraska Academy of Sciences at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societiesy b an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. 1991. Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences, XVIII: 1-9

DITCHING OF WETLANDS IN THE NEBRASKA SANDHJLLS:

A CASE STUDY OF GRANT COUNTY

James E. Ducey

1210 South 25th Street Lincoln, Nebraska 68502

meadows and readily available water were among Ditching of wetlands in the Nebraska Sandhills is the first places claimed by ranchers in the Sandhills shown by a case study of Grant County, where ditching can (McIntosh, 1974, 1976). Settlement of the areas oc­ be traced back more than fifty years. Drainage activity curred first where water for herds of livestock could shown on recent soil and topographic maps shows more be naturally provided. Ranchers and others real­ than 55 sites in the county where ditching has occurred. Many lakes and marshes have been completely drained ized the winter cattle feed that wetlands could pro­ and are now hay meadows. In a section of southeastern vide. Once wetlands were claimed, the pressure in­ Grant County, eight lakes comprising more than 3,500 creased to develop them for· increased hay produc­ acres are shown as drained. The wetland valleys in the tion. Ditches were dug in the wet meadows and Sandhills Natural Landmark south of Hyannis have been lakes to alter the water regime and improve condi­ ditched. The regulatory role of the Army Corps of Engi­ tions for getting grass-cutting equipment into the neers is also briefly discussed. meadows. Sometimes the grass is cut from hay meadows early in the growing season and the re­ growth provides forage later in the year. t t t Ditching activity has occurred in the Sandhills Wetlands are a unique facet of the Nebraska during the past 75 years. Extensive ditching done Sandhills. The lakes, marshes and meadows are around 1918 in the northwest part of Cherry County an important natural resource, providing fish and was described as the "greatest destruction of wet­ wildlife habitat, hay production, and groundwater lands" in this county (McMurtrey et aI., 1972). recharge for the "," to mention Elsewhere before 1920, most ditching had occurred three prominent natural values. In the 100 years among the lakes at the headwaters of the North Loup since settlement of the Sandhills, many meadows River and in Morrill and Garden counties and even lakes have been ditched to provide areas (Oberholser and McAtee, 1920). There was where grass is cut to provide hay for cattle. "apparently no danger that this will be carried to a Drainage in Grant County illustrates the extent of much greater extent than at present, nor is it likely ditching activity in one area of the Sandhills. to be extended to the lakes of eastern Cherry County or the lakes of Brown County" (Oberholser and DITCHINGANDDRMNAGEOFLUrnSAND McAtee, 1920: 6). WETLANDS Some of the first ditching activity was done by Hay from subh-rigated wetland meadows pro­ ranch hands using a sharp spade. A ditch two feet vides a reliable crop each summer for the Sandhills wide, two feet deep and three-fourths of a mile long rancher. Wetlands in the valleys between the was dug in this manner on the Monahan Circle-Dot have changing water conditions that influence the Ranch in Grant, Cherry, and Hooker counties. amount of ground that can be hayed. Areas with wet Later this ranch used a piece of equipment shaped

1 Copyright 1991 James E. Ducey. All rights reserved. Article included here with author's written permission. 2 Ditching of sandhills wetlands like a snow plow and pulled by horses. Smaller water table means less hay; to the other there is in ditches were dug using dynamite (Monahan, 1987: the lowered water table a threat of future water short­ 206-210). ages." A photo shows a section of a drained wetland five miles south of Whitman. Other studies have One site, Foley Lake was ditched and the ground noted ditching and drainage work in Grant County planted with reed canary grass. The area then pro­ (McMurtrey et al., 1972) and in other Sandhills vided 500 tons of hay each year. Collins Lake two counties (Oberholser and McAtee, 1920). miles northwest of Whitman was drained in the fall of 1939. "It took just six weeks to do the job" METHODS (Monahan, 1987: 208). This drainage ditch in­ cluded using a crane and dragline to dig a 53-foot Two relatively current maps show where ditch­ cut through a hill. A bed of quicksand caused some ing has occurred and were used to evaluate the ex­ difficulty and meant that the tile put in place had to tent of ditching in Grant County: maps are from the be replaced years later. "The water from this lake soil survey for Grant County issued in 1977 by the bed goes north of Whitman and joins at the railroad Soil Conservation Service and 7.5-minute topo­ with water from the west that starts about three miles graphical maps released from 1985 through 1987 by southeast of Hyannis to just west of Hecla, some 15 the Geological Survey. The 15-minute miles east of Whitman and continues through topographical maps were also used when needed. Whitman by way of both tile and an open ditch" (Monahan, 1987: 209). The distance the water trav­ The locations of ditches were marked on a els apparently varies. "In the spring of the years county map. Indications of ditching activity were 1983 and 1986, this water got within a mile or so of shown on topographical maps as a thin blue line Hecla-the furthest east I ever saw it except one other through a wetland area. In some cases, a topo­ time, probably 1915, the wet year" (Monahan, 1987: graphic map showed ditches in lakes and areas with 209). standing water whereas the soils map did not show any ditching activity. Hay meadows were evident The Lawrence Valley north of Whitman was since haystacks are prominent dots on the aerial another valley ditched by the Monahan Ranch. The photos used as base maps to delineate areas of differ­ drainage was to a stream called the Middle Prong ent soil types. that empties into the Middle . Removing enough water in this valley required an electric Information on activities related to ditching and pump and gate to force the water from the valley placing fill in wetlands, regulated by Section 404 of since there was an insufficient drop in ground ele­ the Clean Water Act, along the Burlington Northern vation. The account written by Monahan mentions right-of-way near Hyannis, was provided by the ditching activity that occurred at the Gudmundsen Regulatory office of the Army Corps of Engineers in Sandhills Laboratory, now owned by the University Omaha and Kearney, Nebraska. of Nebraska. Along the Burlington Railroad right­ of-way between Hyannis and Whitman, the first The size of areas ditched was estimated by using ditches were dug in the 1930s (material on file, Reg­ squares of known area (i.e. 40 acres) to measure the ulatory Division, Omaha District, Corps of Engi­ acreage shown on the topographic maps. The soil neers). These ditches are typically cleaned regu­ survey maps were the source for the traced figures of larly to maintain adequate drainage. the lakes and meadows. This tracing was digitized using a scanner connected to a microcomputer. The Ditching by ranchers in Grant County was noted digitized bitmap was redrawn using Corel Draw before 1940 by Mot! (1939) who wrote: "Quite com­ graphics software to create the figures. monly, a water table is so high as to keep large parts of hay meadows marshy or under water. Wild rice, WETLAND SOlLS OF GRANT COUNTY bulrushes, flags, and the coarse grasses of low food value grow on these wet soils of the Gannett series. The soil maps of Grant County include descrip­ Several ranchers have constructed ditches to drain tions of the soil moisture characteristics and suit­ the marshes and decrease the lake areas. This ability for providing hay (Soil Conservation Ser­ makes available the grasses on the edges of the vice, 1977). Soils follow a general gradient, with the former marshes and supplants the coarse marsh moist Valentine-Gannett-Elsmore Association in vegetation with timothy or other nutritious grasses. the valley lowlands between the dunes. Most of the The rancher and the conservationist do not agree on wetland areas and lakes in the county are in this the advisability of such drainage. To the one, a high association. Ditching of sandhills wetlands 3 EcB: loamy fine sands; subirrigated; may be summer; it commonly recedes to a depth of too wet for haying operations during the one or two feet below the surface late in sum­ wettest seasons or following heavy rains. mer and early in fall. Nearly all the acreage EfB: loamy fine sand; subirrigated; water of marsh is in native vegetation, mainly table at a depth of two to five feet. cattails, rushes, arrowhead and burreed. Ga: fine sandy loams; wetland; wetness Sa: saline-alkali land; saline subirrigated; from the high water table is the characteristic the soil is strongly or very strongly alkaline that most limits the use of these soils. During in the upper 12 inches of the horizon. Nearly the wettest seasons they are commonly too wet all areas of this unit are in native grass and for haying operations. Runoff is very slow, are mowed for hay. or the surface is ponded. Tk: loamy fine sand; wetland; in most Gb: fine sandy loams; subirrigated; in some years the water table ranges from about one places the water table is above the surface foot above the surface early in spring to a early in spring. depth of one foot below it early in fall. The Ld: loamy fine sands; wetland; in most soil is used mainly as hayland. It is years the water table is above the surface commonly too wet for timely haying early in spring, but recedes to a depth of about operations during wet seasons and following two feet early in fall. These soils are com­ heavy rains. monly too wet for haying operations during Tn: loamy fine sand; subirrigated; in most wet seasons or after heavy rains. Runoff is years the water table ranges from a depth of ponded or very slow. one to two feet early in spring to a depth of Lf: loamy fine sands; subirrigated; during about two feet early in fall. During wet sea­ some seasons the areas are too wet for timely sons the soil is too wet for timely haying op­ haying operations. erations. Ma: marsh; marsh areas have a water table above the surface in spring and early in

Grant County, Nebraska

R40W R39W $Loblllld:~ A~~ ~--- ~ ....~. Lob ""•• fi\mIt w-... Hibbler Doc -,--_ Lake a Lake F---l a ~ey Dominick ad} Lake

Knuner· ~ VaHey; @ Wdd Horse 'b~ VaHey"'" • Swede

~ ..•..

R41W R38W R37W

Figure 1. A map of Grant County showing where ditching has taken place. Ditches are shown by a heavy black line. Other land features, especially wetlands and hay meadows, are also shown. 4 Ditching of sandhills wetlands Soils that are permanently wet, such as lakes, Table 1. Ditched areas in southeast Grant County cattail marshes, sedge meadows, and immediately that show the extent of drained wetland ar­ adjacent wet meadows, typically are not hayed if the eas. soil is inundated. Changes in plant composition oc­ Approximate acres of wet­ cur with changes in rainfall and water levels and land soils influence wetland floristic communities. In wet Egan Lakebed 480 years, lakes and marshes increase in area since Handlin Valley 200 moisture conditions support wet-meadow grasses Haney Lakebed 600 farther up the lower slopes of the hills. Middle Valley 220 EXTENT OF DITCHING ACTIVITY Rothwell Lakebed 240 Snyder Valley 820 There has been extensive ditching in Grant Spring Valley 900 County (Fig. 1), mostly in the eastern half of the (includes 5 miles of ditch) county, where at least 55 sites show ditching. The Vinton Valley 300 areas with the most extensive ditching are near the Loup River, along the Burlington Railroad right-of­ way, and the Spring Valley Lake area. Each line Ditching activity has occurred in lakes and wet­ shown on the map was considered a single occur­ lands (Ga, Ld and Ma soil types) and most exten­ rence although the ditch may be miles long and have sively in subirrigated meadows (EcB, EfB, Gb, LF, several lateral ditches. A short ditch is obviously not Tk and Th soil types). Despite the ditching, in some comparable to one that is many miles long such as places, according to the soil characteristics, sites those along the railroad right-of-way and the may have standing water during the spring and branches of the Middle Loup River. The longest is a after heavy rains. The water level would drop 15-mile network of ditches along the railroad tracks through the summer and fall seasons. near Whitman, which continues into western Hooker County where it ends. The ditch work The type of ditching varies. One type is a short through the valley at the University if Nebraska ditch to drain the meadow area of a lake or simply to Gudmundsen Field Laboratory area is 8.5 miles lower the water level so the area can be hayed. A sec­ long. The ditch through the meadow there continues ond type is to drain a lake or meadow into a nearby into Hooker County and eventually connects to the intermittent lake that may be in another valley. south branch of the Middle Loup River. Other This also would provide for an overflow if the water lengthy ditch networks are those that also drain wet­ in the lake was high. The third category is a net­ lands and then connect with other branches of the work of ditches to transport water so it can be Loup River in Cherry County. There are apparently drained into a river. Two examples of this type of several lakes, including what were once Moran, ditch are along the branch of the South Loup and at Egan, Haney, and Rothwell lakes that are ditched the meadow at Gudmundsen Field Laboratory. In a (Table 1) and are now hay meadows, not lakes (Fig. few cases a pipeline (a culvert) and pump lowered 2). The Dismal River Forks ditches in the southeast the water level so the lake edge can be hayed. These part of the county also continue into Hooker County items were used at the meadow north of Big Buck­ and eventually empty into the North Fork of the board Lake (Fig. 3). Dismal River. Any more recent ditching activity would not be included in this total since it was not Because of ditch work, there are fewer wetlands shown on the sources reviewed. associated with the Ga, Ld and Ma soil sites in Grant County and elsewhere in the Sandhills. Most The southwestern portion of the county has had of the wetlands or marsh sites that remain are asso­ extensive localized ditching. The specific extent of ciated with some lakes in remote localities. There ditching is represented by the approximately 3,760 has been less ditching in the western part of the wetland acres that have been ditched in just this re­ county and several large valleys apparently re­ gion (Table 1). Not all lowlands are completely dry main unaltered. One larger site with an open water, but water may still occur to a limited extent in places wetland, and meadow complex is Long Valley (Fig. where the ground level is the lowest and the water 3). The Farm Valley to the northwest also has wet­ table is exposed. For example, Egan Lake has about land areas that are not ditched although they are 220 acres of wet conditions. Spring Valley has about hayed. Others include wetlands near Wild Horse 380 acres, and Middle Valley has about 160 acres. Hill and Pleasant Valley. Ditching of sandhills wetlands 5

Moran Lakebed - USGS Home Lake - SCS

One Mile

:0: drainage pump I pipeline

~ indicates a hay meadow

Haney Lakebed

One Mile

Figure 2. Two lakes in the Sandhills of Grant County illustrating the network of ditches used to drain water from the wet­ land soils of the lakes. 6 Ditching of sandhills wetlands

Long Valley Southwest Grant County

One Mile

Meadow in valley north of Big Buckboard Lake.

One Mile

Figure 3. Two valleys in Grant County, comparing an unditched and a ditched valley. The upper figure indicates the wet­ lands. Note the network of ditches in the lower figure that were used to drain the wetlands in this valley in the Sandhills Natinal Landmark. This valley is now a hay meadow. Abbreviations are for the soil types given in the text.

Table II. Size distribution of destroyed wetlands of select counties in the Sandhills (from McMurtrey et aI., 1972).

Locality Percent by size distn'bution 0-10 ac. 10.1-50 50.1-100 100.1-200 200.1-400 400.± Grant C. 1 (1.6%) 5 (7.8%) 16 (25%) 17 (27%) 23 (36%) 2 (3%) Cherry C. 1 (1%) 15 (23%) 14 (21%) 10(15%) 19 (28%) 8 (12%) Overall 8 (5%) 43 (23%) 40 (22%) 37 (20%) 43 (23%) 13 (7%) Ditching of sandhills wetlands 7

Ditching has caused less loss of lakes than of Cherry County: the Middle Branch of the meadows. Many lakes that remain are northeast of Middle Loup and Green Lake sites just north Ashby, where there are several of various sizes such of Grant County (USGS topographic map). as Calkin, Hibbler, and Knox lakes. Others along the western boundary of the county include Alkali Cherry: numerous places along Boardman and Graves lakes. Smaller lakes are scattered Creek. This creek has several areas of Cut­ throughout the county. Some of the larger, more comb wetland soils, including one about two prominent lakes are shown on the map of Grant miles in length along the creek valley (SCS County (Fig. 1). soil map). Few areas in Cherry County have this soil type. Other sites with the same soil A previous study has noted the extent of ditching type are recognized as fens by the Natural activity in Grant County (McMurtrey et aI., 1972). Heritage Program of the Nebraska Game That survey for the Sandhills region took place from and Parks Commission. 1962 through 1968. The survey did not include Type I wetlands that are seasonally-flooded basins or Cherry: North Fork of Plum Creek and ori­ flats. Grant County was noted to have the most ex­ gin of Goose Creek (USGS topographic map). tensive wetland destruction of any Sandhills Goose Creek has been mostly straightened county. About "56% (10,564 acres) of the county's between creek miles 40 to 60 (Bleed and Flow­ wetland acres and about 18% (64) of the total" num­ erday, 1989). ber of wetlands have been destroyed (McMurtrey et aI., 1972:73). Most of the wetlands destroyed in Cherry: Snake River headlands straight­ Grant County were the deeper water Type IV wet­ ened to drain wetlands and ponds; Plum lands that are inland deep-water marshes and Type Creek in the region of mile 60 mostly V wetlands that are inland open fresh-water lakes. straightened; Gordon Creek mostly straight­ More than 90% were 50.1 acres or larger in size ened in two five-mile portions between miles (Table II). This percentage is higher than adjacent 80 to 100 (Bleed and Flowerday, 1989). Cherry County, where there has also been extensive destruction of wetlands (67 sites comprising 12,739 Garden County: Anderson Valley just west acres). of central Grant County (USGS topographic map). The percentage of larger wetlands destroyed in Grant County would be greater if other sites were in­ Other sites where ditching has occurred are also cluded, especially the larger valleys and lakes that visible from highways and vehicle trails elsewhere have been ditched and drained (Table I). in Cherry County. In each case the wetlands affected the most are subirrigated meadows and shallow Ditching activity is not limited to Grant County. water wetlands. The result of this ditching on Similar work has occurred throughout the Sand­ wildlife and other natural resources associated with hills. Examples include: these wetlands has not been studied. It is obvious that many wetlands no longer provide the wildlife val­ Arthur County: Cheyenne Lake is ditched to ues that would be associated with an undisturbed lower water levels to allow hay to be cut. In wetland. 1989 this lake had standing water through early July, with several species of waterfowl The extent of ditching in wetlands in eastern occurring on the lake. By mid-August there Sandhills counties was also noted in the 1960s sur­ was only a small amount of standing water vey (McMurtrey et aI., 1972). Although the number in the ditches and the hay had already been of acres of wetlands loss was not designated, the cut. Three other sites are to the east of Swan miles of ditches were measured in Garfield (19 Lake, Baldy Valley and the valley to the miles), Holt (102 miles with 75% of these in the north of Box Lake. The meadow north of Box meadows of the southern half of the Lake has a ditch more than five miles long county), Rock (47 miles), and Wheeler (13 miles) with one Ga soil area having twelve lateral counties. ditches (SCS soil map). The cutting of hay throughout the Sandhills would result in almost no undisturbed native mead­ ows with extensive grass growth. Wherever possi- 8 Ditching of sandhills wetlands ble-which is probably almost. all meadows in the the spoil is sidecast onto the adjacent wetland soils. Sandhills except for some on public property such as These regulations apply to activity occurring after Valentine Refuge-meadows are cut for hay. This October 1984 (1989: John Peterson, Omaha Corps of habitat would not be available for wildlife, espe­ Engineers Regulatory Division, personal commu­ cially certain birds that require meadow habitat for nication). At many ditched areas seen during 1989 breeding. Sometimes, birds could successfully nest in Grant and Cherry counties, spoil was typically if the hay is cut after the nesting cycle has been com­ sidecast into the wetland. In 1988 and 1989 draining pleted. During years with greater rainfall in the and sidecast activity occurred at nine locations spring and then warm and dry weather, hay is cut along the railroad tracks between Wolfenberger weeks earlier and thus has a greater impact on nest­ Lakes near Ashby, near Whitman, and eastward ing birds. Any successful measures to protect into Hooker County (Section 404 records from Regu­ meadows, marshes and lakes from drainage would latory Division, Corps of Engineers, Omaha). Most need to provide an economic incentive for land of this activity was classified as maintenance work owners to retain or reestablish meadows, marshes, that did not require a Section 404 permit. According and lakes. The moist soils provide the hay crop to this information, Wolfenberger Lake and a lake essential for feeding cattle. An increase in wet about five miles west of Whitman were almost com­ places, like a marsh or wet meadow, would decrease pletely drained. One new ditch and its sidecast fill, the size of a hay crop and reduce the size of the cattle and a small amount of fill placed by Burlington herd that could be maintained on the available hay Northern, were the only activities covered by Section crop. This would reduce the economic return for a 404. Burlington Northern removed the fill to comply cattle operation. with regulations and allow their work to continue.

SANDHU.I,g NATIONAL NATURAL The Monahan Circle-Dot Ranch was required to LANDMARK get a permit for two cases of placing unauthorized fill in a wetland-one site is five miles east of The Sandhills National Natural Landmark Whitman, and the second site is in section 28 T24N was established to recognize its grass-covered R37W (applications and correspondence on file, topography, native sandhills prairie and hilltop Corps of Engineers, Kearney). The application blowouts, and a variety of wetlands (Schultz and stated that the purpose of cleaning an existing ditch Tanner, no date). In the description of the natural was "so we can cut more hay for our cattle" James values, the chief value of the designated area was the A Monahan wrote. The Corps is evaluating whether presence of water. The water resources here­ fill activity at Big Buckboard Lake and Steverson meadows, marshes, and lakes-have been affected Lake in Cherry County will require a permit (Mike just as they have been elsewhere. By comparing the Rabbe, Corps of Engineers in Kearney, personal topographic map with ditch locations, apparently communication). In Cherry County fill associated each of the meadow sites within the landmark with ditching in section 14 T28N R28W was autho­ boundary has been ditched. Topographic maps rized under a nationwide permit. from 1948 show ditches were present then at some sites but other current ditches were intermittent Section 404 does not have jurisdiction over ditch­ drainageways. The ditch work includes the ing activity, just the placing of fill. This means a meadow north of Big Buckboard Lake, which has a wetland could be drained by ditches if the spoil is variety of wetland soil types and is about 640 acres hauled to a non-wetland site for disposal. Section in size (Fig. 3). The ditch work includes a primary 404 does not offer any effective measures to conserve ditch and several laterals. The earth moved was wetlands by regulating fill. It is not the fill that de­ side cast as fill into Ga and Ma class wetland soils. stroys the wetland, but the loss of standing water and The spoil piles here are shown on the topographic the wetlands that would occur if ditching was not map. This ditching activity detracts from the value present. of the landmark since representative, undisturbed Sandhills wetlands no longer occur or have been SUMMARY altered. The ditching and loss of wetlands in Grant SECTION 404 County and elsewhere indicate the need for mea­ sures to conserve and restore wetlands in the Sand­ Section 404 of the Clean Water Act governs plac­ hills. Efforts are needed to ensure that unaltered wet ing fill in a wetland. In the Sandhills, Section 404 meadows and shallow-water wetlands remain as regulations typically apply when a ditch is dug and part of the water resources of this region. Where fea- Ditching of sandhills wetlands 9 sible, lakes and wetlands could offer an opportunity for wetland restoration. The wetlands of the Sand­ hills are perhaps one of the most distinctive aspects of this dune country.

LITERATURE CITED

Bleed, A, and C. Flowerday (editors). 1989. An at­ las of the Sandhills. Resource Atlas No.5, Con­ servation and Survey Division, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 238 pp. McIntosh, C.B. 1974. Forest lieu selections in the Sandhills of Nebraska. Annals of the Associa­ tion of American Geographers 64: 87-99. . 1976. Patterns from land alienation ----maps. Annals of the Association of American Geographers 66: 570-582. McMurtrey, M.S., R. Craig, and G. Schildman. 1972. Final report: survey of habitat work plan K-71, March 1971 through February 1972. Pittman-Robertson Project W-15-R-28, Ne­ braska Game and Parks Commission, Lincoln. 78pp. Monahan, E.H. 1987. Sandhill horizons: a story of the Monahan Ranch and other history of the area. Rader's Place, Alliance, NE. 420 pp. Motl, M.E. 1939. A geographic interpretation of Mullen, a typical Nebraska Sandhills commu­ nity. M.A. Thesis, University of Nebraska­ Lincoln. 139 pp. Oberholser, H.C., and W.L. McAtee. 1920. Water­ fowl and their food plants in the Sandhill region of Nebraska. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bulletin No. 794. 77 pp. Schultz, C.B., and L.G. Tanner. n.d. Evaluation of Nebraska Sandhills in Nebraska for eligibility as a natural landmark. National Park Service Contract PX 600040613, Omaha. 20 pp. Soil Conservation Service. 1977. Soil survey of Arthur and Grant Counties, Nebraska. Soil Conservation Service, Lincoln. 50 pp. plus maps.