Aerial Photography Maps of the Missouri National Recreational River

Gavins Point Dam, South Dakota to Ponca State Park, Nebraska September 2004

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US Army Corps of Engineers ® Omaha District Table of Contents

Welcome Page • A c"Omprch"n,;',., ex~mi"a t ion of the Missouri Ri,,,. addressil1g topics such as " .. ,irs grograph ica\ char~c~ris{iC.'l . .. .th e rc-~sons (o r p...,.",,,il1g its """"rees, .. ,irs appearance during Lewis and Clark's "pk jOlln,C')'. 02

Bald Eagle While many bald Threatened and Endangered Species Page • An iliustrMive guide on the arca's rh",aten"d and endal1gercd specie,; ourlinil1g" . area during the .. ,the need (or the Endan~",,,,d Species Act of 1973. these rapmrs may ."ways of protecting .pecies fOund along the Missouri Ri,,,r. ... the countless reasons and incenti"es for ",,"il1g endange",d species. year in the 03

August 251 ", .. Set out to \ Historical Information Page .A historiC"~1 o\"er"i~'w of the Lewis and Clark Expedition providing specifies on ... the Inds Gi11C. . .. the ~... "nt:,; that led up to the f~med Expedition . Spirits is dun ... the conditions as descril>ed in the journals of William Clar\:. .. . the Missouri Ri",r and the Lev,'is & Clark Bicentennial CommemorMion. 05 this mound .. " t mv;de fu nhe, ;nstcuct;ons. General and Safety Information Page a Boat Ramp Coordinates - An ~ ~t ensiw list of ,,',,neral information and safe!)' pm:autions offering tips on .. .. . respeering the' reSOmce . oat Ram Name Latitude .. .,,,·imming . OOating. and ",mping. olton 42° 39' 58" .. . re"ding and na"ig;oting the' Missomi Riwr. 10

f-8' Sheet Index Page \. • An iliustrMi"e map indexing the following sections of the Recreational Ri",r... :J to 6 ... Ri"er Miles 810 792 : Shm / . 6. 7' B .. . Ri"er Miles 792 to 774: Shm 7 · // . ... Ri"er Miles 773 to 752 : Shul 11 · /7 . 12 T ,/rb

Aerial Photography and Maps Page -A collection of maps covering the fo llowing sections of th" Re'Creational River...... Lake Yankton to St. Hden;l Island: Sheer 1 · 6 . .. .St. Hden;l Island to Mull>erry Iknd: She.r 7 · 11 . .. . V"nnillion River to Ponca Stat" I'drk: Sheff 12 · 17. 13

Biological Overview Page • A brief glimpse into the arca's vast biMi",,,i!)' pro"iding a wriety of ima~",s on ...... Mammals such as the Red Fox and Coo,"Ote . .. . Birds such as the Sc"rler Tanager and Great Blue Heron . ... r r~irie Plant:,; such as the Prairie Larkspur and Purple Pmirie CIO\"r. 30

1 \'tOZJ OOT-D"J I http:// www. nps.gov/ mnrr Contacts Page -A directory for indi"iduals requiring further information listing contacts such a.i .. U.S. Army Corps of Engineer .. . th" Q,"'ins fui m Project - U.S. Army Corps of Engill~~rs . .. . th,' Missouri Natioll"1 R <'Cr~ational River - National I'drk S,·":i,,,. Gavins Point Project .. . th" Missouri River Information C"","r' U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 33 P.O. Box 710 Welcome Page 02

Welcome to Missouri National Recreational River, specifically the 59-mile reach between South Dakota's Gavins Point Dam and Nebraska's Pon ca State Park. This is one of the last natural segments of the unchanneli zed Mi ssouri River, an environment that is rare on the G reat Plains. Gavins Point Dam ma rks the start of this stretch of the rive r that meanders in the old, wider fiver valley. Below the Yankton Narrows, the river valley opens into a vast floodplain that can be as much as \0 miles wide.

Prio r to the closure of Gavins Point Dam in 1954, the water flows past Yankton exceeded 450,000 cubic feet per second (Cf5), That amount is equal to nearly 202 million gallons per minute. Such an enormous flow into this flood plain has resulted in miles of submerged bottomland. Since the closure of the dam, maximum water flow has averaged 40,000 cfs (n early 18 million gallons per minute). This control of water flows has resulted in a grea tly altered flow pattern. Sedimentation and riverbed degradation have ca used a quickly changing river eco-system that is attempting to find a new balance.

If the Lewis and Cla rk Expedition were to visit the Missouri River today, only these 59 miles of the river would be recognizable as the once free.flowi ng river they encountered. Along this reach of river, Lewis and C lark discovered many plant and animal species including buffaloberry and the western meadowlark.

Congress added th is 59-mile reach to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System in 1978 because of its significant natural, recreational, historical and cultural qualities. Preservation of these resources is imperative. Natu ral sandbars, backwaters, eddies and islands still exist today, and old forest cottonwoods provide wildlife habitat. Endangered and th reatened species, such as rhe interior least tern, piping plover, pallid sturgeon and the bald eagle utilize th is eco-system.

This segment of the river fo rms a natural boundary between Nebraska and South Dakota. Riverbanks va ry from rel atively flat, sandy beach areas to vertical faces 10 to 20 feet high . The river varies from a slow meandering stream to a braided channel of criss-crossing streams. Floodplain width between banks averages some 2,000 feet, athough it va ries from 600 feet to more than a mile in some locations. Primary channel depths vary considerably from seve ral inches to 20 feet.

Natural features along the 59-mile reach include wooded Nebraska bluffs amid views of wide expanses of water with sandbars and steep or gentle rive rbanks. Two large, high.bank isla nds Games River Island and Goat Island) are covered with rare dense stands of cottonwood and dogwood . Also rare are the 300-400 foot.high Nebraska bluffs. Due to the river's action, some of the bluffs have eroded into sheer cliffs, which are cl ea rly shown in brown, yellow, and gray horizontal layers of topsoil and subsoil.

This 59-mile reach has retained an historic landscape similar to that experienced by travelers over the centu ries and captured in the writings and illustrations of ea rly explorers like Lewis and Clark, Karl Bodmer and John James Audubon. The National W ild and Scenic Rivers System strives to preserve and protect this precious resource for many more centuries. Threatened and Endangered Species Page 03

The Missouri National Recreational River area is home to a number of threatened and endangered species that are protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. What is the Endangered Species Act and why is it needed? When Congress authorized the Endangered Species Act they declared that species of "fish, wi ldlife, and plants are of aesthetic, ecological, educational, historical, recreational, and scientific value to the Nation and its people," The purpose of the Act is to provide a means whereby endangered species and their ecosystems may be conserved. The intent of the Endangered Species Act is not to just list species as endangered or threatened, but rather, to recover the population of these species to a point where they can be removed from the list. The U.s. Fish and Wildlife Service administers the law for all inland species and certain marine species.

What are endangered species? The Endangered Species Act states that the Secreta ry of Interior shall determine species as endangered or threatened based on man-made factors affecting their continued existence.

Endangered: Species listed as endangered are in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of their range.

Threatened: Species listed as threatened are species that are likel y to become endange red within the foreseeable futu re.

Why save endangered species? Many forms of plants and animals are used di rectly by humans. Medicines derived from plants have a commercial value. Scientists continue to find new plants fo r med icinal purposes. For exa mple, a tree called the Pacific yew, found in the northwestern United States, is known to have properries that will aid in some cancer rreatments.

Since many species of plants and wildlife are more suscepri ble to changes in the environ ment, they will often show detrimental effects long before humans. For exa mple, byproducts in the pesticide DDT led to a dramatic decline in the numbers of bald eagles by causing a thinning in their eggshells. DDT increases in concentration (bioaccumulates) as it goes up rhe food chain. Since bald eagles are at the top of the food chain, they were grea tly affected by this pesticide.

All organisms store valuable genetic material that once lost, is gone fo reve r. So, we ask yo u to recognize rhem, respect them, and protect their habitat. Please remember that ir is unlawful to kill, harm, o r harass endangered species.

The following are threatened and endangered species that may be seen in the Missouri National Recreational River area:

(Pallid SrurgL'On)

Pallid Sturgeon (Endangered) The pallid sturgeon is a primitive bottom-dwelling fish whose body is covered with bony plates with sharp scutes stretching along its back. This unique fish can be identified by fou r barbels located at the front of the mouth. Of the fo ur barbels, the outside ones are much longer than the inside barbels. If an angler catches any type of sturgeon, they must immediately release the fish back to rhe water. Threatened and Endangered Species Page 04

Bald Eagle (Threatened) While many bald eagles pass through the area during the spring and fa ll migra(ions, these raptars may be see n throughout the yea r in the Misso uri National Recreational Rive r area . These majestic bi rds tend nests and raise young throughout the spring and summer at sites near the rive r as well as roost in cottonwoods along the river during the winter. Bald eagles are ve ry sensitive to human presence. Do not approach an active nest as disturbance by humans may cause the eagle to abando n the nest. Disturbing an eagle in the winter will cause it to waste val uable energy reserves by forcing it to fly from the roost. To avoid disturbing eagles, do nOt get any closer than 300 ya rds unless in a vehicle o r blind.

Photograph Far Le(t. C ",dit: U.s. Fish and Wildlife (Bald Eagle)

Piping Plover (Threatened) and Interior Least Tern (Endangered) The piping plover and interior least tern are summer res idents that utilize sand bars for nesting and raising the iT young. These small (Piping Plover Nest) birds are extremely sensitive to the presence of humans and even the smallest distu rbance can easily threaten theiTs urvival. Therefore, during the nesting and brood-rearing season, some sandbars and islands are posted with signs, which close these areas to humans. By recogn izi ng and avoiding these rare birds and the iT posted nesting areas, we can improve their chances of su rvival.

([ ntcrior Least Tern Ch ick :lnd Nest) The Missouri River and The Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commemoration

~c watershed for the Missouri Rive r provides drainage for npproximarely onc-sixth of the United States. From the headwaters in Monmna to the mouth in Missouri, the "Big Muddy" flows through seven states. Its importance to the Americnn economy and its history is unparalleled.

For over 200 yea rs, the United States Army has had very close ties to the Missouri Rive r. After all, Lewis, Clark and mOSt other explorers on the "Corps of Discovery" we re members of the U.S. Army. Over the years, the Army has removed snags, protected banks, consnucted a navigation channel, built flood control levees, established fishe ries, preserved cultural resources, enhanced recreation, built dams, and developed wildlife habitats. The Army's relationship to the Missouri continues through tOday as the Corps of Engineers is the primary steward of the water and land along the most famous waterway in America.

Beginning in 2003 and continuing through 2006, the Corps of Engineers will be participating with the National Lewis and Cla rk Bicentennial Council, Native American Tribes and other Federal, State, and local governments in the Bicentennial Commemoration of the famed Lewis and Cla rk Expedition. The Corps of Engineers wants you to enjoy the commemoration and has assembled the following maps to assist in you r travels along the Missouri River. Whether traveling by car along the Lew is and Clark National HistOric Trail or by boat on the Missou ri River, the Corps of Engineers hopes that you experience some of the same feeling of discovery that Lewis and Clark did 200 years ago.

, About the Expedition

~e origin of this greatest of American adventures was a product of the visionary intellect of President Thomas Jeffe rson. Even before Jeffe rson learned of the purchase of the Louisiana TerritOry from France, he had already arranged to send a contingent out to explore this new , Ianel. Jefferson gave command of the expedition to the United States Army.

With Jefferson's instructions, Captain Me riwether Lewis began what was destined to be the mOSt significant exploration of (he American West. Lewis' journey began in (he summer of 1803 when he left Washington, D.C. after completing months of preparation and specialized training in medicine, botany, and navigation. His first stOp was Pittsbu rgh, Pennsylvania, to obtain the custom designed 55' keelboat. Then, with a limited crew, he proceeded down the Ohio Rive r to present day Louisville, Kentucky, where his partner and co-captain, William Clark, joined him. There the twO captains selected the initial enlisted members of the expedition before proceeding on to thei r first winter campsite at Camp Wood, Illinois, near St. Lo uis .

... continued on the following page. They eventually began their journey up the Missou ri Rive r nnd into the newly acqui red Louisiann Te rrito ry on May 14, 1804. For the next two and n half yen rs, the expedition tmveled the length of the Missouri River, crossed the Rocky nnd Bitterroot Mountains, nnd followed the Clenrwnter, Snake, nnd Columbia Rive rs to the Pacific Occnn and back again .

Along the way, expedition members kept detailed journals of their activities, collected specimens of discove ries, and charted their progress. They proceeded up against the Missou ri's current, rarely making more than 12 miles per day, to the Mandan Villages where they spent the winter of 1804-1805. The next spring they continued on, joined by French trapper Charbonneau and his young Shoshone wife Sacagawea. With her assistance they crossed the mountains and proceeded down the Columbia Rive r to the Pacific Ocean. After spending the winter of 1805-1806 on the coast, they ren aced thei r route, eventually returning to St Louis in late September of 1806.

H Collnesy of!he Corps of Engineers· Kansas Ci/)' Dis!Tic!; "Lewis & Clark Bicentennial: Lower Missouri Ril 'er •

The Journals The following exce rpts are mken from "The Journals of the Lewis & Clark Expedition"; Vol 2 & 3; Gary M. Moulton, editO r; University of Nebmska Press

Up the Missouri ... o August 20th, Monday, 1804 (Clark) "... Serj.' Floyd Died with a great deal 0/ Com/)Qsure, be/ore his death he said (0 me, , "l am going away, l want (0 write me a lener"- We burried him on the (0/) 0/ the bluff Y2 Miles below a small rit;er (0 which we Gat;e his name, he was buried with the HOllOrs 0/ War mHch lamented ... This man at all times gat;e us proofs 0/ his firmness and Denmnilled resolHtion 10 doe Senlice 10 his COlin trey and honor 10 himself... "

Floyd probably died of a ruptured nppendix - n condition not recognized by the medical community until 20 years nfter the expedition. In 1857 the , Missou ri Rive r undercut the bluff and his grnve wns exposed. At that time, citizens of Sioux City moved the remnins to n new burinl site. In 1895 the remnins were ngnin examined, nnd in IYOl, n concrete slnb nnd n one hundred-foot monument wns erected nt the site. •

August 21st, Tuesday, 1804 (Clark)

"... on the right below J the /alls a Creek Coms in which /xlsses thro C/i/ts 0/ red rock which the , lndians make pipes 0/, alld when the different nations Meet at tiwse queries all is piece ... "

Trndition holds thnt the qunrries were neutral ground where nil tribes met in pence. •

August 22nd, Wednesday, 1804 (Clark) " ... at three miles we landed at a Bluff where the two men Sent with the horses were waiting with two Deer, b)' examonarion of this (I) Bluff Contained alum, Copperas, Cobalt, Pyrites; a alllm rock Soft & Sand Swne. Capt. Lewis in protJeing dle quality of those minerals was near poisoning himself by the fumes & task of the Ca~alt which had rhe appearance of Soft !song/ass ... "

Pyrite and marcasite are both ferro us sulfide minerals, although they have diffe rent crystal forms. Copperas is one name for the mineral mebmerite, a hydrous ferrous sulfate that resultS from the weathering of pyrite and marcasite. Clark's reference to Lewis's being poisoned by substances in this area is unclear, and the mineral is indeterminable.

August 23rd, Thursday, 1804 (Clark) "... The Wlind blew hard WIest and raised the Sands off th.e bar in Sitch Cloltds that we Coltld Scercely See this Sand being fine and {!etT)' light Stltck W ellery thing it Witched, and in the Plain for a half a mile tlte distance I was Oltt eVer)' Spire of Grass was covered with the Sand or Dltst. .. "

August 24th, Friday, 1804 (Clark) " ... Capt Lewis and my Self Conclltded to visit a High Hill Situated in an emence Plain three Leagues N. 200 W. from tlte moltth of \Vhite Swne river, this hill apear w be of a Conic form and by all the different Nations in this quater is Sltpposed w be a place of Deat1els or t/wt they are in lutman form with remarkable large heads and aboltt 18 inches high; that tltey are tlery watchfltll and ar armed with Sharp arrows with which they can kill at , a great distance; they are said w kill all persons who are so hardy as w anemp w approach the hill; tile)' state that tradition informs them that ma{n}y indians have sl jffered b)' these little people and among or/lers t/wt three Ma/w men fell a sacrefice w tileir mltrceyless fltry not mean)' )'ears since- so mltch do tlte Mahas Soltix Onoes and other neibhbouring nations belictle this fable that no consideration is sufficient w indltce them to approach this hill. "

The present name of this area is Spirit Mound, in Clay County, South Dakota. about eight miles north of Vermillion.

August 25th, Saturday, 1806 (Clark) " ... Set out w Visit this mountain of etre/ Spirits .. . One et,idence which the Inds Gitle for belietreing this /)/ace to be the residen::e of Some lIJl1tsia/ Spirits is that they frequently discotrer a large assemblage of Birds abollt this mound ... "

/...ei!'is and Clark's S/Iiri[ Mound hy Ron Backer August 26th, Sunday, 1804 (Clark) "... abot,c the mo;/th of this Creek a Chief of the Ma/w natawn displeased with the Conduct of Black bird the main Chief came to this place and built a Town whidt was called by his name Petite Ardt (or Linle Bow) this Town was at the foot of a Hi!! in a handsom Plain fronting rhe rit'ef and Contained about 100 huts & 200 men, the remains of this tribe Since the Death of Petite arch has joined the remaining part of the nation .. "

August 27th, Monday, 1804 (Clark) " ... at 2 oClock passed the mOHth of RitieT Jacque, or Yeankton one Indian at the mOl/th of this rit'cr Swam 10 the Ihoguc, we landed and two others came to us, those /nds. informed (hat a Itlfgc Cam/) of SOlles, were all R. Jacque near the mouth. we Sent Serge Pryor & a Frenchman with Mr. Durioin the SOli is inlCrpeter to (he Cam/) with dereClions [0

im·ite the Principal Chiefs [0 councel with us at a Bluff abot'e Called the CalltJnec .. "

August 28th, Tuesday, 1804 (Clark) ".. . Set out under a Stiff Breeze from Sand proceedd on I)asse a Willow Island at two miles Set·eral Sand bars the ritlCf here is wide & Shallow full of Sand bars ... " o August 29th, Wednesday, 1804 (Clark) "... Sergc Pryor informs that when he a/)/)roached the Indian Camp they Came [0 meet the[m} Su/)/)oseing Cal) Lewis or my Self [0 be of the party intending to take 1/S in a roabe [0 their Cam/)- ftc ap/)roached the .. Camp \lIhich was hands1/m made of Buffalow Skins Painted different Colour. their Camps formed of a Conic fonn Containing about 12 or 15 /)ersons each and 40 in number, on the Rit'er Jacque of 100 yds wide & Dee/) Containing but little wood, They had a fat dog Cooked as a feest; for them, and a Snug a/nmt for them [0 lodge. "

, August 30th, Thursday, 1804 (Clark) "... A Foggeie mOOling I am much engagd. after Brackfast we sent Mr. Doraun in a Ihog1/e [0 the other Side i'e' L S. for the Chiefs and (u!}arriers of the Soues. he retumed at 10 oClock with the Chiefs, at 12 oclock / finished and we delivered a S/)eech [0 the Indians ex/)ressit'e of the wishes of our got'ernment and explaining of what would be good for themselt'es ... " , •

August 31st, Friday, 1804 (Clark) " ... all tile Chiefs Delit1ered a Speech agreeing to what we Said &. &. & beged which I answered from Ill)' notes. We made or gav a certificate to turo BratJe men the attendants of [he Great Chief g{lt'e them Some tobacco and prepared a Commission for Mr. Darion to make a peace with all the nations in rhe neighbourhood, Mahas, Porncases [Ponca}, Panie, WI/PS, Orwes and Missoltries- & to take to rhe President Some of [he Gr Chiefs of each nations who would accompany him ... "

The following excerpts are taken from "The Journals of the Lewis & Clark Expedition"; Vol 8: Gary M. Moulton, editor; Unive rsity of Nebraska Press

Down the Missouri...

September 2nd, Saturday, 1806 (Clark) " ... the wind still high and

the Sand bars the wing which generally blows moderately Sandba r /Ji\"QIW C by Ron Bnckcr at night blows off those pests and we Sleep Soundly ... "

September 3rd, Sunday, 1806 (Clark) " ... the river much crowded with Sand bars, which are t'ery differently Situated from what they were when

.. we went up ... II

i.s and C lark EXPedi . l \-.e~ l803 _ 1806 t OI)

"The object of your mission is to explore the Missouri Ri11er, and such principal streams of it, as, by its course and communication widt the tmters of the Pacific Ocean, whether the Columbia, Oregan, Co/rado, or an)' other rit1er, may offer the most direct and practible water..::ommllnication across the continent, for tlte purposes of commerce." -Thomas Jeffe rson , General and Safety Information Page 10

File a Float Plan • Inform a friend or rclnthle where you are going, when and where you are departing and arriving. Your route and other pertinent information will enable someone to find you. We never plan on accidents but they do happen. Filing and adhering to a float plan will help if emergency personnel need to locate YOli .

Wear Your Life Jackets • "Life jackets float .. . you don't." Life jackets save lives and are the most important piece of safety equipment in your boat. Make sure you know and follow the boating laws fo r you r state regarding life jackets. A snug fit ensures the life jacket will not come off if yo u accidentally fall into the water. Children's life jackets should also fit properly and be rated for their weight. The U.S. Coast Guard label affixed to the life jacket will aid in selecting the proper size. Frayed or damaged life jackets should be replaced.

Weather • Monitor the local weather forecast before you begin your journey and throughout your trip. In the Midwest, storms may emerge abruptly. These storms are often accompanied by strong winds that can easily capsize a small craft. Lightning, heavy rains, or hail can turn a pleasant trip into a disaste r. Watch the sky and be awa re of your su rroundings fo r signs of inclement weather. Head for shore at the fi rst sign of seve re weather.

Alcohol • The combination of boa ring and alcohol is illegal and can prove deadly. Alcohol impai rs judgment and reaction time and decreases you r body'., ability to defend itselffrom hypothermia. If you reach fo r something to drink on a hot day, water is best. Have fun and avoid alcohol.

Reading the Missouri River • The Mi ssou ri River is deep in some areas, but dotted with sandbars and shallow spots elsewhere. Snags and floating debris also present hazards that may be difficult to see. Vary ing river levels can expose or submerge hazards within a short period of time. • Look for water areas with a slight ripple. This indicates sandbars, dikes or possible hazards close to the su rface. Maps and charts may not nece5sarily show the location of sandbars that have shifted with the flow of the river.

Stopping Your Boat • When stopping, make every attempt to turn your boat upstrea m into the current and cut the throttle to an idle. The throttle setting will va ry with the speed of the current. This will hold your boat steady in the water without drifting into obstacles. • If you anchor in the rive r, always remember to use a bowline to minimize the risk of being swamped by water coming over the transom or back of the boat. A danforth anchor is recommended fo r river use since it will bite and hold securely on the bottom. The anchor line should be at least seven times as long as the depth of the water in which the boat is moored. • Never attempt to moor to stationary objects such as dikes and moored barges and never approach these objects from upstream. Swift water flowing around these objects creates very strong turbulence and undertow currents that may overturn you r boat and pull you under.

Swimming/Tubing • Swimming and tubing on the Missouri is extremely dangerous and is strongly discouraged. A river current normally 6-8 mph can quickly exhaust even the strongest swimmer. Inner tubes should never be used on the river. There is no way to control them in the current and they pose problems with boats, especially on holidays and weekends when recreational traffic peaks. General and Safety Information Page 11

Camping • Camping along the Missouri Ri ver should be limited to developed recreation areas. These developed areas have been improved with a va riety of camping amenities. The Missouri National Recreational River preservation is a major concern, and it is our responsibility to protect this ecosystem from human impacts. Human activity will affect the many threatened or endangered species that inhabit this area. Camp and enjoy ollr many developed campgrounds. • L'l.nd ownership is also a concern. Private landowners in the State of South Dakota and/or State of Nebraska, may own shoreline, sandbars and islands. Plan ahead and be knowledgeable of land ownership.

Shoreline Ownership • In Nebraska, only the water belongs to the state. The streambed (the land beneath the wate r) and all adjacent lands are property of the landowner through which the water flows. In South Dakota, most of the land adjacent to the river is private property. On other than public land, landowner permission is needed to be on the land.

Litter • Please remove all trash and litter and deposi t it into its proper receptacle. The National Park Service encourages that you "Leave No Trace" so others can enjoy the river experience as well. Litter is unsightly and damages the environment.

Respect the Resource • The opportunity and freedom to travel the Missou ri River is a privilege. Pl ease make eve ry effo rt to protect the wildlife and cultural resources along the river. Destroying the vegetation along the river is unsightly and diminishes wildlife habitat. Show respect for landowners along the river. If everyone practices these simple tips, the river environment will last indefinitely.

Other Important Item s • Remember to ca rry the safety items requi red by fede ral and state law, especially a life jacket. • There are no fuel stations on this section of river. Plan ahead to avoid problems. • Carry a cell phone o r 2-way radio in case of an emergency, but expect dead spots. • Have emergency phone numbers handy. • If you bring a pet with you, keep it restrained. • Stay clear of anglers along the shore. • Keep noise to a minimum. • Be prepared fo r sun exposu re by wea ring protective clothing or having appropriate sun block. • Watch for biting insects and poisonous plants and snakes . • Carry foul weather gea r for unex pected storms. • Befo re launching, check yo ur boat fo r exotic species (L e., zebra mussel, Eurasian watermilfoil). Signs at la unch ramps provide further instructions.

Area Boat Ramp Coordinates Boat Hamil Name Latitude Longitude Boat Ramll Name Latitude Longitude Bolton 42' 39' 58" N 96°47' 12" W NE Tailwaters 42° 50' 56" N 9r28'06" W Brooky Bottom 42' 45' 40" N 9r04' 55" W Ponca State Pa rk 42° 36' 10" N 96°42' 43" W Clay County 42' 45' 58" N 9rOO' 12" W Rive rsid e Park 42° 51 ' 59" N 9r23'04" W Mulberry Bend 42' 42' 53" N 96°56' 36" W St. Helena 42° 51 ' 03" N 9T16' II"W Myron Grove 42' 46' 20" N 9T07' 16" W Training Dike 42° 51' 01" N 97"27' 45"W SOUTH DAKOTA

6 7

Lewis and Clark Lake

NEBRASKA MISSOURI RIVER LEGEND

GAVINS POINT DAM • River Miles TO PONCA, NEBRASKA MILE 810 TO 752 Boat Ramps U. S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS ...... ; Missouri National Recreational OMAHA DISTRICT • .... River Boundary OPERATIONS/REGULATORY GIS UNIT ORTHOPHOTO DATE: OCTOBER, 2001 SCALE IN FEET o 1000 2000 SHEET 1 OF 17 MISSOURI RIVER LEGEND

• River Miles GAVINS POINT DAM TO PONCA, NEBRASKA Boat Ramps MILE 810 TO 752 ,'''\ i Missouri National Recreational U. S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS ;; ".> River Boundary OMAHA DISTRICT OPERATIONS/REGULATORY GIS UNIT Parks ORTHOPHOTO DATE: OCTOBER, 2001 SCALE IN FEET SHEET 5 OF 17 o 1000 2000 MISSOURI RIVER GAVINS POINT DAM TO PONCA, NEBRASKA MILE 810 TO 752 U. S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS OMAHA DISTRICT OPERATIONS/REGULATORY GIS UNIT LEGEND ORTHOPHOTO DATE: OCTOBER, 2001 SCALE IN FEET • River Miles o 1000 2000 Boat Ramps = ;"\: Missouri National Recreational : .. ,. River Boundary

Parks

SHEET 6 OF 17 LEGEND MISSOURI RIVER

• River Miles GAVINS POINT DAM TO PONCA, NEBRASKA Boat Ramps Mi l E 810 TO 752 k".... i Missouri National Recreational U. S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS = .... River Boundary OMAHA DISTRICT OPERATIONS/REGULATORY GIS UNIT Parks ORTHOPHOTO DATE: OCTOBER, 2001 SCALE IN FEET SHEET 7 OF 17 o 1000= 2000 LEGEND MISSOURI RIVER

< .- MISSOURI RIVER GAVINS POINT DAM TO PONCA, NEBRASKA MILE 810 TO 752 U. S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS OMAHA DISTRICT OPERATIONS/REGULATORY GIS UNIT OATHOPHOTO DATE: OCTOBER, 2001 SCALE IN FEET • River Miles o 1000 2000 Boat Ramps

"'~•• : Missouri National Recreational ~ '.' River Boundary

P"k,

SHEET 17 OF 17 Biological Overview Page 30

(Srrix varia)

(Phlox divaricata) Dutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) Canada Goose An",,;'· ,n Gold finch (Branra canadensis) (Carduelis [fist is)

Nonhern Hackberry Trees (Celtis occidenralis)

Bur Oa k

Common Raccoon (ProCJon Iofor) aiTie Planu White-Tailed Deer Narrowleaf Purple Conefl ower (Echinacea angustifolia)

Virginia Opossum Widelphis virginiana)

Purple Prairie Clover (Da!ea purpurea)

Prairie Larkspur (Delphinium carolinianum) Notes Page 31

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• Notes Page 32

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• Contacts Page 33

Fo r Additional Information Contact:

Missou ri National Recreational Ri ve r P.O. Box 666 Yankron, SD 57078 (402) 667·2550 http://w\v\,,,,nps.gov/mnrr

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gavins Point Project P.O. Box 710 Yankton, SD 57078 (402) 667·7873 http://w\... \.... nwo.usace.a rmy.mil/htmI/Ltke_Proj/gavinspoint/welcome.html

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Missouri Ri ve r Information Center P.O. Box 710 Yankron, SD 57078 1-866-285·3219 http://www.nwo.usace.a rmy. mil/htmI/Ltke_Proj/infocenter.html

Nebraska Game and Pa rks Commiss ion 2200 N. 33 rd Street P.O. Box 30370 Lincoln, NE 68503 (402) 471·0641 hap://www.ngpc.s tate.ne.us/

South Dakota Department of Ga me, Fish and Pa rks 523 E. Ca pital, Joe Foss Office Building. P;ecce, SD 57501 (605) 773·3387 http://w\... \.... sdgfp.info/lndex.htm