photo courtesy of Kyle Hoagland

The Sandhills are formed by extensive dunes covered by grassland. They are uderlain by the Ogallala Aquifer. Where the aquifer intersects the surface, fens and alkaline wetlands form. These wetlands support water fowl of many kinds. They are important sources of hay for winter feed for the cattle in the area and are also visited by many campers, boaters, and birdwatchers. Center pivot irrigation has lowered the water table depriving some wetlands of their water source and groundwater in this area is particularly susceptible to contamination by agrochemicals because of the porous soil.

Back to Nebraska's Unique Wetlands