USGS Water-Year Summary 2024

06801000 Platte River near Ashland, Nebr.

LOCATION - Lat 41°03'44.12", long 96°19'28.25" referenced to North American Datum of 1983, in sec.29, T.13 N., R.10 E., Sarpy County, NE, Hydrologic Unit 10200202, on left bank, 35 ft northeast of upstream side of Highway 6 bridge, 3 mi northeast of Ashland, 2 mi upstream from Salt Creek, and at mile 27.9.

DRAINAGE AREA - 83,600 mi² of which 14,300 mi² probably is noncontributing.

REVISIONS HISTORY - WDR NE-94-1: 1993 (M). WDR-US-2010: Drainage area.

SURFACE-WATER RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - August 1928 to May 1953, July 1988 to current year.

Water quality data:
From May 2019 to September 2022 a multi probe monitor was deployed for a study being performed by the USGS Nebraska Water Science Center in accordance with the City of Lincoln. A zoological study that also involved routine sampling of the Platte River was being conducted. The study and data collection concluded in September 2022 after sufficient data for the report were collected. 

GAGE - Water-stage recorder with satellite telemetry. Datum of the gage is 1,040.27 ft above North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88). August 20, 1928 to September 30, 1929: non-recording chain gage located at 41.0679, -96.3304 at a datum of 1,056.17 ft above NAVD88. October 01, 1929 to October 07, 1933: non-recording staff and/or chain gage located at 41.0679, -96.3304 at a datum of 1,055.13 ft above NAVD88. October 08, 1933 to October 13, 1933: gage not operational. October 14, 1933 to December 10, 1938: water-stage recorder located at 41.0696, -96.3334 at a datum of 1,055.13 ft above NAVD88. December 11, 1938 to June 16, 1948: water-stage recorder located at 41.0679, -96.3304 at a datum of 1,055.13 ft above NAVD88. June 17, 1948 to May 11, 1953: water-stage recorder located at 41.0538, -96.3239 at a datum of 1,052.85 ft above NAVD88. The gage was discontinued on May 12, 1953, and was re-established July 22, 1988 at present location and datum.

REMARKS - Accuracy of records for water years prior to 2014 are noted in the individual Annual Data Reports for those water years. For water years 2014 onward, records fair except for estimated daily discharges, which are poor, unless otherwise noted. Natural flow of stream affected by transmountain diversions, storage reservoirs, power developments, groundwater withdrawals, diversions for irrigation, and return flow from irrigated areas.

EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD - Maximum peak flow, 215,000 ft³/s, estimated from rating curve extension above 131,000 ft³/s, March 16, 2019, gage height, 24.32 ft.

WATER-QUALITY RECORDS

INSTRUMENTATION - A continuous water quality sensor was seasonally deployed beginning in 2019. A YSI Exo3 monitor was used. Monitored parameters include water temperature, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, turbidity and nitrate. Nitrate measurements were made using a Hach Nitratax with a 2 mm wavelength.

EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD -

Extremes computed from periods of approved record since 2003, and may have been exceeded during non-measured periods.

WATER TEMPERATURE: Maximum, 34.0°C, July 29, 2021; minimum, 0.0 °C, various days during winter periods.

SPECIFIC CONDUCTANCE: Maximum, 1030 uS/cm, January 22, 2020; minimum, 272 uS/cm, September 1, 2021.

DISSOLVED OXYGEN: Maximum, 16.2 mg/L, June 3, 2022 minimum, 2.8 mg/L, September 1, 2021.

TURBIDITY: Maximum, 1030 FNU, May 28, 2019 ; minimum, 2.8 FNU, January 29, 2021.

NITRATE: Maximum, 6.37 mg/L N, July 6, 2019; minimum, <0.50 on numerous occasions.