The Central Platte River was historically a wide, shallow, braided prairie river. Large-scale development of water resources began in the 1860s and continued through the mid-20th century, allowing for irrigation and other human uses.  Since the late 1800s, over 70% of the Platte’s flows have been removed or retimed, which has altered the river channel and adjacent landscape. Today, the river is managed cooperatively to maintain habitat for threatened and endangered species, such as Whooping Cranes, while simultaneously allowing for consumptive use, notably for row-crop agricultural irrigation. Increasing water demand, land-use changes such as borrow pits and development, and invasive vegetation have added pressure to the already over-appropriated river system.