Map of the River (PDF>>)

Two stretches of the Missouri River are protected, in the South Dakota/Nebraska area.  The portion originally set aside, from Gavins Point Dam-Yankton, SD, to Ponca, Nebraska, still exhibits the river's dynamic character in its islands, bars, chutes, and snags.  The second portion includes the land located adjacent to the free-flowing segment between Lewis and Clark Lake and Lake Francis Case.  This section represents one of the best natural landscapes associated with the river along its entire course.  Native floodplain forest, tallgrass and mixed grass prairies, and the river provide habitats for several endangered bird and fish species.  Recreational activities include fishing, hunting, and canoeing.  The lower 20 miles of the Niobrara River are also included.