413:
738:. At its completion in 1905, the dam was the world's tallest gravity dam, at 221 ft (67 m) above the streambed. The reservoir and related facilities were purchased in November 1918 by the Denver Water Board. Cheesman was the first reservoir of Denver's mountain storage facilities, and has been designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. Cheesman Reservoir feeds Cheesman Canyon. Six miles below Cheesman Reservoir is the town of Deckers; there, the river bends north for about 17 mi (27 km) to the confluence with the North Fork of the South Platte.
690:
New Mexico Indian
Auxiliaries, who was ordered by the viceroy of New Spain to search the Tierra Incognita for a French incursion into New Mexico. The South Platte also served as a vital water source in Colorado. Long before the city of Denver was created, many travelers came to the South Platte River to escape the arid Great Plains. These people could survive the heat, but not without the vital water source that the South Platte gave them. Buckets and wells sufficed as a water system for a while, but eventually, the Denver Water System was created.
402:
150:
22:
390:
131:
689:
The South Platte was originally called Niinéniiniicíihéhe by the native
Arapaho people who lived on its banks. The early Spanish explorers called it the Rio Chato (calm river). In 1702, it was named the Rio Jesus Maria by Captain Jose Naranjo, the Indigenous-Spanish scout and captain of war of the
672:
The flows of the South Platte have been greatly modified by human activity. Originally the river was seasonal north of Fort Morgan to its confluence with the North Platte. In the 1800s the river would disappear in July, August, and
September due to low flows and a sandy river bottom. By 1910 the
760:
The South Platte River is a gold medal western trout river on the eastern slope of
Colorado, meaning it produces at least 12 trout of greater than 14 inches in length or greater per acre in areas accessible to the public. The river is well known for its wild trophy population of
741:
In the late 1980s, a proposal was put forth for the Two Forks Dam, which would have created a reservoir flooding the entire section from the North Fork confluence to the town of
Deckers. In 1990, the US EPA vetoed the permit, calling the project an "environmental catastrophe."
1092:
781:
fishery. Most of these dams are bottom released, which allows for both stable water temperatures and year-round fly fishing. Popular fly-fishing stretches of the river include
709:. "Antero" is derived from the Spanish word "delantero", which means "foremost" or "head", as the reservoir was the first dam on the South Platte River near the river's origin.
712:
The next dam is
Spinney Mountain Reservoir. At capacity, Spinney Mountain covers 2,500 acres (10 km). A bottom-release dam, Spinney releases to the east of the inlet.
536:, on the western side of South Park, which is drained by the tributaries at the headwaters of the river. From South Park, it passes through 50 mi (80 km) of the
808:
1087:
583:
region that was formed through erosion by the ancestor of the river following the creation of the
Rockies). It flows directly past the communities of
786:
705:
In an arid region of the United States, the South Platte is marked with several dams. The first notable water impoundment on the South Platte is
1167:
1157:
488:. The river serves as the principal source of water for eastern Colorado. In its valley along the foothills in Colorado, it has permitted
752:
before entering
Chatfield Reservoir. Chatfield marks the seventh and final dam on the South Platte until it merges with the North Platte.
1162:
1008:
Laura King Van Dusen, "Forty-Six Years in
Howbert: 1887-1933: Former Ranching, Railroading Community Covered by Eleven-Mile Reservoir",
1177:
277:
1182:
1147:
1142:
723:
land. Three former
Colorado towns, Howbert, Idlewild, and Freshwater Station, were submerged under the reservoir when it was built.
1172:
1152:
1137:
1112:
849:
86:
58:
1077:
1025:
913:
211:
1067:
65:
953:
840:
39:
1097:
517:
938:
105:
72:
889:
845:
654:
525:
54:
43:
715:
Two miles below Spinney Mountain Reservoir, the river enters Eleven Mile Reservoir, with a capacity of 97,000
835:
541:
521:
720:
1132:
1127:
1013:
803:
798:
719:(120,000,000 m). The Eleven Mile Reservoir Dam drains into Eleven Mile Canyon, which runs through
559:
The river flows north through central Denver, which was founded along its banks at its confluence with
449:
576:
553:
445:
136:
563:. The valley through Denver is highly industrialized, serving generally as the route for both the
881:
615:
560:
469:
412:
32:
903:
817:, the historic trail along the South Platte River, from northwestern Colorado to the Denver area
79:
647:
572:
662:
635:
619:
604:
596:
588:
509:
777:
enthusiasts visit each year. With seven dams on the river, the South Platte is considered a
673:
increase in agriculture caused the river to reach the border of Colorado and Wyoming due to
1038:
745:
From the confluence, the river flows towards Denver and enters Strontia Springs Reservoir.
465:
8:
661:
as the representative pathogen species. Other water issues involve the appearance of the
631:
549:
545:
814:
731:
727:
643:
639:
627:
600:
584:
575:, which descends from the mountains to the west in a canyon that was the cradle of the
529:
481:
263:
1021:
991:
909:
608:
592:
493:
477:
369:
868:
U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data.
677:
and dams holding back water later in the year. Increasing diversions from the upper
983:
706:
579:. North of Denver, it flows through the agricultural heartland of the Piedmont (a
513:
406:
401:
1107:
957:
782:
749:
735:
623:
461:
453:
168:
484:
in western Nebraska to form the Platte, which then flows across Nebraska to the
1017:
678:
533:
485:
457:
365:
950:
1121:
995:
766:
568:
537:
394:
292:
279:
226:
213:
1072:
666:
497:
429:
361:
885:
869:
774:
762:
674:
489:
425:
247:
149:
1082:
571:. On the north side of Denver, it is joined somewhat inconspicuously by
971:
681:
in the 20th century mean that flows reach the North Platte year round.
657:'s (US EPA) list of impaired waterbodies for pathogen impairment, with
433:
901:
778:
716:
694:
544:
before emerging from the foothills southwest of the Denver suburb of
1102:
987:
905:
Water Transfers in the West: Efficiency, Equity, and the Environment
21:
540:
and its lower section, Waterton Canyon. Here, it is joined by the
441:
437:
140:
564:
473:
389:
770:
908:. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press. pp. 140–142.
580:
1088:
University of Colorado: GIS Hydro Data for the South Platte
130:
614:
East of Greeley, it turns eastward, flowing across the
464:
in Colorado, much of the populated region known as the
748:
Below Strontia Springs, the South Platte runs through
653:
The South Platte River through Denver is on the U.S.
1010:
Historic Tales from Park County: Parked in the Past
626:, where it turns northeastward. It continues past
46:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
809:South Platte River Trail Scenic and Historic Byway
532:. Both forks rise along the eastern flank of the
1119:
548:. At Littleton, the river is impounded to form
379:0 to 4,640 cu ft/s (0 to 131 m/s)
972:"The Early Fur Trade Posts on the South Platte"
1113:Strontia Springs Reservoir and Waterton Canyon
902:Committee on Western Water Management (1992).
811:, a 19-mile byway in Sedgwick County, Colorado
886:Water Resources Data Colorado Water Year 2003
528:, about 15 mi (24 km) southeast of
444:, it is itself a major river of the American
118:River in Colorado and Nebraska, United States
160:
936:Nebraska: A Guide to the Cornhusker State.
460:includes much of the eastern flank of the
148:
769:. As a result of its close proximity to
520:grassland basin by the confluence of the
106:Learn how and when to remove this message
976:The Mississippi Valley Historical Review
850:United States Department of the Interior
697:outposts were established on the river.
411:
400:
388:
199:Confluence of South Fork and Middle Fork
1093:City of Denver: South Platte Initiative
755:
1120:
969:
730:, the South Platte runs northeast to
1168:Rivers of Jefferson County, Colorado
344:174 cu ft/s (4.9 m/s)
44:adding citations to reliable sources
15:
1158:Rivers of Sedgwick County, Colorado
841:Geographic Names Information System
828:
13:
1163:Rivers of Douglas County, Colorado
875:
862:
734:, named for Denver water pioneer
638:. In Nebraska, it passes south of
14:
1194:
1178:Rivers of Morgan County, Colorado
1061:
939:Nebraska State Historical Society
630:, and runs into Nebraska between
607:, which it receives just east of
591:, and is joined in succession by
1183:Rivers of Logan County, Colorado
1148:Rivers of Keith County, Nebraska
1143:Rivers of Deuel County, Nebraska
882:Water Data Report, Colorado 2003
552:, a flood-control basin for the
472:, and a portion of southeastern
129:
20:
1173:Rivers of Weld County, Colorado
1153:Tributaries of the Platte River
1138:Rivers of Park County, Colorado
846:United States Geological Survey
655:Environmental Protection Agency
476:in the vicinity of the city of
31:needs additional citations for
1083:USGS: South Platte River Basin
1031:
1002:
963:
944:
929:
895:
503:
416:Kayakers in Eleven Mile Canyon
271: • coordinates
205: • coordinates
1:
821:
773:, the river has thousands of
177:Physical characteristics
1020:: The History Press, 2013),
424:is one of the two principal
310: • elevation
7:
792:
258: • location
195: • location
10:
1199:
1108:Spinney Mountain Reservoir
1043:Colorado Gold Medal Waters
804:List of rivers of Nebraska
799:List of rivers of Colorado
684:
393:The South Platte River in
340: • average
314:2,762 ft (842 m)
960:. Accessed June 23, 2014.
872:, accessed March 25, 2011
383:
375:
357:
352:
348:
338:
330:
326:
322:439 mi (707 km)
318:
308:
269:
256:
246:
242:
203:
193:
185:
181:
176:
156:
147:
128:
123:
789:, and the Dream Stream.
693:In the late 1830s, four
554:Denver metropolitan area
500:that is otherwise arid.
1103:The Greenway Foundation
700:
616:Colorado Eastern Plains
508:The river is formed in
161:
1039:"Colorado Gold Waters"
432:. Flowing through the
417:
409:
405:South Platte River in
398:
293:41.11389°N 100.67583°W
227:39.01111°N 105.74028°W
135:South Platte River in
1098:Eleven Mile Reservoir
970:Hafen, L. R. (1925).
663:New Zealand mud snail
636:Big Springs, Nebraska
605:Cache la Poudre River
597:Little Thompson River
577:Pike's Peak Gold Rush
510:Park County, Colorado
415:
404:
392:
951:Denver Water History
836:"South Platte River"
756:Fly fishing overview
466:Colorado Front Range
298:41.11389; -100.67583
232:39.01111; -105.74028
55:"South Platte River"
40:improve this article
1073:Chatfield Reservoir
632:Julesburg, Colorado
550:Chatfield Reservoir
353:Basin features
289: /
223: /
1133:Rivers of Nebraska
1128:Rivers of Colorado
1078:Cheesman Reservoir
956:2016-09-03 at the
815:South Platte Trail
736:Walter S. Cheesman
732:Cheesman Reservoir
728:Eleven Mile Canyon
644:North Platte River
601:Big Thompson River
567:lines, as well as
492:in an area of the
482:North Platte River
422:South Platte River
418:
410:
399:
264:North Platte River
124:South Platte River
1045:. Trout Unlimited
1026:978-1-62619-161-7
915:978-0-309-04528-5
646:near the city of
593:Saint Vrain Creek
494:Colorado Piedmont
448:and the American
387:
386:
116:
115:
108:
90:
1190:
1068:Antero Reservoir
1055:
1054:
1052:
1050:
1035:
1029:
1006:
1000:
999:
967:
961:
948:
942:
933:
927:
926:
924:
922:
899:
893:
879:
873:
870:The National Map
866:
860:
859:
857:
856:
832:
707:Antero Reservoir
480:. It joins the
407:Denver, Colorado
341:
304:
303:
301:
300:
299:
294:
290:
287:
286:
285:
282:
262:Confluence with
238:
237:
235:
234:
233:
228:
224:
221:
220:
219:
216:
206:
196:
172:
164:
152:
133:
121:
120:
111:
104:
100:
97:
91:
89:
48:
24:
16:
1198:
1197:
1193:
1192:
1191:
1189:
1188:
1187:
1118:
1117:
1064:
1059:
1058:
1048:
1046:
1037:
1036:
1032:
1007:
1003:
988:10.2307/1889565
968:
964:
958:Wayback Machine
949:
945:
934:
930:
920:
918:
916:
900:
896:
880:
876:
867:
863:
854:
852:
834:
833:
829:
824:
795:
787:Cheesman Canyon
783:Waterton Canyon
758:
750:Waterton Canyon
703:
687:
512:, southwest of
506:
462:Rocky Mountains
376:Discharge range
339:
311:
297:
295:
291:
288:
283:
280:
278:
276:
275:
272:
259:
231:
229:
225:
222:
217:
214:
212:
210:
209:
204:
194:
166:
143:
119:
112:
101:
95:
92:
49:
47:
37:
25:
12:
11:
5:
1196:
1186:
1185:
1180:
1175:
1170:
1165:
1160:
1155:
1150:
1145:
1140:
1135:
1130:
1116:
1115:
1110:
1105:
1100:
1095:
1090:
1085:
1080:
1075:
1070:
1063:
1062:External links
1060:
1057:
1056:
1030:
1018:South Carolina
1001:
982:(3): 334–341.
962:
943:
928:
914:
894:
874:
861:
826:
825:
823:
820:
819:
818:
812:
806:
801:
794:
791:
757:
754:
721:Forest Service
702:
699:
686:
683:
679:Colorado River
642:and joins the
534:Mosquito Range
505:
502:
470:Eastern Plains
458:drainage basin
385:
384:
381:
380:
377:
373:
372:
359:
355:
354:
350:
349:
346:
345:
342:
336:
335:
332:
328:
327:
324:
323:
320:
316:
315:
312:
309:
306:
305:
273:
270:
267:
266:
260:
257:
254:
253:
250:
244:
243:
240:
239:
207:
201:
200:
197:
191:
190:
187:
183:
182:
179:
178:
174:
173:
158:
154:
153:
145:
144:
137:Douglas County
134:
126:
125:
117:
114:
113:
28:
26:
19:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1195:
1184:
1181:
1179:
1176:
1174:
1171:
1169:
1166:
1164:
1161:
1159:
1156:
1154:
1151:
1149:
1146:
1144:
1141:
1139:
1136:
1134:
1131:
1129:
1126:
1125:
1123:
1114:
1111:
1109:
1106:
1104:
1101:
1099:
1096:
1094:
1091:
1089:
1086:
1084:
1081:
1079:
1076:
1074:
1071:
1069:
1066:
1065:
1044:
1040:
1034:
1028:, pp. 97-104.
1027:
1023:
1019:
1015:
1011:
1005:
997:
993:
989:
985:
981:
977:
973:
966:
959:
955:
952:
947:
940:
937:
932:
917:
911:
907:
906:
898:
891:
887:
883:
878:
871:
865:
851:
847:
843:
842:
837:
831:
827:
816:
813:
810:
807:
805:
802:
800:
797:
796:
790:
788:
784:
780:
776:
772:
768:
767:rainbow trout
764:
753:
751:
746:
743:
739:
737:
733:
729:
724:
722:
718:
713:
710:
708:
698:
696:
691:
682:
680:
676:
670:
668:
664:
660:
656:
651:
649:
645:
641:
637:
633:
629:
625:
621:
617:
612:
610:
606:
602:
598:
594:
590:
586:
582:
578:
574:
570:
569:Interstate 25
566:
562:
557:
555:
551:
547:
543:
539:
538:Platte Canyon
535:
531:
527:
523:
519:
515:
511:
501:
499:
495:
491:
487:
483:
479:
475:
471:
467:
463:
459:
455:
454:Mountain West
451:
447:
443:
439:
435:
431:
427:
423:
414:
408:
403:
396:
395:Platte Canyon
391:
382:
378:
374:
371:
367:
363:
360:
356:
351:
347:
343:
337:
333:
329:
325:
321:
317:
313:
307:
302:
274:
268:
265:
261:
255:
251:
249:
245:
241:
236:
208:
202:
198:
192:
188:
184:
180:
175:
170:
163:
159:
155:
151:
146:
142:
138:
132:
127:
122:
110:
107:
99:
88:
85:
81:
78:
74:
71:
67:
64:
60:
57: –
56:
52:
51:Find sources:
45:
41:
35:
34:
29:This article
27:
23:
18:
17:
1047:. Retrieved
1042:
1033:
1009:
1004:
979:
975:
965:
946:
935:
931:
919:. Retrieved
904:
897:
877:
864:
853:. Retrieved
839:
830:
759:
747:
744:
740:
725:
714:
711:
704:
692:
688:
675:return flows
671:
667:zebra mussel
658:
652:
648:North Platte
613:
561:Cherry Creek
558:
507:
498:Great Plains
430:Platte River
421:
419:
102:
96:January 2011
93:
83:
76:
69:
62:
50:
38:Please help
33:verification
30:
775:fly fishing
695:fur trading
620:Fort Morgan
589:Fort Lupton
573:Clear Creek
526:Middle Fork
504:Description
490:agriculture
434:U.S. states
426:tributaries
370:Mississippi
358:Progression
296: /
284:100°40′33″W
230: /
218:105°44′25″W
162:Wašíŋ Wakpá
157:Native name
1122:Categories
1014:Charleston
855:2011-01-29
822:References
603:, and the
542:North Fork
522:South Fork
518:South Park
397:, Colorado
281:41°06′50″N
215:39°00′40″N
66:newspapers
996:0161-391X
779:tailwater
717:acre-feet
546:Littleton
450:Southwest
331:Discharge
954:Archived
941:. p. 46.
793:See also
659:E. coli
640:Ogallala
628:Sterling
585:Brighton
565:railroad
530:Fairplay
486:Missouri
478:Cheyenne
442:Nebraska
438:Colorado
366:Missouri
141:Colorado
884:, from
685:History
618:, past
609:Greeley
516:in the
474:Wyoming
446:Midwest
428:of the
80:scholar
1049:28 May
1024:
994:
921:28 May
912:
771:Denver
634:, and
599:, the
595:, the
514:Denver
456:. Its
362:Platte
334:
319:Length
252:
189:
186:Source
169:Lakota
165:
82:
75:
68:
61:
53:
763:brown
726:From
624:Brush
581:shale
248:Mouth
87:JSTOR
73:books
1051:2024
1022:ISBN
992:ISSN
923:2024
910:ISBN
890:USGS
765:and
701:Dams
665:and
622:and
587:and
524:and
496:and
468:and
440:and
420:The
59:news
984:doi
436:of
42:by
1124::
1041:.
1016:,
990:.
980:12
978:.
974:.
888:,
848:,
844:.
838:.
785:,
669:.
650:.
611:.
556:.
139:,
1053:.
1012:(
998:.
986::
925:.
892:.
858:.
452:/
368:—
364:—
171:)
167:(
109:)
103:(
98:)
94:(
84:·
77:·
70:·
63:·
36:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
