The below content replicates the content of the physical exhibit at CSU Spur. It can be used for reference, language translation, and additional accessibility.
As a headwaters state, Colorado has committed to delivering water to our fellow states located downstream, including those in Mexico.
Built in the 1940s, the 13.1-mile-long Adams Tunnel delivers water from the Western Slope to communities and farmlands in the South Platte watershed.
The confluence (where two rivers, creeks, or streams meet) of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek is where gold miners first pitched tents along the river’s banks and founded Denver in 1858.
Living along the South Platte for hundreds of years, Indigenous tribes and peoples, like the Apache, Ute, Cheyenne, Comanche, and Arapaho, still rely on the river today and are great stewards of environmental sustainability.
Many rivers have tributaries, like creeks, streams, and smaller rivers that flow into them. Some of the South Platte River’s tributaries are intermittent (or seasonal) and can be dry for months or years.
The South Platte River is the center of life in northeast Colorado, and it flows outside this very building!
The South Platte River shifts and changes over time, but the animals, plants, and humans that live along its banks have always depended on this precious resource. From drinking water to watering the lands that grow our food, we depend greatly on the South Platte River. Many organizations have contributed to repairing habitats along the river, including the portion that runs next to this campus. River restoration helps create healthy homes for plants and animals and safe areas for us to access the river.
Walk outside to enjoy the beauty of the South Platte!
The South Platte River travels over 450 miles from its headwaters in the Mosquito Range near Fairplay, Colorado, to the Nebraska border near Julesburg, Colorado.
Many different species of animals call the South Platte River home, including beavers, who live in its waters and eat the nearby plants and vegetation.
The South Platte River Basin is home to some of the country’s most productive farmland due to irrigation canals that deliver water to crops and livestock.
Additional text can be found within the digital display. The content in the digital display is meant to rotate out.
River plants
Plants, grasses, and trees along the South Platte River protect water quality, stabilize the stream bank, and provide habitat for fish and other wildlife.
A variety of vegetation lives along the South Platte River. Sloughgrass meadows and forests of blue spruce, aspen, and ponderosa pine are found in the mountains at higher elevations, while cottonwood and willow are found at lower elevations. Take a walk along the river. How many different types of plants and trees do you see outside?
- Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis)
- Columbine (Aquilegia)
- Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens)
- Colorado butterfly plant (Oenothera coloradensis)
- Cottonwood (Populus fremontii)
River animals
The South Platte is home to many different animals, including fish, birds, mammals, and invertebrates like dragonflies and bees.
During drier times, water levels in some places along the South Platte River can dwindle down to nothing. To help provide water for humans and animals who depend on the river to survive, agencies work together to manage its flows. Take a walk along the river and remember to stay a safe distance from wildlife. How many different animals can you see?
- Beaver (Castor canadensis)
- Fragilaria (Bacillariophyta)
- Great blue heron (Ardea herodias)
- Water boatman (Corixa sp.)
- Greenback cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki stomias)
River fun
From biking to fishing to wildlife watching, there are many ways to enjoy the South Platte River.
The South Platte River flows from high elevations in the mountains, through the city, and to the plains, offering opportunities to explore the river when the sun is shining, when the snow is falling, and throughout the entire year. What is your favorite water activity?
- Stroll the streamside
- Hike the wilderness
- Catch fish
- Learn to paddle
- View wildlife
