Lower platte river documentary to premiere

     A River at Risk, an important new film that tells the story of the battle to control non-native phragmites and other invasive plants on the Lower Platte River in Nebraska will have an online premier May 5th. A River at Risk will be broadcast in a free on-demand format at www.icindie.com beginning on May 5, 2016.

     Film production began during a time when severe drought was impacting most of Nebraska's waterways and reservoirs. Steadily decreasing water levels in rivers and creeks created nurseries for non-native vegetative invaders. Reduced flow in the rivers resulted in accelerated growth of invasive vegetation on sandbars. The problem spread downstream when the rains came.

     The film was written and directed by Becky Hughes McMillen of Scottsbluff, NE for the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District with two other NRDs, the Lower Platte South and Lower Platte North.  McMillen is well known for her award-winning conservation films.

     The film also details efforts along the lower reach of Nebraska’s Platte River to stem the invasion of harmful, water-wasting, non-native vegetation.

     “If left unchecked, phragmites and other invasive vegetation chokes our waterways, stealing precious water, creating unwanted river islands and adds to problems of flooding and loss of wildlife habitat,” said Rich Tesar, longtime Platte River advocate from Waterloo, NE, a member of the NE Riparian Vegetation Task Force and of the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District Board of Directors. “We are having some success in controlling the infestations and keeping the Platte free-flowing, but more needs to be done,” he said.