Arikaree River NEON - United States of America

The Arikaree River (ARIK) is core aquatic field site within NEON's Central Plains Domain 10. NEON's ARIK field site is located in the Fox Ranch, a 14,070-acre ranch owned by the Nature Conservancy, in northeastern Colorado, southwest of Wray, between the towns of Joes and Idalia. ARIK was once a major waterway flowing through the plains of northeastern Colorado. Large water withdrawals for agriculture have now reduced it to a stream, with highly variable flow rates across the growing season. The Arikaree is also impacted by agricultural runoff and cattle grazing. The Nature Conservancy conducts extensive research at the site on invasive weed management, sustainable grazing practices and native landscape management. Cattle graze ...