Wildlife and land stewardship
Wildlife and land stewardship
Platte River manages its lands with a long‑standing commitment to protecting wildlife, preserving natural habitats and maintaining the ecological integrity of the Rawhide Energy Station site. Much of the surrounding acreage remains undeveloped and serves as important habitat for native plants and wildlife. These lands are carefully managed to balance operational needs with environmental protection.
Balancing operations with environmental protection
Although Rawhide Energy Station is an active industrial site, Platte River carefully plans operations to minimize impacts on wildlife and land resources. This includes siting new infrastructure to avoid sensitive habitats, timing construction activities to reduce disturbance during nesting or migration seasons, implementing dust, noise and light controls where appropriate and maintaining buffer zones between operations and wildlife areas.
Environmental considerations are integrated into planning, design and daily operations, consistent with Platte River’s guiding principles.
Land restoration and reclamation
Platte River restores disturbed areas to natural conditions whenever possible. Restoration practices include recontouring landforms to match surrounding topography, applying native seed mixes to reestablish grasses and shrubs, implementing erosion‑control measures to stabilize soils and monitoring revegetation success over time. Reclamation is a core part of Platte River’s long‑term stewardship approach and ensures that areas affected by construction or operations are returned to a stable, natural condition.
Habitat and wildlife management
The Rawhide Energy Station site supports diverse wildlife year‑round, aided by its manmade reservoir. The open water, grasslands and undeveloped acreage provide habitat for pronghorn, elk, deer, raptors, songbirds, small mammals, reptiles and pollinators. The National Audubon Society has conducted a Christmas Bird Count at Rawhide since 1986, documenting species that rely on the reservoir and surrounding habitat. Many birds can be viewed from the designated overlook near the reservoir.
Platte River manages these lands to maintain healthy ecosystems and reduce disturbance. Stewardship practices include preserving open space and migration corridors, monitoring wildlife activity, protecting sensitive species and nesting areas, managing vegetation to support native plants and reduce invasive species and coordinating with wildlife agencies. These efforts help sustain the site’s ecological value and long‑term biodiversity.
Bison at Rawhide
Platte River maintains a managed herd of American bison at Rawhide Energy Station, a unique and long‑standing example of how wildlife and energy operations can coexist. The original herd was established in 1983 through an “Adopt‑a‑Buffalo” program supported by local businesses, community members and Platte River staff. Today, the herd helps maintain healthy grassland ecosystems through natural grazing, is rotated across pastures to support land restoration and soil health, and receives care from Platte River staff in partnership with a veterinarian. The bison have also earned numerous awards at regional and national shows. Their continued presence at Rawhide demonstrates how wildlife can thrive alongside modern energy facilities and reflects Platte River’s commitment to responsible land stewardship.
Per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Platte River Power Authority will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with a disability who need assistance. Please email us at [email protected] or call 970-226-4000. “Walk-in” requests for auxiliary aids and services may be honored to the extent possible but can be unavailable if advance notice is not provided.
TOP