Chain-O-Lakes

Chain-O-Lakes. . , For the 215 miles from the Nebraska-Colorado Line to Grand Island. Interstate 80 parallels the Platte River. This broad flat valley is underlain by deposits of sand and gravel washing in from the Rock Mountains. These deposits contain large quantities of ground water. The upper surface of this ground water reservoir or water table is exposed at river level. This water table is relatively flat and is usually encountered at depths of less than 10 feet throughout the valley., The sand and gravel aggregate, as exposed here is excellent material for highway construction. The abundance of construction material near the surface and the relatively high water table have been used to advantage by the Nebraska Department of Roads in creating approximately 100 borrow pit lakes adjacent to Interstate 80. The water has been exposed by the excavation of the pits and gradually moves through them and the subsurface. These lakes vary in size from three acres to 50 acres and are normally 15 feet deep., The Chain–O–Lakes has been developed by the Department of Roads in conjunction with rest areas and highway landscaping and by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission in conjunction with road ranches, camping areas, recreation areas, hunting and fishing.