The North Platte River Valley (NPRV) in southwest Nebraska encompasses Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area (LM), Lake Ogallala State Recreation Area (LO), and Cedar Point Biological Station (CP). There are several potential IBAs in the vicinity, including Ash Hollow State Historical Park and Clear Creek Wildlife Management Area.

The construction of Kingsley Dam on the North Platte River created LM, Nebraska's largest lake at 22 miles long, three miles wide, covering 35,000 surface acres. Pumping from the downstream side of the dam formed the 600-acre LO. The recreation areas surrounding each lake add another 5,800 land acres. CP, on the south shore of LO, is a 1,000-acre research site operated by the University of Nebraska. It is a mixture of cedar-forested canyons, rugged bluffs overlooking the Valley, and rolling uplands of shortgrass and mixed-grass prairie. Scientists and ornithologists have used the Station as a research site since 1975. Local birders have sightings dating back to the 1940s.

The NPRV is near the middle of the east/west faunal transition zone in the Great Plains. Various riparian forests of nearby rivers provide movement corridors for both western and eastern species. "Birds of the Cedar Point Biological Station" (Occ. Pap. Cedar Point Biol. Sta. 1: 1-36. Jan. 2001) lists 342 species in the area around the Station, which includes all three IBAs. The species count is claimed to be the highest of any comparably sized local area north of Texas. Of note is the number of closely related and hybridizing species occurring there: Black-headed and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Indigo and Lazuli Buntings, Baltimore and Bullock's Orioles, "Rufous-sided Towhee" superspecies, and Yellow-shafted and Red-shafted morphs of the Northern Flicker.

The bird list for the two recreation areas stands at 313 species. The large expanse of water at LM attracts thousands of migrating waterbirds, particularly Western Grebes and Common Mergansers. For a touch of pelagic birding in the nation's heartland, fifteen species of gulls, five species of terns, four loon species, and three jaeger species have been recorded. The almost 100 miles of shoreline provides critical nesting areas for Piping Plovers and interior Least Terns (183 plover and 19 tern nests were recorded in 2004), as well as outstanding viewing opportunities for a wide array of shorebirds, including Whimbrels, Snowy Plovers, Baird's Sandpipers, and Sanderlings. Whooping Crane sightings have generally been at the lake's west end. Winter brings in hundreds of Bald Eagles.

LM is owned and operated by the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, which uses surface water diversions and groundwater withdrawals to provide irrigation for hundreds of thousands of cropland acres in south-central and southwest Nebraska. Most of the land around the lakes is leased to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for public recreation. Camping, boating, fishing, and hunting are popular, as are the many beaches and swimming areas.

An extended drought in the early part of this century dropped the lake's water level to its lowest in history. The expanded beach areas have greatly increased the nesting of Piping Plovers and interior Least Terns. A public outreach campaign is in place to increase visitors' awareness of the birds and their nesting habits. Nesting areas are monitored and signs are erected to alert the public to the presence of nests.

Salt cedar is established at the west end of LM and will spread to all beach areas at both lakes.

CP is a working university research site with more than 25 buildings and other associated camp features. The site is open to the public by appointment or prior arrangement.