We documented sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) roost site characteristics in the North Platte River Valley (NPRV) of Nebraska in riverine and semipermanent palustrine wetlands from late February through mid-April in 1988 and 1989. Crane roost sites in the river were located closer to visual obstructions, in narrower channels, and in a wider range of water depths than determined previously in the Platte River. Cranes roosted in semipermanent wetlands where widths were >12 m, water depths were 5.0-24.4 cm, and distance to shore was >1 m. Based on the estimated peak number of sandhill cranes and roosting capacity estimates, availability of roosting habitat was not limiting use of the NPRV by cranes. North Platte river flows should be maintained to provide channel widths-48 m and water depths '21 cm for roosting cranes. Temporary (wet meadow) and semipermanent palustrine wetlands adjacent to the river should be preserved to provide important diurnal and nocturnal crane habitat.

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