The Missouri National Recreational River is a National Park unit, consisting of two relatively free flowing stretches of the Missouri River: 59 mile reach that was designated in 1978, stretches from just below Gavin's Point Dam to Ponca, Nebraska 39 mile reach which was designated in 1991, stretches from below Fort Randall Dam to Running Water, South Dakota. This reach also includes the lower 20 miles of the Niobrara River and 8 miles of Verdigre Creek. The park's land base is quite small with approximately 1,200 acres. The staff of the park work with a number of federal, state and local partners to manage these incredible stretches of North America's longest river.