I've grown up in and around the Papio Creek Watershed and have a personal connection to the area. I am an avid hunter and conversationalist. I've watched as urbanization has crept into the watershed and destroyed pristine wildlife habitat. After talking to one of the few remaining local farmers, I learned that the floodplains used to be home to the great Papio Creek Wetlands. Thousands of birds annually used this critical stopover while migrating. Unfortunately, the Creeks have been impounded by a massive flood control system of dykes that have dried up almost all of the wetland. As a result, the creek itself has irregular water flows and has become heavily polluted. Today, the floodplain is used primarily for agriculture and industrial waste.
What I propose doing, is blowing strategic holes in the dykes in the proposed area, and letting the creek retake its floodplain. Wetlands would help clean up the water coming out of the Omaha metro before it enters the Missouri River. It would also help regulate the flow of water, meaning more stable flows. This would help native flora and fauna-including the endangered Topeka Shiner-and provide a slice of 'nature' in the middle of the city. Obviously, as a waterfowl hunter, I have a penchant for ducks and geese. The restoration of this habitat would benefit them greatly, and who knows, if geography allowed it, perhaps a slice of the wetlands could be reserved for hunting waterfowl. Many Omaha area hunters have to travel a long distance to find suitable public hunting grounds.
The shaded areas are where I propose restoring the Papillion Creek
Floodplains back to their original state. Existing Infrastructure
(power lines) is marked in yellow.
View Papio Creek Wetland Restoration in a larger map
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