Gordon Creek Restoration Project, Cherry County

A partnership project along Gordon Creek in central Cherry county has restored historic channel features with a benefit to adjacent wetlands.

The project is located near Aljo Hill and on the Spikebox Ranch, a Sandhills Ranch property owned by R.E. Turner. Other partners in the already completed project were the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Sandhills Task Force and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Natural Resources Conservation Service did the delineation of wetlands and established design details.

The project evaluation and design and overall consultation by partners occurred during a twenty month period, with official consent signatures by the landowner and agencies occurring during the latter part of 2014, according to primary specifics available within an Army Corps of Engineers document, as received through a Freedom of Information Act request.

The work reverted the creek from its channelized condition to its original, historic channel with its meanders, permanent flow and adjacent wetlands.

The project involved waterway meanders and length, increasing 5750 feet of Gordon Creek to a length of 42,300 feet, by placing 22,456 cubic yards of fill into existing channel to redirect the water flow into the historic channel alignment, as well as excavating 16,920 cubic yards of material within the historic channel to facilitate water flow. Existing drainage ditches were also filled, with berms placed where needed. Stream crossings for vehicles were also changed.

A grade stabilization structure was also built at the eastern end of the project to inhibit stream-bed degradation. Concrete block mat and turf reinforcing mat was also installed for ground stabilization purposes.

The indicated project cost was $215,000. Funding sources were $100,000 from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission through a state wildlife grant received from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; $60,000 from the Sandhills Task Force as provided through a grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust; $40,000 from landowner R.E. (Ted) Turner; and, $15,000 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Monitoring reports are required through 2020 to ensure that goals stated in the Corps of Engineers permit are met. A permit for project construction was issued in June, 2015 after Section 404 consultation with the Sandhills Ranch Properties of Turner Enterprises, Inc. The NGPC submitted the permit application.

Additional FOIA requests for project details as submitted in mid-January to the Natural Resources Conservation Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have not resulted in receiving any project documentation from either agency, as of March 1st.

Corps Comments on Availability of Public Works Restoration Plan

This the email response received 14 October 2014 from Martha S. Chieply of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regulatory office in downtown Omaha, in regards to my comments regarding the availability of the wetland restoration plan proposed for the extent of wetlands filled — without a required permit — by the Omaha Public Works department.

"Below is an update regarding the violation that you reported near Carter Lake, Iowa, and a brief overview of our processes for investigating and resolving alleged violations, and then notifying the public of the outcome.

"The Nebraska Regulatory Office received your report of a Clean Water Act violation near Carter Lake on April 17, 2014. The Nebraska State Office confirmed that approximately .066 acres of wetlands had been impacted. An evaluation of the violation and determination of its outcome has not been finalized at this time, as we are working with the responsible party to resolve the violation.

"Typically, when coordinating with the responsible party, the Omaha District's state regulatory office initially will seek ways to restore the wetlands/waters of the United States that have been impacted. Depending on the severity of the violation, as well as the type of aquatic resource impacted, the Omaha District may seek assistance from resource agencies as we assess the requirements for suitable restoration or mitigation of the aquatic resource impacts, if necessary. The Commander of the Omaha District has discretionary authority to pursue violations and/or conduct more rigorous reviews, to include requesting public input, of activities where potential adverse effects on the aquatic environment are more than minimal or where there are other concerns in the public interest.

"The circumstances of every violation must be considered on a case by case basis. While it may be a relevant consideration as to whether or not the impacted property is publicly held, or if the unauthorized activities may have been conducted by a public entity, it does not necessitate public notification. There are instances where the impacts to wetlands/waters of the United States do occur on public lands. However, the protection of wetlands and regulated waters of the United States always are of public interest and value, wherever they are located. Public notification of violations and the public release of pre-decisional information typically is not made unless the potential adverse effects on the aquatic environment are more than minimal.

"Therefore, due to the ongoing coordination efforts and the facts of the case, we are not able to release the details surrounding the violation near Carter Lake at this time. Once our evaluation is finalized, interested persons may request information from the Omaha District, under the Freedom of Information Act."

Note: One acre equals 43,560 square feet, so 0.066 of an acre equals about 2874.96 square feet.

Corps Prevents Public Input on Wetland Plan

A wetland restoration plan being prepared the city of Omaha Public Works Department will not be available for public review, until the document is finalized.

The Army Corps of Engineers is requiring that this public agency be required to prepare the plan as the result of fill being placed in a very small extent of wetlands in association with a holding facility located at 13th and Locust Streets. The procedures of the ACE do not allow any public review, according to staff of this federal agency.

There are several reasons that the public should be allowed to review the restoration plan, prior to it being finalized. They include, but are not limited to:

1) the fill activity was originally reported by the public

2) the wetlands filled are "public waters" as designated by the Clean Water Act; and though the extent is very small, it still did occur and was not permitted

3) the fill activity occurred on public property

4) the fill was done by a city of Omaha agency

5) a restoration project will be paid for by public funds

6) this is the second instance of fill being placed or getting into a protected wetland, in association with Public Works in 2014

7) public input should be an essential aspect of any city of Omaha project

The office of the Mayor of Omaha has been asked to respond to these items (with the list delivered to the mayor's office and public works on October 6th), along with the Corps.

The restoration plan would be available once finalized, through a Freedom of Information Act request.

Wetland Restoration Underway at Heron Haven

Work is continuing on a wetland restoration project at Heron Haven. As February 2nd was World Wetland Day, it was a perfect day to visit a place in Omaha where a wetland conservation project is underway.

The wetland at Heron Haven is currently mostly dry, with portions dug up. The weather has been too warm to allow removal of sediment and other earth work. A new oxbow feature is nearly completed.

Canada Geese that were going about their usual breeding season activities will have to temporarily deal with long-term improvement efforts.

Funding for the project was provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, through their Section 206 Program, which has a purpose of restoring ecosystems, according to Jeff Greenwald, the Heron Haven project manager for the federal agency. The total $1.1 million expenditure includes $600,000 for implementation and construction, and the remainder for planning and design.

Project objectives, according to Greenwald, include:

• Removal of unwanted invasive plant species;
• Eradicating a monoculture of cattails and reed canary grass;
• Increasing the depth of the wetland waters;
• Improving the diversity of aquatic plants; and
• Improving aesthetics associated with the wetland habitat.

The Papio-Missouri NRD, the owner of the property, approached the Corps about doing the project, Greenwald said.

"We had an opportunity to restore a historic wetland site," said Jim Becic, manager of the PMNRD. He also noted how accessible the site is to the public. The NRD owns the Heron Haven property.

The wetland is a former oxbow of Papillion Creek, and is now an important urban wetland overseen by the Friends of Heron Haven, with Ione Werthman the group's leader and visionary.

Since its inception, Heron Haven has been a significant natural place for the Omaha community. In addition to its natural features - saved from apartment construction - which provide habitat for more than 140 known species of birds, there are other numerous values. It is an environmental learning facility, attractive to many, including school kids.

There are many "friends" of Heron Haven who regularly visit their special place. This includes the Heron Haven Camera Club with its own webpage of photographs.

Werthman is especially proud of the many Boy Scout projects which have been done.

During our visit on World Wetland Day, she was excited about receiving a $10,000 grant from the Becker Family Foundation. Their were no stipulations given on how the money would get used.

One obvious use was placing a windmill to provide a structure to get water into the dragon-fly pond near the nature center. She is looking for a 10-20' tower with all of its parts, and that could be restored. It would provide an iconic feature for the area.

If you have a windmill to donate, contact Heron Haven.

There will soon be some new educational features. Funds from the Marion Payton Memorial are being used to prepare mounts of a mink, woodchuck and raccoon, found as carcasses. An accipiter hawk is also being prepared. Three bat houses were installed last November as a Boy Scout project, and in the coming months they can provide a safe haven for these bugeaters.

A few acres of private property at the southeast corner of the area were purchased by the NRD in spring 2011, protecting an additional extent of the marsh environs. It is currently being "cleaned up."

The wetland restoration project is expected to be finished during early spring. Plant seeding is expected to occur in April once the growing season starts, Greenwald said. A formal ground-breaking for the project was held in November, 2011, as attended by project partners and many other interested people.

Once the project work is completed, ample waterflows from city of Omaha property uphill, will suitably replenish the wetlands. There are six known springs in this exquisite woodland hollow to the east of the north side of the Heron Haven property.

The groundwater never freezes, which is an obvious reason for the sighting of a diminutive Winter Wren while walking about the woods on Thursday.

Heron Haven is a unique natural treasure in urban Omaha, and a special place to visit even if it is not World Wetland Day. Hiking trails are currently closed due to construction activities, but the social whirl continues at the nature center. Once the project is done, get out there, hike about and appreciate the photography blind. Perhaps you might become a volunteer to continue the vision for Heron Haven?

Portion of project plan showing features for the renovated wetland.
Engineering design from Corps of Engineers planning document.