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.

Scout Projects Enhance Resort for Nature in Omaha

Autumn was an active time at Omaha's Heron Haven as numerous Boy Scouts were completing their Eagle Scout projects.

"Heron Haven is a local treasure which the scouts' efforts have made even more special," said Ione Werthman, the guiding force, site manager and overall visionary for the nature area near 119th and Old Maple Road. "We are a volunteer-run area, and any projects can help improve our area. I am very proud of the fabulous jobs the scouts did."

Heron Haven comprises 25 acres at a site which, in 1991 was slated to become an apartment complex.

It is now a wetland resort for nature, providing educational and learning opportunities for schools, scouts and church groups as an important and essential part of its mission.

There were at least a dozen scouts, from different Omaha troops, which recently finished their projects, Werthman said. "We've had six one year, and three or four other years, so the boy's effort this year were exceptional."

There have been about 30 scout projects done on the area in the past ten years, Werthman noted.

Particular projects she mentioned, included:

Frank McKenzies: constructed a chimney swift tower which was placed in an appropriate place. This species has not yet been observed at the haven, but Werthman said she is looking forward to adding it to the site's currently tally of 139 species of birds.

A set of triplets, each completed their own project. Mike Bauwens built six benches, placed along the trail, providing a place for a respite while walking about. His brother Patrick, built 20 bluebird houses which were installed along the dike which is the western boundary of the haven, and along Old Maple Road. The Eastern Bluebird is another species which can hopefully be added to the site's bird list. Ben Bauwens placed wire protection around 22 trees to prevent any beavers from gnawing on them, which could result in their loss.

Mason Hiller made six tree permanent identification signs that were anchored in concrete along the hiking trail, which will be beneficial in noting trees during hikes for visitors as well as helping younger scouts identify trees while getting their nature merit badges.

Philian Hoff improved the parking lot, including eradicating an unwanted invasive species, the Asian reed canary grass.

Stephen Hardesty also worked to get rid of the same unwanted grass, and planted native grasses to add to the "backyard setting" around the nature center.

Andrew Fish cleaned up and widened the hiking trail, and putting pea gravel in place to make the route to the boardwalk, handicap accessible.

Brian Ermal improved and widened the trail, placing wood chips for a good distance through the trees and to the viewing blind near the wetland.

Garrett Barrends built a protection fence railing along a curve in the trail where it is near water, making the route safer for young kids.

Blake Gittler improved the front of the building by removing weeds, putting plastic in place and covering it with pea gravel to inhibit future growth, did some painting and otherwise improved the "front door appeal" of the nature center.

Previous scout projects have been helpful by painting the building, making recycle bins and putting fences around the gardens, Werthman said.

Additional community support was provided by a local resident who donated their former wooden fence, when they were redoing their yard.

Heron Haven relies on volunteers to get things done, as it is supported by memberships and donations.

"I personally invite area residents to Heron Haven to personally observe the wonderful results of the scout projects," Werthman said, adding that "we are trying to get ideas for new projects all the time."

Heron Haven a Mecca for Nature and Enthusiasts

Ione Werthman at Heron Haven, 30 April 2009.

With a tenacity derived from decades of experience, Ione Werthman continues to promote and enhance a nature haven that is the pinnacle of a lifetime of dedication to the environment and its protection.

Her effort and ongoing vision is vividly apparent in a bit of land, Heron Haven Nature Preserve in west Omaha. Although the site is a bit of a tract of just about 25 acres, its value to birds, wildlife and local flora is vast indeed. And the place is a magnet for volunteers which share Werthman's view.

A review of the April 2009 newsletter issued to the group of friends and enthusiasts nurturing the heron haven, indicates the depth of dedication by volunteers and contributors to the cause. Consider these contributions:

• grant for $1000 from the Omaha Community Foundation for uses around the haven trail cleanup work done by Chris Kasel
• Wells Fargo Insurance Company donation of bookcases, file cabinets and office supplies
• Bruce Warr and Larry Shackman doing brush removal, and planning and design for the installation of a new fence for the butterfly garden area. Funding for the fence was provided by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality since the material used was recycled plastics. Verla Shaner is in charge of the flower plantings for this project.
• Papio-Missouri Natural Resources District contributing by clearing trees and furnishing some soil additive for the new trail through the garden
• Eva Bennett donation to purchase more nature games to be used for education activities

Ione Werthman also mentioned how there are two more young men working on their Eagle Scout project at the haven. One project will repair a fence damaged by the June 2008 tornado which swept through Omaha. The other contributed effort will involve planting buffalo grass and roto-tilling to prepare the soil to extend the picnic area and bird garden at the back of the nature center. More than 20 Boy Scouts have done their Eagle Scout projects at Heron Haven, Werthman said with pride.

On the day of our visit, Donald Vanacek, who had been at the nature center for a recent program, brought in a box of gourds adapted to provide bird houses, either for house wrens or purple martins, preferably, but still worthwhile for the English sparrow.

This is a tally for just this spring. The extent of volunteer contributions is a wonder when considering what has been accomplished at Heron Haven, since its simple beginnings in 1992.

Within three months, once neighbors of a proposed apartment development project contacted activist Werthman in 1992, then actively involved with the Audubon Society. Once a neighbor of the wetland provided a check for $200 to support the cause, a direction was indicated for the fate of these acres.

The three great blue herons Ione Werthman noted when she first visited the place, made their distinctive and indelible mark, indicating a haven for herons, egrets, ducks, geese, plovers, raptors, woodpeckers, thrushes, warblers, sparrows and a myriad of other wild bird species.

Funds were raised and the property purchased so it could be permanently protected as a nature area. Werthman's focus and intent raised the necessary funds - $187,000 - for the purchase of 12 acres of what had been a part of the Big Papillion Creek channel. Once the waterway was channelized, there was a relict oxbow and wetland habitats along with the woodlands. The site was not suited for an apartment complex, but an alternative view was much more appropriate.

Overall, she has procured more than $1 million for the urban sanctuary, including the removal of ten dump-truck loads of rubble and trash! Also monies were used to construct a boardwalk at the marsh, put in a blind that is its own haven for fowl photographers, and excavation to deepen the wetland.

Ione Werthman raised these funds that are part of that celebrated source of money to create the heron haven: $175,000 in 1996, to purchase a former bar - once known as Puddle Mary's Catch and Carry Bar (buy a drink to enjoy while doing a little fishing), or later, Gilley's Place with its storied history - which is now a nature center, established in 1998. Money for this came from the many donors which could see that this was a worthy endeavor, as well as the Nebraska Environmental Trust and the Papio-Missouri NRD which were in complete agreement.

With her particular tenacity, the ongoing development of this special bit of urban nature, over came particular bumps in the road. A huge, 100-year flood occurred along the creek on August 7, 1999, just a couple of months after the grand opening of the nature center, there was water in the building at 10 a.m., and gone four hours later. Mud was left behind, so the building has since been remodeled to make it suitable for classes, gatherings of nature enthusiasts, and a hangout for people that enjoy a place to rest after an outing to watch the geese or other wild birds which appreciate these few acres.

Pair of Canada Geese at Heron Haven, 30 April 2009.

The bird list for Heron Haven currently has a tally of 133 species. A peregrine falcon is the most recent addition, perhaps it was Zeus, making the trek to western Omaha to visit a place where it might find a bit of food to take back downtown to its mate, attending the nest at the Woodmen Tower.

In April 2008, Ione Werthman received the Howard L. Weigers Nebraska Outstanding Wildlife Conservation Award, notably for her work to establish Heron Haven, but which also is based on her 35 years of volunteer work with the National Audubon Society, Friends of the Niobrara River, and otherwise to protect and nuture the nature of Nebraska.

There are now 250 members of the Friends of Heron Haven group, with a fine number actively involved. This group was established in 2004 to support protection and ongoing enhancement of the wetland along Maple Street.

When talking with the matriarch of Heron Haven - or volunteer director in official parlance - it is obvious that there is no moss growing under her feet. She looks forward to further improvements for this little bit of urban nature.

By the end of this year, or the beginning of next year, there will be a dragon-fly pond established near the nature center, according to planning now underway.

The Corps of Engineers will soon be undertaking a project to remove the invasive Asian reed-canary grass at an east area of the haven wetlands.

What else might be in the future for Heron Haven, perhaps?

The Heron Haven Nature Center is expected to be a trailhead for the recreation trail to be established from Hefflinger Park, up Maple Street to the east, to Tranquility Park, across the Big Papillion Creek and 120th Street to the west. This project is being developed by the Papio-Missouri NRD.

There is the city of Omaha-owned property to the east of the haven property. It is a deep ravine, bordered by housing, but a place that obviously could never be developed in any reasonable manner, and a source for spring-water which nourishes the wetland. When a group of students from Creighton Prep school developed a detailed, three-dimensional layout of the haven vicinity, showing the primary features, and potentialities, including a possible hiking trail addition in the east ravine.

Invasive species are a concern. An effort to revert the site flora to just native species would be a great enhancement.

Next to the nature center, there is a measly 3-acres used by Mulhall Nursery, mostly for storage of their products. It could perhaps be better used as a bit of green space, rather than commercial property?

Werthman also considers the longer-term for the haven: "It would be nice to place a berm above where the city sewer pipe-line crosses the wetland. This could be a prime place for the geese to nest."

"The more people involved the better," Werthman said. "it is fun being out here to educate others while also learning."

It is the profound dedication of individuals which have established Heron Haven as a special place for so many people, and a natural area so important for flora and fauna in an otherwise developed urban setting.

Each owes Ione Werthman their own distinct expression of thanks. The Canada geese express their pleasure each day, and the song of the house wren is another bit of joyous song of this bit of haven resulting from a singular focus on environmental conservation and nature education in an urban setting.

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Sam's Bird Blog features pictures of the birds and other natural scenes at Heron Haven.