InterLinc: City of Lincoln: Parks & Recreation


	lincoln.ne.gov

City of Lincoln
Natural Resources & Greenways

Saline Wetlands

Lincoln Saline Wetland Areas

Map of Wetland Areas 177 KB

Little Salt Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA)

Owned by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Little Salt Creek WMA consists of saline wetlands and open prairie and grasslands. It is located 2 miles east of Raymond and one-quarter of a mile south of 1st and Raymond Road in Lancaster County. The saline marsh provides a habitat for a variety of saline wetland plants and wildlife. Saline plants found on this site include the state endangered saltwort plant. Hunting is allowed per the Wildlife Management Area regulations determined by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

Arbor Lake

A saline wetland just north of Lincoln and Interstate 80 along 27^th street was acquired by the City of Lincoln as mitigation for the destruction of a smaller saline wetland filled when Capitol Parkway West bypass was constructed southwest of downtown Lincoln. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission manages Arbor Lake for the city. It has public access, a parking area, and an observation platform to allow visitors to observe saline wetlands plant and animal life.

Recently, The City of Lincoln purchased an additional 69 Acres of Property to the East and South of the original Arbor Lake property. This purchase includes saline flats and buffer areas needed to protect these fragile natural areas. In total, Arbor Lake is now 132 acres in size.
Birds of Arbor Lake Saline Wetland 190kb

Frank Shoemaker Marsh

The Frank Shoemaker Marsh was purchased in June 2003 with funding provided by the Nebraska Environmental Trust and a 2001 State Wildlife Grant awarded to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The site is 160 acres of land containing nearly 50 acres of eastern saline wetlands. The marsh provides a habitat for a variety of wetland plants and wildlife. Saline plants found on this site include the state endangered saltwort plant.

This site is primitive and no designated trails exist. A field road is available for walking down to the eastern bank of Little Salt Creek from the parking area.
It is located approximately 1.3 miles north of the intersection of Arbor Road and 27^th street. A parking area for Frank Shoemaker Marsh is available off of north 27^th street.

The City of Lincoln has contracted with a consultant for engineering services related to the Frank Shoemaker Marsh Wetland Restoration Project 4MB . It is anticipated restoration activities will begin in 2006.

Birds of the Frank Shoemaker Marsh

Shoemaker Marsh Bird Sightings
(October 23, 2003)
Mayor Seng & Saline Wetlands Conservation Partnership dedicate Frank Shoemaker Marsh Read an article about Frank Shoemaker Marsh
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Jack Sinn

The Jack Sinn Wildlife Management Area (WMA) located in southern Saunders and Lancaster Counties, Nebraska along Highway 77 south of Ceresco and east along Ashland Road. It consists of approximately 1,500 acres of marsh and open grasslands. The WMA is open to the public for hiking, nature observation and hunting. The area provides excellent shore bird habitat and viewing, particularly from late February into May. A good representation of grassland and wetland passerine species can also be found.

Jack Sinn WMA recently underwent various design measures in order to improve and expand existing wetlands within the Rock Creek watershed. Design improvements at Site 1 (just west of Highway 77, south of Ceresco) were constructed in late 1999 – early 2000 to address drainage from the wetlands adjacent to Highway 77. Other improvements have been completed or are in the process near 112^th Street and Ashland Road.

Hunting is allowed for Deer, Pheasant, Quail, Rabbit, and Waterfowl. Target shooting is prohibited in both Lancaster and Saunders Counties and only non-toxic shot is allowed.
Birds of the Jack Sinn Wildlife Management Area13kb pdf

Lincoln Saline Wetlands Nature Center Located just east of Lincoln's Capitol Beach Lake, features a walking trail, which unlocks the treasures of this dense and rare saline wetland to the public. There is also a wildlife viewing blind overlooking two of several wetland ponds frequented by a wide variety of waterfowl. Parking area provided. Owned by the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District, the wetland was restored in the early 1990's.

In June 2005, a dedication was held to officially open Old Wyoming Bridge which spans an area in the northwest corner of the wetland. Once common in the mid-1800s, historians have tagged Old Wyoming Bridge, with its bowstring arches, as one of the last of its kind in Nebraska. In November 2003, Wyoming Bridge was removed from its original piers on Goose Hill Road, spanning Squaw Creek in Otoe County and stored nearby until it was moved to Lincoln and restored.

Little Salt Fork Marsh

Owned by The Nature Conservancy, Little Salt Fork Marsh consists of saline wetlands and open prairie. It is located 2 miles east of Raymond at the intersection of 1^st and Raymond Road in Lancaster County.
Restoration for this site began in 1995 when The Nature Conservancy purchased a 60-acre tract. About this same time the Burlington Northern Railroad Company was in the process of creating the first wetland mitigation bank in the state. Together the two entities forged an agreement for the restoration, enhancement and expansion of the Little Salt Fork Marsh into a 180-acre nature preserve. Construction was completed in 1997.
The saline marsh provides a habitat for a variety of saline wetland plants and wildlife. It is a frequent stop over for many shorebirds and migratory waterfowl. Saline plants found on this site include the state endangered saltwort plant.

Brent Lathrop of the The Nature Conservancy speaks at a ceremony to celebrate the saline wetlands conservation partnership and dedicate the public access of The Nature Conservancy's Little Salt Fork Marsh Preserve on October 28, 2005.
(Photo by Chris Helzer, The Nature Conservancy)

Pfizer Saline Wetlands

Among Pfizer's most notable environmental achievements are restoring 25 acres of degraded saline wetland. This includes a pavilion and a 3/4-mile interpretive trail. The pavilion offers multiple views of this restoration including saline wetlands and prairie landscape and provides information regarding the natural history of the area and the types of vegetation you will encounter as you walk along the trails.

The site is located on the southwest corner of 1^st Street and West Cornhusker Highway. Please observe posted rules upon entering the site.

Whitehead Saline Wetland

Located just south of Interstate 80 and east of 27^th Street the Whitehead Saline Wetland is a public access wetland maintained by the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District (LPSNRD). The Whitehead Oil Company donated the 100-acre site to the LPSNRD in 1996. The site was successfully restored by the LPSNRD to preserve the rare saline wetlands and their ecosystems.
Today, the site contains a variety of saline wetland plants and animals, which utilize this habitat, including the state endangered saltwort plant. It is a successful NRD restoration project designed to preserve rare saline wetlands and their ecosystems.
Birds of the Whitehead Saline Wetland190kb

Pioneers Park Nature Center

A saline wetland educational exhibit is available for public viewing at the Pioneers Park Nature Center. The exhibit provides a description of saline wetlands with a saline wetlands cross section graphic, information regarding endangered species of the saline wetlands, several interchangeable panels (salt marsh insects, tigers of the saline wetlands, water of the saline wetlands, winter in the saline wetlands, Salt Creek tiger beetle, beetle larva, plants of the saline wetlands, white faced Ibis, yellow headed blackbird, and shorebirds), historical perspective, and a map of saline wetland areas. The exhibit also has an interactive exercise on a pivotal balance where you attempt to balance the ecosystem with puzzle blocks of positive features of a saline wetland.

Natural Resources & Greenways

Little Salt Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA)


Owned by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Little Salt Creek WMA consists of saline wetlands and open prairie and grasslands. It is located 2 miles east of Raymond and one-quarter of a mile south of 1st and Raymond Road in Lancaster County. The saline marsh provides a habitat for a variety of saline wetland plants and wildlife. Saline plants found on this site include the state endangered saltwort plant. Hunting is allowed per the Wildlife Management Area regulations determined by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

Arbor Lake


A saline wetland just north of Lincoln and Interstate 80 along 27^th street was acquired by the City of Lincoln as mitigation for the destruction of a smaller saline wetland filled when Capitol Parkway West bypass was constructed southwest of downtown Lincoln. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission manages Arbor Lake for the city. It has public access, a parking area, and an observation platform to allow visitors to observe saline wetlands plant and animal life. Recently, The City of Lincoln purchased an additional 69 Acres of Property to the East and South of the original Arbor Lake property. This purchase includes saline flats and buffer areas needed to protect these fragile natural areas. In total, Arbor Lake is now 132 acres in size. Birds of Arbor Lake Saline Wetland 190kb


In June 2005, a dedication was held to officially open Old Wyoming Bridge which spans an area in the northwest corner of the wetland. Once common in the mid-1800s, historians have tagged Old Wyoming Bridge, with its bowstring arches, as one of the last of its kind in Nebraska. In November 2003, Wyoming Bridge was removed from its original piers on Goose Hill Road, spanning Squaw Creek in Otoe County and stored nearby until it was moved to Lincoln and restored.

Little Salt Fork Marsh
	Owned by The Nature Conservancy, Little Salt Fork Marsh consists of saline wetlands and open prairie. It is located 2 miles east of Raymond at the intersection of 1^st and Raymond Road in Lancaster County. Restoration for this site began in 1995 when The Nature Conservancy purchased a 60-acre tract. About this same time the Burlington Northern Railroad Company was in the process of creating the first wetland mitigation bank in the state. Together the two entities forged an agreement for the restoration, enhancement and expansion of the Little Salt Fork Marsh into a 180-acre nature preserve. Construction was completed in 1997. The saline marsh provides a habitat for a variety of saline wetland plants and wildlife. It is a frequent stop over for many shorebirds and migratory waterfowl. Saline plants found on this site include the state endangered saltwort plant.
Brent Lathrop of the The Nature Conservancy speaks at a ceremony to celebrate the saline wetlands conservation partnership and dedicate the public access of The Nature Conservancy's Little Salt Fork Marsh Preserve on October 28, 2005. (Photo by Chris Helzer, The Nature Conservancy)

Pfizer Saline Wetlands

Among Pfizer's most notable environmental achievements are restoring 25 acres of degraded saline wetland. This includes a pavilion and a 3/4-mile interpretive trail. The pavilion offers multiple views of this restoration including saline wetlands and prairie landscape and provides information regarding the natural history of the area and the types of vegetation you will encounter as you walk along the trails. The site is located on the southwest corner of 1^st Street and West Cornhusker Highway. Please observe posted rules upon entering the site.

Whitehead Saline Wetland


Located just south of Interstate 80 and east of 27^th Street the Whitehead Saline Wetland is a public access wetland maintained by the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District (LPSNRD). The Whitehead Oil Company donated the 100-acre site to the LPSNRD in 1996. The site was successfully restored by the LPSNRD to preserve the rare saline wetlands and their ecosystems. Today, the site contains a variety of saline wetland plants and animals, which utilize this habitat, including the state endangered saltwort plant. It is a successful NRD restoration project designed to preserve rare saline wetlands and their ecosystems. Birds of the Whitehead Saline Wetland190kb

Pioneers Park Nature Center
A saline wetland educational exhibit is available for public viewing at the Pioneers Park Nature Center. The exhibit provides a description of saline wetlands with a saline wetlands cross section graphic, information regarding endangered species of the saline wetlands, several interchangeable panels (salt marsh insects, tigers of the saline wetlands, water of the saline wetlands, winter in the saline wetlands, Salt Creek tiger beetle, beetle larva, plants of the saline wetlands, white faced Ibis, yellow headed blackbird, and shorebirds), historical perspective, and a map of saline wetland areas. The exhibit also has an interactive exercise on a pivotal balance where you attempt to balance the ecosystem with puzzle blocks of positive features of a saline wetland.