Of the four wetland categories found in Nebraska, the Eastern
Saline Wetlands of Lancaster and Saunders counties are among the
most unique and threatened wetland communities in the state.
Limited to the floodplain swales and depressions within the Salt
Creek, Little Salt Creek, and Rock Creek drainages, it’s
estimated that the Eastern saline wetlands once covered an area in
excess of 20, 000 acres. Today, due to extensive degradation,
draining and filling, through commercial, residential, and
agricultural development, less than 4,000 acres remain and many of
these remnants are highly degraded.
The source of salinity for these wetlands is not fully
understood, but it’s postulated that the salinity is from
groundwater inflow that passes through a rock formation containing
salts deposited by an ancient inland sea that once covered much of
the Great Plains (USDA 1996). The remaining saline wetlands may be
sustained by saline groundwaters that flow up through Dakota
sandstone, the underlying bedrock of soils along the Salt and
Little Salt Creeks. Dakota sandstone is very porous allowing saline
groundwater from deeper shale rock formations containing salt
depositions to seep up into overlaying soil horizons. The seepage
of groundwater over thousands of years from deeply buried saline
aquifers has accumulated in salts in the floodplain soils, allowing
for the unique wetland type to form.
Nebraska’s saline wetlands are characterized by saline
soils and halophytic (salt tolerant) plant species. The abundant
mud flats of the saline wetlands are rich in invertebrate life and
frequented by a variety of migratory shore birds, other bird
species, and wildlife. During the last century, more than 230
species of birds have been reported from the salt basins of
Lancaster and Saunders counties. This includes a large number of
water birds and migratory species. The Eastern saline wetlands are
also home to many saline plants that are found nowhere else in
Nebraska. In addition to the many unique invertebrate, bird, and
plant species, the Eastern saline wetlands are also home to
hundreds of more familiar mammal, fish, and reptile species.
The listed coordinates will take you to raised platform that
contains the information you will need to log this EarthCache. When
answering the following questions, please provide answers from the
information provided at Ground Zero (GZ). This will help ensure
fellow geocachers actually visit the site and refrain from internet
searches for the answers. Also, please don’t post answers to
the questions in log entries. Lastly, logs will be deleted if we do
not receive answers to the questions in a timely manner.
We rated the terrain a 1.5. The platform at GZ is wheelchair
accessible, but we noticed there is not a curb-cut near the
platform, and there is not a path to the base of the ramp. We are
not sure if, or when, these improvements will be completed.
Logging Requirements
In order to log your visit you must email the following
information:
1. Optional, but encouraged: Provide a picture of yourself,
and/or your group, with the saline wetland in the background. This
will provide a scenic view of how the Saline Wetlands change
through the seasons.
2. The history and geology of the Saline Wetlands began during
what period in Earth's history?
3. During the time period from the previous question the central
region of North America was covered with water. As land masses
moved to create the Rocky Mountains the water retreated. What body
of water covered the central region of North America during this
time?
4. According to your GPSr, what is the elevation at GZ? Also,
estimate the drop in elevation to the Saline Wetlands.
5. What evidence of the high saline content can you observe from
GZ?
6. The Lower Platte South Natural Resources District is
responsible for the restoration of this Saline Wetland. What were 3
of the major project milestones completed during the restoration
process?
References:
Lower Platte South Natural Resources District
http://www.lpsnrd.org/index.htm
http://lincoln.ne.gov/city/parks/parksfacilities/wetlands/wetlandsinfo.htm
http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/wildlife/programs/wetlands/
http://water.unl.edu/web/wetlands/newetlandfamily
Congratulations to lnknehusker on being the FTF.