This is a 3 stage multi-cache that takes roughly 30-60 minutes to complete. You will need a smart phone with a QR reader to find the next two sets of coordinates, the final stage being where the cache is located. The QR codes located at the first two stages will direct you to more information regarding the area as well as coordinates to the next stage. If you are new to geocaching, scroll down on the cache menu to 'Waypoints' to navigate to the new coordinates. From there, click the + on the upper right and enter the coordinates. No need to refill the cache, it will be periodically restocked with NRD swag. The cache is located at Heron Haven Wetland Sanctuary (11809 Old Maple Rd.). Open daily from dawn to dusk, parking available.
Water Facts: Heron Haven
Heron Haven is a spring-fed wetland sanctuary offering nature trails and a boardwalk that are open to the public every day, free of charge. The sanctuary features one of the last oxbow wetlands of the Big Papillion Creek, and despite its location within Omaha’s city limits, it provides visitors a peaceful refuge in which to study, observe, or merely enjoy the natural environment. So, take a walk on the wild side! Come and visit Heron Haven, whether for a quiet nature walk, for bird watching, nature photography, GEOCACHING, or to view the butterfly garden and prairie grass exhibit. Heron Haven is also an important educational and research asset to the Omaha community. Biology and ecology students from local schools and universities use the wetland to conduct ecological studies and surveys of native species of plants and aquatic animals.
- Oxbow Wetland - a meander of a stream, river, or creek that has become disconnected from the flow of water, creating a free-standing body of water.
- Oxbow wetlands store water that could lead to flooding, improves water quality by filtering water, and provides critical habitat for a variety of plants and wildlife.
- Water Quality - oxbow wetlands hold, process, and help filter out excess nutrients. Nitrates, a common agricultural and residential fertilizer, can negatively impact water quality at high levels. On average, oxbows filter close to 50% of excess nutrients like nitrates from the water and can be even higher if the water stays in the oxbow for an extended period of time.
- Flood storage - oxbow wetlands store up to 1,000,000 gallons of water per acre of oxbow while also slowing stormwater down before it dumps into streams and rivers. When stream levels increase after rain/snow melt, oxbows act like a sponge to help slowly release the excess water back into the stream. As flooding events become more and more common, the need for oxbow wetland preservation and restoration will be critical.
- Wildlife Habitat - oxbows offer important habitat for fry (young fish) to grow before entering a stream or river as adults. Not only important for fish, they are also utilized by migratory birds and waterfowl as feeding, stopover, and nesting sites. For example, Heron Haven is home to Canada geese, wood ducks, painted turtles, green herons just to name a few of the over 100 birds identified! Oxbows aren't just ideal for fish and birds, mammals such as mink and muskrats as well as aquatic insects are beneficiaries of such ideal habitat.