Salt Creek
Before Nebraska became a territory in 1854, the Salt Valley (now Lancaster County) was home to four Native American tribes. The Otoe and Missouri lived to the east, the Kansas to the south and the Pawnee to the west.
The salt basin in Salt Valley was a significant resource for both indigenous peoples and animals, as they recognized the importance of salt in their diets. However, due to the area’s susceptibility to flooding, the indigenous people avoided establishing permanent settlements here.
Lewis and Clark noted Salt Creek in 1804; “A small river comes into the Platte called Salt River, the waters so brackish that it can’t be drank at some seasons.”
The potential for developing a salt industry in the salt basin influenced the founding of Lincoln as the state capital.
After several major floods, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built lakes for flood control. Straightening, channeling and diking Salt Creek reduced flood risks but harmed the creek’s ecosystem. Assessing and balancing human and ecological needs is ongoing.
I wanted to give a little history of Salt Creek and found this good spot. Please return the cache container out of sight to lessen the likelihood of its being muggled.