HUH? (The succinct version)

• Cole Creek, located in Omaha, Neb., is part of the city’s local floodplain system. It begins south of Sorensen Parkway in the northwest section of the city known as the Benson-Ames Alliance and flows into the Little Papillion Creek near the intersection of Cass and 78th streets.
• The Cole Creek Project focuses on the upper portion of the creek from its headwaters south of Sorensen Parkway to Hartman Avenue. Its goals are to stabilize the creek, improve its water quality and enhance it for recreational and educational use.
• This stormwater demonstration project is the first to follow the City of Omaha’s Urban Design Element recommendation that calls for transforming the Papio Creek waterways into a citywide public park and recreation system.
• The project is a partnership of the City of Omaha Department of Public Works; the City of Omaha Department of Parks, Recreation and Public Property; Roncalli Catholic High School; Douglas County; Omaha by Design; the Benson-Ames Alliance; Big Muddy Workshop; Hayes Environmental L.L.C.; Lamp, Rynearson & Associates; and Olsson Associates.
• The project is funded by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District.
• For more information, call Omaha by Design at 402.554.4010 or email info@colecreek.org

HUH? (The more detailed version)

Cole Creek: how it used to be

Once upon a time in northwest Omaha, Cole Creek was a shallow waterway that meandered lazily through the countryside. Some of the surrounding area was wetland; some of it was populated with cottonwoods and red cedars. Natural springs fed into Cole Creek in the area that’s now home to Benson Park.

As the city grew, its people began to develop the areas surrounding Cole Creek. Farmers began to straighten the creek in an attempt to increase the amount of land available for production. Public officials shifted the creek slightly to the east when Benson Park was designed.

In the 1950s, urban development arrived at the creek’s doorstep. When the land was subdivided along Cole Creek, the rear property line followed the center of the creek, and homes were built within the natural floodplain. Bridges were built over the creek, stormwater systems were installed, and water collected from the growing number of homes and roadways was directly routed into the creek.

Due to the increased flow of water into the creek, this once shallow stream began to deepen. Erosion began to increase, and the banks of the stream became almost vertical, preventing the stream from regular contact with its natural floodplain.

Cole Creek: how it is today

Today, Cole Creek is a challenged waterway. Water once absorbed by native plants now hits impervious surfaces like streets and driveways and is routed through stormwater systems into the creek. A number of issues currently contribute to its potential for flooding:

• An unstable and eroding stream bed
• Eroded banks
• Exposed utilities
• The presence of non-native vegetation

Cole Creek: the project components

The Cole Creek Project will be carried out in three phases. The first involves the construction of a series of best management practices (BMP) on land surrounding the creek, the second involves the restoration of the stream itself, and the third involves the creation of a walking trail and interpretive signage.

Phase I: best management practices (spring 2009)

Two bioretention gardens will be constructed in Orchard Park. This type of BMP is a shallow basin planted with native grasses and flowers that temporarily detains stormwater and cleanses pollutants from the runoff before it filters into the soil.

The first bioretention garden will be constructed alongside the Orchard Park parking lot. Stormwater collects rapidly there, pooling in the circle area and on the south edge. The curbs will be cut to allow water to drain to depression areas, where it will collect. Most of the collected water will drain into the soil, but some of it will drain to an outlet closer to the creek. This garden will be planted with little bluestem, buffalo grass, switch grass, Indian grass and big bluestem. Prairie blazing star, black eyed susans and other native flowers will add color and provide wildlife habitat.

The second garden will be located in the north portion of the park along N. 66th Street. It will capture stormwater runoff from the street before it enters the storm sewer system. The garden will be built between the sidewalk and the curb, and will be connected to a larger cell east of the sidewalk. This larger cell will allow excess water from the street to be treated while it infiltrates into the ground. Subsurface drains will provide a slow discharge of some of the infiltrating water to Cole Creek. The two cells will be connected by pipes below the sidewalk.

Phase 2: stream restoration (2009)

Nature loves a wavy line. During this phase of the project, meanders will be returned to the creek. Non-native vegetation will be removed from its banks, and a flood shelf will be created on the east side. An additional creek crossing will be created, allowing children, educators and others closer access to the water.

Phase 3: walking trail and interpretive signage (2010)

A new walking trail composed of four types of pervious pavements – asphalt, concrete, pavers and crushed brick – will be constructed along the length of Cole Creek. Pervious pavement allows water to move through it. A pervious pavement parking lot will be added near the basketball court on the east side of Cole Creek. Both the lot and the court will have bioretention gardens associated with them to treat stormwater runoff.

Users will be able to learn more about the project and its construction materials via interpretive exhibits at 12 locations. Benches made of recycled materials will be placed at four locations, and trash/recycling stations will be placed at key locations.

Cole Creek: the future

Once upon a time in northwest Omaha, Cole Creek was a shallow waterway that meandered lazily through Orchard Park. Children played at the edge of its banks, people walked and biked along its length, and a community learned that each member of society can play a role in protecting and enhancing the natural environment.