Papillion Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids papilion creek |
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|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | Missouri River |
Papillion Creek is a stream located in Nebraska, United States. It flows for about 15.5 miles (24.9 kilometers). This creek is a tributary of the Missouri River. A tributary is a smaller river or stream that flows into a larger one.
The water for Papillion Creek comes from an area called its watershed. This watershed covers parts of Washington, Douglas, and Sarpy counties. It also includes parts of the city of Omaha.
Locals often call the creek "Papio Creek" for short.
Branches of Papillion Creek
The main part of Papillion Creek is known as Big Papillion Creek. Many smaller streams flow into it, adding to its water. These smaller streams are also tributaries.
Some of the important tributaries of Papillion Creek include:
- Little Papillion Creek
- Thomas Creek
- Cole Creek
- Northwest Branch of West Papillion Creek
- West Papillion Creek
- South Papillion Creek
- Mud Creek
Papillion Creek eventually flows into the Missouri River. Its mouth, or where it empties, is located south of Bellevue. It is just north of where the Platte River also joins the Missouri River.
Lakes and Flood Control
Within the Papillion Creek watershed, there are several important lakes. These include Glenn Cunningham Lake, Standing Bear Lake, Zorinsky Lake, and Wehrspann Lake. These lakes are part of the Chalco Hills Recreation Area.
These lakes were not always there. They were built by the Army Corps of Engineers. This happened after major floods in 1964 and 1965. The lakes help to control flooding in the area. They store extra water during heavy rains, protecting nearby communities.
