Salt Creek Dams facts for kids
The Salt Creek Dams are a big project built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. They are located in southeastern Nebraska, close to Lincoln, Nebraska, which is the state's capital city. These dams help control water in the area.
What Are the Salt Creek Dams?
The Salt Creek Dams are officially called the "Salt Creek and Tributaries Flood Control Project." They were approved by a law called the Flood Control Act of 1958. This law helped create projects to manage water. The main goals of the Salt Creek Dams are to:
- Stop floods from causing damage.
- Keep water clean and healthy.
- Provide fun places for people to visit.
- Help fish and wildlife thrive.
The area these dams help is huge! It covers about 1,645 square miles in southeastern Nebraska. This includes the city of Lincoln. Salt Creek flows into the Platte River about 25 miles southwest of Omaha, Nebraska. It drains the southern and western parts of the area. Another creek, Wahoo Creek, drains the northeastern part. All these lakes are part of the larger Missouri River basin.
Fun and Nature at the Salt Creek Lakes
This project created ten large lakes, known as the Salt Creek Lakes. These lakes offer many chances for water fun. They are also important homes for different kinds of wildlife. The entire project covers 11,239 acres. About 4,289 acres of this is water.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages these lakes. They let the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission use most of them. This commission helps people enjoy the outdoors. They also protect nature. One lake, Holmes Lake, is managed by the City of Lincoln, Nebraska.
