Nebraska Soils Field Trip - Virginia Tech

4th IUSS Soil Classification Conference Field Tour Guidebook
Chalco Hill Recreation Area
Chalco Hills Recreation Area is located in northwestern Sarpy County, Nebraska, and approximately 12
miles (19 km) west of downtown Omaha. Chalco Hills consists of 1,186 acres (4.80 km 2 ) of which 246
acres (1.00 km 2 ) is covered by Wehrspann Lake, an artificial reservoir. The recreation area was opened in
1988 as part of Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District efforts to provide flood control and
improve recreation opportunities. The Dam was built by the Corps of Engineers and the recreation area
is managed by the Natural Resources District. [1]
Featured at this recreation area is
the Natural Resources Center, the
NRD's headquarters. Also located at
the Recreation Area are two US
Department of Agriculture Agencies:
The Natural Resources Conservation
Service and the Farm Services
Agency, as well as a field office for
the US Army Corps of Engineers, NE
Department of Environmental
Quality and the Civil Air Patrol. The
District works closely with these
agencies for effective management
of natural resources, and are
nationally known for this co-location
of resource management offices
convenient for all interested in our
environment.
There are seven picnic areas and
several have covered pavilions, the
largest of which can accommodate
up to 100 people. Seven miles (11
km) of walking trails encircle
Wehrspann Lake. Soccer fields,
baseball fields, and playgrounds
adjacent to picnic areas are easily
reached from nearby parking areas.
The soccer fields are also used as
launch sites for hot-air balloons and
radio controlled airplanes. The area
is used for cross-country running
events during the fall, and crosscountry
skiing and ice fishing are
popular in the winter. Fishing is more popular in the warmer seasons, and there is parking for 30 trailers.
Motorized boats must comply with the no-wake regulation by maintaining speeds under 5 miles (8 km)
per hour.
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