connectivity
Human civilizations have always placed high value on rivers, lakes and streams. Cultures in all parts of the world established settlements next to a river or stream where there would be a ready-supply of good quality water for their needs—water for drinking and bathing, water for work animals and livestock, and for crops.
This is seen in the following from web encyclopedia: India—Over 500 ancient sites belonging to the Indus Valley Civilization have been discovered along the lower Indus and the Hakra-Ghaggar Rivers and tributaries, dating back to 3300 BC – 1700 BC. This civilization grew to other rivers, such as the Sarasvati River, where the archeological remains of over 1000 settlements have been found. The Indus River was of great importance to these civilizations for sustenance, travel and trade, and archeologists believe that when it dried-up, it contributed significantly to the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization.
Just as those ancient cultures, early settlements in America followed the rivers and built their towns alongside their banks. In Nebraska, Native Americans had settlements along the Missouri River and Niobrara. Opening of the Nebraska Territory led to Grand Island, Kearney, Lexington, and North Platte on the Platte River, and Norfolk on the Elkhorn River. Likewise, the founders of Papillion settled on the banks of the West Branch of the Papillion Creek.
Rivers and streams—including our Papillion Creek—are among our most treasured natural resources. While they serve to provide drainage to the land, they also provide life-giving water to wildlife. Deer, beaver, fox, muskrat, coyote, raccoon, mink, birds, waterfowl… all depend on nearby streams to live, and for some, in which to build their homes. The prairie streams and rivers of earlier times contained a diverse number of native fish, suitable for catching and eating by Native Americans and early Nebraskans. Even now, certain cultures and ethnic groups traditionally rely on fishing for daily sustenance, or on watercress to supplement daily diets. These depend on good water quality.
Papillion Creek and its tributaries provide water for cow and calf herds, horses, and other livestock in fields and pastures in the watershed. The streams contribute to the underlying water table which supports ground moisture for adjoining crop fields. Several wetlands connect with the upper reaches of the Papio, cleansing the runoff for improved water quality, habitat for wetland plant and animal species, and recharging of ground water.
Stream corridors add value to our communities and economy. They are part of our “green” infrastructure along with wetlands, woods, parks, preserves, wildlife and natural areas. They not only help to purify our air and water and provide areas for wildlife, they also add value because they make our communities more livable. (Mark C. Ackelson, “Iowa Natural Heritage”, Winter 2006).
Stream corridors provide amenities to developments by providing attractive views, open space, and convenient recreational opportunities. People value these amenities. This is reflected in increased real property values and increased marketability for property located near good quality stream corridors and natural, open spaces. Click here for more information.
The Papillion Creek system is a vital, precious natural resource for the three county-area. It is a natural resource that currently isn’t being used to its fullest and suffers from poor water quality. Just as the land has been altered from its original grassland state, so too the hydrology of the streams has been significantly altered. It is important to protect our natural resources from further decline and to restore water quality for future generations. Ignoring the problem now will only mean it will take longer and more money to repair it in the long term.
Community pride—the Papillion Creek system flows through Washington, Douglas, and Sarpy County…through rural and urban… through agricultural fields and industrial sites. Every individual in the watershed has a civic responsibility for the betterment of our community and for the protection and improvement of the natural resources within it. City and county governments also have responsibility to safeguard and improve the natural assets within their boundaries.
Omaha by Design-Green Omaha recognizes this and states:
“The City should follow policies that preserve and enhance both the creeks in the watershed and their floodplains as green, publicly accessible settings for the City. The City should also foster development policies for the area immediately surrounding the watershed that diminish negative effects on the watershed and enhance its character as a green setting for the City.”
The Papillion Creek Watershed Partnership’s “Watershed by Design” brochure states that their initiatives can provide the chance for cleaner water by considering
“mandatory best management practices and erosion control, such as handling parking lot runoff, providing permanent post construction BMPs, managing CSOs, and constructing wetlands and silt ponds above lakes” and “managing stormwater with new landscaping, restoring stream corridors, and wetlands.”
We need to reconnect with the Papio. We need to recognize its value as being more than just a conduit for water, and raise awareness of the environmental issues related to the streams. We need to bring people to the water’s edge to reconnect—to enhance the interface between the human landscape and the natural landscape. And to restore it so that our outdoor experiences in the metropolitan area are enriched. We need to raise our expectations and not accept dirty water or contamination from urban and agricultural sources. We no longer should treat our waters as expendable. We must take personal responsibility for raising our own awareness and taking action. To improve the water quality and to restore the Papillion Creek streams, there needs to be actions at all levels: individual and government, urban and rural.
