Big Lake

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Mon Jan 10, 2022 7:35 pm

Lawmakers float 'Big Lake' plan between Omaha and Lincoln

https://www.ketv.com/article/lawmakers- ... /38728897#

ita · Post by **ita** » Mon Jan 10, 2022 8:27 pm

Interesting, 4000 acres or about 6 sq miles. That's bigger than west okobiji, but smaller than either spirit lake. It would be about 5.5 times bigger than lake manawa. I am sure it would be a popular spot for recreation.

ita · Post by **ita** » Mon Jan 10, 2022 9:55 pm

Here's a link to the press conference.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/voqy864qwaoxq ... 2.mp4?dl=0

The big lake is discussed at 22:47. There is a rendering that I am sure we will get on the OWH article. Just a guess, but it looks like it's just south of the Platte across of the Hawaii Village community in sarpy county.

Post by **Brad** » Mon Jan 10, 2022 10:40 pm

ita wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2022 9:55 pm Just a guess, but it looks like it's just south of the Platte across of the Hawaii Village community in sarpy county.

While I think you might be on to something with that location (It appears to look right). There are many issues with that site.

1. A large hill on part of it
2. A very busy Railroad Mainline
3. Lots of Private Property

I have been down in that area many times to photograph trains, just seems like the large hill on the western 1/2 of that lake would be a big hurdle.

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Mon Jan 10, 2022 11:50 pm

Hmm, just based on the article, it sounds like they are thinking about the area around Mahoney State Park, like has been discussed for decades.

What Ita indicated wouldn't be between Omaha and Lincoln. My assumption with the language of "not damming, but digging" would tell me they want to take out the sand bars that are just northwest of I-80. Wouldn't be much of a lake. My guess... But anyway, a giant lake between Lincoln and Omaha would be cool, but I really think they need to give up on this idea.

ita · Post by **ita** » Tue Jan 11, 2022 1:03 am

Brad wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2022 10:40 pm
ita wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2022 9:55 pm Just a guess, but it looks like it's just south of the Platte across of the Hawaii Village community in sarpy county.
While I think you might be on to something with that location (It appears to look right). There are many issues with that site.

1. A large hill on part of it
2. A very busy Railroad Mainline
3. Lots of Private Property

I have been down in that area many times to photograph trains, just seems like the large hill on the western 1/2 of that lake would be a big hurdle.

Thanks for the input. Those are some big obstacles for that area. From the rendering it kind of looks like the lake could run just south of the railroad, but yeah, I don't know how they overcome the hill(s) in the area.

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Tue Jan 11, 2022 8:22 am

I have always said that Omaha is lacking any big body of water and mountains. Obviously, we can't big in mountains, but it would be a very nice thing if we had a big lake that can be used for recreation as well as conservation.

TreeKiid · Post by **TreeKiid** » Tue Jan 11, 2022 8:58 am

Pretty sure the location, based on a graphic from ketv, is east of the Platte and Southwest of Gretna.

Some reorientation of the image shows this along with a shot from google earth.

They will have to find a new path for Highway 6 with this plan.

Post by **Brad** » Tue Jan 11, 2022 9:07 am

I would agree with that location. Not sure how they relocate Highway 6 and the BNSF Rail Line.

Its fun to dream and I would like a big lake like this, but I just don't see it happening.

Garrett · Post by **Garrett** » Tue Jan 11, 2022 9:15 am

Brad wrote: Tue Jan 11, 2022 9:07 am I would agree with that location. Not sure how they relocate Highway 6 and the BNSF Rail Line.

Its fun to dream and I would like a big lake like this, but I just don't see it happening.

I think this is the first time there's actually potential money lined up for it at least.

ita · Post by **ita** » Tue Jan 11, 2022 9:20 am

TreeKiid wrote: Tue Jan 11, 2022 8:58 am Pretty sure the location, based on a graphic from ketv, is east of the Platte and Southwest of Gretna.

Some reorientation of the image shows this along with a shot from google earth.

They will have to find a new path for Highway 6 with this plan.

Ah I see I was thinking it was just north to south orientation. That location looks to match better. The only thing missing in the rendering is a theme park...hahaha.

Post by **Brad** » Tue Jan 11, 2022 9:29 am

Garrett wrote: Tue Jan 11, 2022 9:15 am
Brad wrote: Tue Jan 11, 2022 9:07 am I would agree with that location. Not sure how they relocate Highway 6 and the BNSF Rail Line.

Its fun to dream and I would like a big lake like this, but I just don't see it happening.
I think this is the first time there's actually potential money lined up for it at least.

True, and it also doesn't involve a dam/flooding towns

riceweb · Post by **riceweb** » Tue Jan 11, 2022 9:48 am

Kinda neat. Digging has the advantage of not messing with any sense of elevation, too. Whenever we damn areas around Omaha, it makes the whole landscape seem so flat, but that obviously wouldn't be the case here.

What would do they do with all the dirt and sand they dig up?

Could they expand this in the future if it's successful?

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Tue Jan 11, 2022 9:51 am

riceweb wrote: Tue Jan 11, 2022 9:48 am Kinda neat. Digging has the advantage of not messing with any sense of elevation, too. Whenever we darn areas around Omaha, it makes the whole landscape seem so flat, but that obviously wouldn't be the case here.

What would do they do with all the dirt and sand they dig up?

Could they expand this in the future if it's successful?

For sandpit lakes there are usually two options. Sell the sand (low profits here, sand is plentiful in the state as we all know) or throw it up on the banks of the lake for flood control. It looks like there were streets on the east side of the reoriented picture. They may build that up with the sand, but that's just pure speculation.

jsheets · Post by **jsheets** » Tue Jan 11, 2022 9:53 am

The JournalStar includes this image rendering:
https://journalstar.com/news/state-and- ... -top-story

Which looks cool! But comparing it to Okoboji is a stretch, since this new lake shows barely any cabin-like properties lined up along the lake. Okoboji is great because of the mix of houses, cabins, condos, that line the entire shore line. The size comparison is fine though...

riceweb · Post by **riceweb** » Tue Jan 11, 2022 10:12 am

How are these homes and businesses going to be protected from flooding?

Also seems like this just isn't large enough. There's lot of little lakes in the area, maybe this should somehow be linked up with all of them to become a more cohesive lake community?

Greg S · Post by **Greg S** » Tue Jan 11, 2022 10:32 am

I saw the subject and immediately thought of 16 Candles. Lake. Big Lake.

Greg

Post by **Brad** » Tue Jan 11, 2022 10:38 am

Louie wrote: Tue Jan 11, 2022 9:51 am
riceweb wrote: Tue Jan 11, 2022 9:48 am What would do they do with all the dirt and sand they dig up?
For sandpit lakes there are usually two options. Sell the sand (low profits here, sand is plentiful in the state as we all know) or throw it up on the banks of the lake for flood control. It looks like there were streets on the east side of the reoriented picture. They may build that up with the sand, but that's just pure speculation.

riceweb wrote: Tue Jan 11, 2022 10:12 am How are these homes and businesses going to be protected from flooding?

Just a quick glance on the Flood maps on Sarpy County's website, looks like the majority of the site around the lake would need to be raised 7-10 feet to get it out of the flood way. Guessing they could use the sand for that.

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Tue Jan 11, 2022 11:08 am

That would be pretty frickin cool when traveling west on I-80, to crest that hill and going down it, seeing an expanse of water.

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Tue Jan 11, 2022 11:16 am

That rendering makes the lake look tiny....I doubt that is the size if it really ends up being 4,000 acres.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Tue Jan 11, 2022 11:17 am

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Tue Jan 11, 2022 11:18 am

riceweb wrote: Tue Jan 11, 2022 10:12 am How are these homes and businesses going to be protected from flooding?

Also seems like this just isn't large enough. There's lot of little lakes in the area, maybe this should somehow be linked up with all of them to become a more cohesive lake community?

If you look at lakes, they typically don't cause any flooding as they don't go up and down like rivers as much, however, to your point, the river is right next to it as well.

ita · Post by **ita** » Tue Jan 11, 2022 12:30 pm

skinzfan23 wrote: Tue Jan 11, 2022 11:16 am That rendering makes the lake look tiny....I doubt that is the size if it really ends up being 4,000 acres.

I agree. The scale of the lots and buildings don't seem to match the alleged size of the lake. The rendering makes it look like it's going to be the same size as Zorinsky.

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Tue Jan 11, 2022 12:53 pm

ita wrote: Tue Jan 11, 2022 12:30 pm
skinzfan23 wrote: Tue Jan 11, 2022 11:16 am That rendering makes the lake look tiny....I doubt that is the size if it really ends up being 4,000 acres.
I agree. The scale of the lots and buildings don't seem to match the alleged size of the lake. The rendering makes it look like it's going to be the same size as Zorinsky.

Yeah, the graphics arent accurate for a 4000 acre lake. I think it should appear to stretch out more. It's referenced as being 7 miles long, but that image can't be half that based on the house sizes.

S.O.Boy · Post by **S.O.Boy** » Tue Jan 11, 2022 6:19 pm

4000 acres, roughly speaking that is 1 mile wide by 6.25 miles long.

Garrett · Post by **Garrett** » Tue Jan 11, 2022 8:00 pm

Threw an approximation of the lake onto a map just to see how it would look. On the left is a rough approximation of the lake where it should be, (clocked in at 6.7 sq miles or about 4300 acres) and on the right is the outline of West Lake Okoboji. I've not seen it mentioned, but it looks like this is gonna take out Linoma.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit? ... 25209&z=12

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Tue Jan 11, 2022 8:29 pm

I was looking at it earlier and that that too

Post by **Brad** » Tue Jan 11, 2022 8:32 pm

Garrett wrote: Tue Jan 11, 2022 8:00 pm I've not seen it mentioned, but it looks like this is gonna take out Linoma.

Thanks for the visual! I still have my doubts it will ever go south of highway 6 and the BNSF line.

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Tue Jan 11, 2022 9:28 pm

Brad wrote: Tue Jan 11, 2022 8:32 pm
Garrett wrote: Tue Jan 11, 2022 8:00 pm I've not seen it mentioned, but it looks like this is gonna take out Linoma.
Thanks for the visual! I still have my doubts it will ever go south of highway 6 and the BNSF line.

I also have doubts about that. But even still, if it doesn't go south of US 6, it would still easily be the biggest lake in the metro.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Wed Jan 12, 2022 7:12 am

TransitOriented · Post by **TransitOriented** » Wed Jan 12, 2022 9:02 am

Any mention of lake depth, their plan to dredge after a flood, water quality maintenance or zebra muscles?

djc311 · Post by **djc311** » Wed Jan 12, 2022 10:19 am

TransitOriented wrote: Wed Jan 12, 2022 9:02 am Any mention of lake depth, their plan to dredge after a flood, water quality maintenance or zebra muscles?

Thought I had read up to 30' depth. Hate to be Mr. Pessimist, but I don't see this happening.

ita · Post by **ita** » Wed Jan 12, 2022 10:40 am

djc311 wrote: Wed Jan 12, 2022 10:19 am
TransitOriented wrote: Wed Jan 12, 2022 9:02 am Any mention of lake depth, their plan to dredge after a flood, water quality maintenance or zebra muscles?
Thought I had read up to 30' depth. Hate to be Mr. Pessimist, but I don't see this happening.

Lawmakers propose 4,000-acre lake between Omaha and Lincoln

Sara Gentzler
A reservoir bigger than Iowa’s Lake Okoboji could be bound for eastern Nebraska, under a proposal unveiled Monday by state lawmakers.

The lake would span 4,000 acres, reach 30 feet or so deep, and stretch 7 miles, according to Sen. Mike Hilgers of Lincoln, speaker of the Legislature. And it would be dredged near the Platte River in a location roughly equidistant from Omaha and Lincoln.

Hilgers announced the proposal along with a list of other water-related projects Monday, the result of a half-year process undertaken by the Legislature’s Statewide Tourism and Recreational Water Access and Resource Sustainability (STAR WARS) special committee, which was created by Legislative Bill 406. The committee will request $200 million from the state to support the projects, Hilgers said.
...
While the big lake has been a focus for additional private funding, Hilgers said lawmakers are looking at “complementary funding sources” and “possibilities of public-private partnerships” for the other projects, too.

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Wed Jan 12, 2022 10:46 am

If this is to be done, Gretna and Ashland stand to explode in growth. The former already sees that without a tourism pull like this lake.

OmahaOmaha · Post by **OmahaOmaha** » Wed Jan 12, 2022 3:13 pm

How about adding a lakeside amusement park?

Erik · Post by **Erik** » Wed Jan 12, 2022 5:35 pm

OmahaOmaha wrote: Wed Jan 12, 2022 3:13 pm How about adding a lakeside amusement park?

Not sure where I read this, but there was a resort proposal for near this area, and it isn't the Minarded proposal from the early 2000s.

OmahaJaysCU · Post by **OmahaJaysCU** » Wed Jan 12, 2022 7:28 pm

I can’t be the only one that’s noticed this just so happens to be less than a mile from Joe Ricketts retreat center right???

What an incredible coincidence!!

Erik · Post by **Erik** » Wed Jan 12, 2022 10:39 pm

OmahaJaysCU wrote: Wed Jan 12, 2022 7:28 pm I can’t be the only one that’s noticed this just so happens to be less than a mile from Joe Ricketts retreat center right???

What an incredible coincidence!!

The Jesus retreat for the elite

Athomsfere · Post by **Athomsfere** » Thu Jan 13, 2022 9:27 am

I can't really see this happening either.

I also don't want it to, really. Nebraska lake water is generally nasty. Maybe that's because they are damned?

And the thought of conservation by destroying the actual native eco system?

IDK, someone explain how I'm missing the point here?

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Thu Jan 13, 2022 9:38 am

Athomsfere wrote: Thu Jan 13, 2022 9:27 am I can't really see this happening either.

I also don't want it to, really. Nebraska lake water is generally nasty. Maybe that's because they are damned?

And the thought of conservation by destroying the actual native eco system?

IDK, someone explain how I'm missing the point here?

Dammed lakes tend to be much 'grosser'. Sand pit lakes like this one are somewhat naturally filtered as they are filled with groundwater that passes through many layers and types of dirt/sand/gravel/what have you before reaching the lake.