Cunningham Lake will begin shrinking to half its size next summer in a coordinated two-year effort to save and restore the slowly dying northwest Omaha lake.
"It's a little bit of pain for a whole lot of gain," said Don Gabelhouse of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
The state agency expects to spend millions of dollars in the effort to turn Cunningham Lake into one of the Omaha area's best fishing holes. The current stock of carp and other bottom-feeding fish will be killed off.
The lake will be fully restocked with bluegill, large-mouth bass and channel catfish.
ABOUT TIME!!!
Last edited by Brad on Tue Aug 07, 2007 12:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Brad wrote:Everyone has heard the story about closing Rainwood Road, but they never show the two houses that want it closed
-I think that also makes it a bit misleading. I was watching the |expletive|-fest that is KXVO's news (just to see how bad it had to be - that lady needs to get a hairstyle more recent than the 80's) and they interviewed some other people who live around there. The all had the same complaints: questionable behavior taking place there after hours and little or no enforcement of city laws there. If the police refuse to get things under control there, I too would want ANYTHING (including closing the road) to be done to prevent it. I guess what upsets me the most is that the major television media has portrayed it as just the Scott's who want it done, but I have yet to see ANY other person living NEAR there oppose closing the road (ALL that I have seen favor it).
heck I have those problems around my house and I’m not bitching to the city to close the streets. I’m simply convinced it’s the aristocrats wanting it their way.
pkiphd wrote:heck I have those problems around my house and I’m not bitching to the city to close the streets. I’m simply convinced it’s the aristocrats wanting it their way.
-If that could solve the problem and you didn't, I would question how responsible of a citizen you are. In this case, cutting the ONLY route to a breeding ground of this type of behavior IS a great option.
Basically, they had a VERY VALID reason for wanting this. Yet, envious people are quick to attack the "big bad greedy money hungry people." THEN, when their concerns are going to be seriously addressed, they are more than willing to not only work with the city, but spend some of their own money contributing to the solution.
Yeah. I can certainly understand attacking them and calling them aristocrats [/sarcasm]
Brad, I think you can go to jail for taking pictures of rich peoples houses like that. I hope you at least divert your eyes and curtsy when the walk by.
I think they should annex the Scotts land and expand the park.
"The right to have access to every building in the city by private motorcar in an age when everyone possesses such a vehicle is actually the right to destroy the city."
Lewis Mumford, The Highway and the City, 1963
I thought they were only draining out half the water, which would leave a huge expanse of high and dry ground at the upper half of the lake, which is very, very shallow normally anyway.
"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."
joeglow wrote:...I have yet to see ANY other person living NEAR there oppose closing the road (ALL that I have seen favor it).
Allow me to speak up as someone who until very recently lived just east of the lake. Many people in the subdivisions use that road as do acreage homeowners in the area. We used the rainwood road entrance frequently and nearly everytime I was on that road there were horse riders who live in the area using that entrance as well. I talked to a couple of them and they were opposed as well. It was a topic of discussion amongst my neighbors, none of whom I spoke with supported it. A petition was circulated in the area. There were and are plenty of people oppposed to closing the road. The neighborhood association and others have vocalized this numerous times.
Also, see the reprint of an OWH article part way down webpage from the Nebraska windsurfers. Scott wasn't limiting the request to just closing off access to the park but part of Rainwood Rd. How could this be interpreted as anything but throwing one's proverbial weight and power around? That's what really ticks people off.
What everyone agrees on is that there are serious issues with afterhours problems at the lake. That is not limited to one entrance and never has been. Closing off easy access to a large portion of that very big lake is not the answer. Cleaning up the park, fixing the road (which is in horrible shape), limiting afterhours access, and increasing patrol is. Anything that would help promote bringing more families to the park - paved bike/walking path around the entire lake for starters - would help too.
I did a story on this in the spring. I haven't been out there since. It's crazy how quickly the grass overtook the entire lake bed. Thanks for the pic.
Much of Cunningham Lake park, one of the metro area's top spots for camping, hiking and horseback riding, is being closed for about a year while the lake bed is excavated.
The lake is being rehabilitated at a cost of about $4 million. . .
Drainage began about a year ago, and the project has fallen about three months behind schedule. . .
If the work goes as scheduled, the lake's refilling should begin in April 2008.
[center] The dry docks near the marina at an empty Cunningham Lake.[/center]
"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."
A vast expanse of weeds and trees stretches across what was Cunningham Lake in northwest Omaha, giving the impression that little progress has been made on excavating and renovating the metropolitan area's largest lake.
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission officials said today that they have good news. After a slow start, the $4.5 million lake rehabilitation is ahead of schedule.
When the work is completed, people will find a much improved lake for fishing, sailing and family outings, city and state officials said. Although Cunningham will have some of the metro area's cleanest lake water, planners have chosen not to allow swimming.
Excavation should be completed by spring. Once the heavy equipment is removed, the park will be reopened to visitors. The lake is expected to fill within a year
The total cost of rehabilitating Cunningham Lake, including design and engineering costs, excavation costs and the building of a sediment weir, will be between $6.5 million and $7 million, Winter said.
One of the biggest changes to the lake was the removal of about 440,000 cubic yards of silt from the lake bed, Winter said.
The total cost of rehabilitating Cunningham Lake, including design and engineering costs, excavation costs and the building of a sediment weir, will be between $6.5 million and $7 million, Winter said.
One of the biggest changes to the lake was the removal of about 440,000 cubic yards of silt from the lake bed, Winter said.
I can get pushed out because I'm "too much" for some. Then, an observer of me comes suddenly swooping in to "fill my shoes." People are always more accepting of the new one, because their feathers aren't truly ruffled by them. (Yawn) I can count on it every time.
RockHarbor wrote: Thu May 23, 2019 2:30 pm
Is the lake drained right now?
Yes, Zebra Muscles and Invasive Carp. That photo was taken by the Police Helicopter on Sunday.
So, it was closed all winter for what then? I went there in April and it was full, so why they wait till now to drain it? I thought the killing had to do with freezing temperatures.
Also I hope google does a sweep of Omaha while its drained.
RockHarbor wrote: Thu May 23, 2019 2:30 pm
Is the lake drained right now?
Yes, Zebra Muscles and Invasive Carp. That photo was taken by the Police Helicopter on Sunday.
So, it was closed all winter for what then? I went there in April and it was full, so why they wait till now to drain it? I thought the killing had to do with freezing temperatures.
Also I hope google does a sweep of Omaha while its drained.
They closed it all winter to kill the invasive species. They were planning to slowly fill it this spring, but the snow melt filled it. The corps didn't want to drain it rapidly due to the downstream conditions. Now they are draining it again to finish killing the invasive species.
bigredmed1 wrote: Thu May 23, 2019 5:34 pm
They closed it all winter to kill the invasive species. They were planning to slowly fill it this spring, but the snow melt filled it. The corps didn't want to drain it rapidly due to the downstream conditions. Now they are draining it again to finish killing the invasive species.
So you're saying they did drain it in the fall/winter? Did you/can anyone visually confirm that? Cause when I went a couple months ago, it was completely full, like it hadn't been touched. I do buy that snow melt could have refilled it, i just don't know anybody that actually saw it, or had anything to do with it being drained earlier in the season.
Busguy2010 wrote: Thu May 23, 2019 7:45 pm
So you're saying they did drain it in the fall/winter? Did you/can anyone visually confirm that? Cause when I went a couple months ago, it was completely full, like it hadn't been touched. I do buy that snow melt could have refilled it, i just don't know anybody that actually saw it, or had anything to do with it being drained earlier in the season.
I assume "20 feet lower" is essentially drained, or close to drained, because the lakes are about that deep right? And that happened in November, according to the article, well before any significant amount of snow fell. So I guess it must take at least six months of dry bed and cold temperatures to kill off invasive species, and the unprecedented snow melt mucked that up, so they are draining it again.
I wonder what the approach is now, since it is obviously the wet season. Maybe remove them by hand? That would be a fun job. I feel like the lake could be drained for a good long time.
They should bring out the heavy equipment and lower the whole bed by a foot or three. The dead muscles and organic debris would make good compost for other parks.
Now that it is drained, I wish they would take bulldozers, and change the shape of the lake more. Why does Omaha always have to have lakes with finger-y extensions, which always is the result of a dammed creek? Why can't we bulldoze the land, and create more pretty, rounder (or peanut) shapes for lakes -- like Minneapolis has. The creeks can still feed them, but the lakes won't have that usual, boring fingery look, and they will be more attractive to people, I think.
I can get pushed out because I'm "too much" for some. Then, an observer of me comes suddenly swooping in to "fill my shoes." People are always more accepting of the new one, because their feathers aren't truly ruffled by them. (Yawn) I can count on it every time.
RockHarbor wrote: Thu May 23, 2019 2:30 pm
Is the lake drained right now?
Yes, Zebra Muscles and Invasive Carp. That photo was taken by the Police Helicopter on Sunday.
Thanks, btw. I wish I could see it.
I can get pushed out because I'm "too much" for some. Then, an observer of me comes suddenly swooping in to "fill my shoes." People are always more accepting of the new one, because their feathers aren't truly ruffled by them. (Yawn) I can count on it every time.
They had the westernmost State street entrance to the park open, I guess all winter, while all the others I knew of were closed. Wonder if that one is still accessible for a good look at the drained lake.
Busguy2010 wrote: Fri May 24, 2019 9:37 pm
They had the westernmost State street entrance to the park open, I guess all winter, while all the others I knew of were closed. Wonder if that one is still accessible for a good look at the drained lake.
Every entrance is blocked off although you could park and walk in
Busguy2010 wrote: Fri May 24, 2019 9:37 pm
They had the westernmost State street entrance to the park open, I guess all winter, while all the others I knew of were closed. Wonder if that one is still accessible for a good look at the drained lake.
Every entrance is blocked off although you could park and walk in
People need to stay out of there. There have been problems with people getting stuck in the mud and having to be rescued. To the average tenderfoot some of that mud looks harm less and they will try to walk on it and get stuck. That quick mud is not as dangerous as quick sand where it will just swallow you up but you can sink to your hips easy.
GrandpaaSmucker wrote: Sat May 25, 2019 7:12 pm
People need to stay out of there. There have been problems with people getting stuck in the mud and having to be rescued. To the average tenderfoot some of that mud looks harm less and they will try to walk on it and get stuck. That quick mud is not as dangerous as quick sand where it will just swallow you up but you can sink to your hips easy.
That's a good point. I know, there are some dummies out there. I'm only intrigued to see what it looks like looking down at it from the dam and seeing how deep the lake is, not actually setting foot on the lake. Don't know if I'll actually do it or not.
RockHarbor wrote: Fri May 24, 2019 7:48 pm
Now that it is drained, I wish they would take bulldozers, and change the shape of the lake more. Why does Omaha always have to have lakes with finger-y extensions, which always is the result of a dammed creek? Why can't we bulldoze the land, and create more pretty, rounder (or peanut) shapes for lakes -- like Minneapolis has. The creeks can still feed them, but the lakes won't have that usual, boring fingery look, and they will be more attractive to people, I think.
Geology, I reckon. Omaha has all that loess dust, while those round MN lakes are the result of glacial scouring.
RockHarbor wrote: Fri May 24, 2019 7:48 pm
Now that it is drained, I wish they would take bulldozers, and change the shape of the lake more. Why does Omaha always have to have lakes with finger-y extensions, which always is the result of a dammed creek? Why can't we bulldoze the land, and create more pretty, rounder (or peanut) shapes for lakes -- like Minneapolis has. The creeks can still feed them, but the lakes won't have that usual, boring fingery look, and they will be more attractive to people, I think.
Geology, I reckon. Omaha has all that loess dust, while those round MN lakes are the result of glacial scouring.
Right. Those dusty Loess hills used to be treeless, and are the result of dust blowing, blowing, blowing, and piling up in ancient times. When you look at the greenery in other Midwest points further East, you can see how Omaha, although now very green, must be built on poorer, less rich soil than other places.
I just mean I wish they would be more thoughtful forming the lake, with a bulldozer.
I can get pushed out because I'm "too much" for some. Then, an observer of me comes suddenly swooping in to "fill my shoes." People are always more accepting of the new one, because their feathers aren't truly ruffled by them. (Yawn) I can count on it every time.
