The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Why You Should Visit

Little Salt Fork Marsh harbors numerous unusual salt-tolerant plants and animals, including the rare Salt Creek tiger beetle. It is also an important resting and feeding spot for migratory water birds. The salt marshes of Lancaster and Saunders counties are Nebraska’s most rare and most threatened natural community. Very little of the saline wetlands remain in the Salt Creek and Little Salt Creek drainages near Lincoln, Nebraska.

Location

Lancaster County

Size

176 acres

General Ecology and Hydrology

The ecology is heavily dependent upon the saline hydrology.  The function of that hydrology is still not fully understood.  The salts appear to come from deep (200 feet below the surface) groundwater sources, but the process by which the salt rises to the surface is largely unknown.

Why the Conservancy Selected This Site

The Conservancy acquired the original 59 acres at Little Salt Fork Marsh in 1994, and another 40 acres in 1996, with the intent of restoring the hydrology in this portion of the Little Salt Creek watershed.

In 1996, Burlington Northern Santa Fe purchased an additional 80 acres adjacent to Little Salt Fork Marsh and implemented the restoration of the wetlands on the three contiguous tracts that now comprise the preserve. It also gave funds to the Conservancy to purchase additional property in the area and to increase the Nebraska Stewardship Endowment. This project was the first effort in Nebraska to create what is called a wetland mitigation bank.

Our Conservation Plan

• Manage Little Salt Fork Marsh to encourage salt-tolerant plant and animal species, as well as tallgrass prairie vegetation.  Grazing is an important tool in that management, both to suppress exotic grasses and to facilitate growth of salt-tolerant plants (largely annuals) and provide sparsely vegetated areas in wetlands for shorebirds, tiger beetles, etc.
• Support research that provides better understanding of the dynamics that form the communities.
• Partner with community and public organizations (click here to read more about the Saline Wetlands Conservation Partnership) to acquire sensitive habitat and develop land use plans that protect these important habitats.

Things To Do

What to See: Plants

The plants that inhabit the saline marshes and meadows are adapted to the high concentrations of salts present in the soil and water.  They form plant communities found nowhere else in the state.  Some of these plant species include saltwort, sea blite, inland saltgrass, prairie bulrush, and saltmarsh aster.  At slightly higher elevations and lower salt concentrations other native plants, including Western wheatgrass, spearscale, and marsh elder are able to survive.

What to See: Animals 

• Salt Creek tiger beetle
• Blue-winged teal
• Gadwalls
• Wigeons
• Shovelers
• Pintails
• Rails
• Dowitchers
• Snipe
• Killdeer
• Yellowlegs
• Short-eared owls
• Sedge wrens
• Mink

Plan Your Visit

This preserve is free to visit and open to the public.   No dogs, please, as they can be disruptive to wildlife.

Directions

Click here for downloadable directions and check out a trail map, or contact nebraska@tnc.org with questions.

Discussion

Have you been to this preserve? Are you thinking of visiting? See what others are saying about their experiences and add your comments below.

Add Your Comments

Time for you to join the discussion. Tell us about your experience at this preserve. What plants and animals did you see? When did you go? You can help others plan their visit when you share your thoughts. And thank you for visiting one of our nature preserves!

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