Story: The Nature Conservancy

Nebraska’s saline wetlands are the most unusual and threatened natural communities in the state.  Over 90% of this landscape has been lost or highly degraded. This part of Lancaster County is experiencing rapid suburban development that further jeopardizes this habitat.  

The Nature Conservancy owns the Little Salt Fork Marsh with the goal of protecting this healthy, intact example of this once extensive ecosystem.  The marshes harbor a host of unusual plants as well as important feeding and resting sites for shorebirds, ducks, and geese during migration.  They are also home to the world’s only known population of the Salt Creek tiger beetle.

The Conservancy also works in concert with the Saline Wetlands Conservation Partnership. In order to protect this landscape, the Partnership promotes cooperation between landowners, conservation interests, and governmental agencies.