TECHNICAL TOURS

Tour 1: From Rare Ecosystems to Urban Renewal and Flood Control... A look at Salt Valley

Tuesday, May 23, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Spend the day with experts who will take you to tour Little Salt Fork Marsh saline wetlands complex, north of Lincoln, Nebraska. This complex, the result of a joint public-private wetland restoration, enhancement, and expansion program, is the first saline wetland mitigation bank in Nebraska. Along the trail, guides will point out rare and endangered species, such as the Salt Creek Tiger Beetle and the Saltwort plant.

Lunch will be arranged at the James Arthur Vineyards, where you may also participate in a vineyard tour and wine tasting. Nebraska, a thriving vineyard state before prohibition, has rediscovered its roots.

After lunch, visit the city of Lincoln's Antelope Valley Project, a major flood control, transportation, and community revitalization project. The project involves restoring open channel drainage through a heavily urbanized area and creating new traffic corridors, while sustaining downtown commercial growth. The project director and key project members will provide the inside story.

Fee: $45. Includes bus transportation and lunch at James Arthur Vineyards, and entrance fees.

Tour 2: Lewis & Clark, Arbor Day, and Modern Environmental Conservation

Tuesday, May 23, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Travel 200 years back in time at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Trail and Visitors Center, located in nearby Nebraska City. Volunteers will provide a detailed history of the 1803-1806 Lewis & Clark Expedition, which vastly expanded knowledge of America's north and west. The Visitors Center sits on a 79-acre scenic wooded bluff overlooking the Missouri River. Its unobstructed view will give you a sense of what members of the expedition saw two centuries ago. The Center focuses on the expedition's many discoveries - 178 plants, 122 animals, and scientific findings - and affords the chance to climb aboard a 55-foot replica of the keelboat used during the journey.

A catered lunch at the nearby Lied Lodge and Arbor Day Farms site in Nebraska City will be followed by a guided bus tour of the facilities, which promote the Arbor Day Foundation's message of wise environmental stewardship. Afterward, you may choose to take part in the Tree Adventure Tour or tour the Arbor Lodge State Historical Park on the former estate of J. Sterling Morton, founder of Arbor Day. The Tree Adventure includes climbing to a 50-foot-high tree house and visiting indoor interactive exhibits. The Historical Park offers a collection of antique carriages and wagons, formal rose garden, Italian terraced garden, and arboretum with more than 250 varieties of trees and shrubs.

Fee: $45. Includes bus transportation and lunch at Lied Lodge, and entrance fees.

Tour 3: Riverboat Tour

Tuesday, May 23, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Wednesday, May 24, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

We will travel in two groups, both by riverboat and bus, to examine the Corps of Engineers' streambank stabilization and conservation efforts along the Missouri River upstream from Omaha, as well as restoration efforts at Nathan's Lake.

In a major redesign of its Missouri River Streambank Stabilization and Navigation Project, the Corps has been directed by Congress and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to provide up to 21,000 acres of habitat for the Pallid Sturgeon on a 735-mile reach of the river. Our tour will investigate several of the modification features. The boat ride will include a look at Boyer Bend Chevrons, Boyer Chute Restoration, Desoto Bend Chevrons, Desoto Bend Revetment Segmenting (tentative), and the California Bend Chutes and Backwaters.

Fee: $45. Includes bus and boat transportation, and entrance fees. Limited to the first 28 persons per day who register.

Tour 4: Irrigation Tour

Thursday, May 25, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Tour Valmont Irrigation, the world's largest manufacturer of mechanical move irrigation (MMI) systems. In 1955, Valmont bought the patent to the center pivot system, of which Scientific American magazine said, "The center pivot is perhaps the most important mechanical invention in agriculture since the replacement of draft animals by the tractor."

Fee: $45. Includes bus transportation and box lunch.


Submit Final Paper Registration OPEN Congress pre-program Technical program Welcome Topics Conference Overview Speaker/Moderator Sponsorship Opportunities Exhibits Cooperating Organizations Omaha & Travel Hotels International Attendees Short Courses Special for Students Special Events Tours Committee Meetings Organizing Committee Conference Home EWRI Home ASCE Home Other Conference Home		TECHNICAL TOURS Tour 1: From Rare Ecosystems to Urban Renewal and Flood Control... A look at Salt Valley Tuesday, May 23, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm Spend the day with experts who will take you to tour Little Salt Fork Marsh saline wetlands complex, north of Lincoln, Nebraska. This complex, the result of a joint public-private wetland restoration, enhancement, and expansion program, is the first saline wetland mitigation bank in Nebraska. Along the trail, guides will point out rare and endangered species, such as the Salt Creek Tiger Beetle and the Saltwort plant. Lunch will be arranged at the James Arthur Vineyards, where you may also participate in a vineyard tour and wine tasting. Nebraska, a thriving vineyard state before prohibition, has rediscovered its roots. After lunch, visit the city of Lincoln's Antelope Valley Project, a major flood control, transportation, and community revitalization project. The project involves restoring open channel drainage through a heavily urbanized area and creating new traffic corridors, while sustaining downtown commercial growth. The project director and key project members will provide the inside story. Fee: $45. Includes bus transportation and lunch at James Arthur Vineyards, and entrance fees. Tour 2: Lewis & Clark, Arbor Day, and Modern Environmental Conservation Tuesday, May 23, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm Travel 200 years back in time at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Trail and Visitors Center, located in nearby Nebraska City. Volunteers will provide a detailed history of the 1803-1806 Lewis & Clark Expedition, which vastly expanded knowledge of America's north and west. The Visitors Center sits on a 79-acre scenic wooded bluff overlooking the Missouri River. Its unobstructed view will give you a sense of what members of the expedition saw two centuries ago. The Center focuses on the expedition's many discoveries - 178 plants, 122 animals, and scientific findings - and affords the chance to climb aboard a 55-foot replica of the keelboat used during the journey. A catered lunch at the nearby Lied Lodge and Arbor Day Farms site in Nebraska City will be followed by a guided bus tour of the facilities, which promote the Arbor Day Foundation's message of wise environmental stewardship. Afterward, you may choose to take part in the Tree Adventure Tour or tour the Arbor Lodge State Historical Park on the former estate of J. Sterling Morton, founder of Arbor Day. The Tree Adventure includes climbing to a 50-foot-high tree house and visiting indoor interactive exhibits. The Historical Park offers a collection of antique carriages and wagons, formal rose garden, Italian terraced garden, and arboretum with more than 250 varieties of trees and shrubs. Fee: $45. Includes bus transportation and lunch at Lied Lodge, and entrance fees. Tour 3: Riverboat Tour Tuesday, May 23, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm Wednesday, May 24, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm We will travel in two groups, both by riverboat and bus, to examine the Corps of Engineers' streambank stabilization and conservation efforts along the Missouri River upstream from Omaha, as well as restoration efforts at Nathan's Lake. In a major redesign of its Missouri River Streambank Stabilization and Navigation Project, the Corps has been directed by Congress and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to provide up to 21,000 acres of habitat for the Pallid Sturgeon on a 735-mile reach of the river. Our tour will investigate several of the modification features. The boat ride will include a look at Boyer Bend Chevrons, Boyer Chute Restoration, Desoto Bend Chevrons, Desoto Bend Revetment Segmenting (tentative), and the California Bend Chutes and Backwaters. Fee: $45. Includes bus and boat transportation, and entrance fees. Limited to the first 28 persons per day who register. Tour 4: Irrigation Tour Thursday, May 25, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm Tour Valmont Irrigation, the world's largest manufacturer of mechanical move irrigation (MMI) systems. In 1955, Valmont bought the patent to the center pivot system, of which Scientific American magazine said, "The center pivot is perhaps the most important mechanical invention in agriculture since the replacement of draft animals by the tractor." Fee: $45. Includes bus transportation and box lunch.