Current Projects

Omaha Brownfields Coalition

The Omaha Brownfields Coalition, consisting of MAPA, Metro Community College, and the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District (P-MRNRD), has been awarded an $835,000 Brownfields assessment grant by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address risks and development needs in a portion of the South Omaha Redevelopment Area (SORA). The grant will allow coalition partners, along with the Omaha Chamber’s South Omaha Development Project and numerous community organizations, to take significant steps to address South Omaha brownfields, which are parcels where known or suspected hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants are present. The parcels often become blighted as real or perceived contamination prevents investment and redevelopment.

The Coalition will develop and deploy an area-wide plan to assess known or suspected brownfields within the SORA, and make plans for the redevelopment of these brownfields. The EPA grant will also support health screening and monitoring to determine any linkages between the existence of brownfields and health concerns such as asthma and elevated blood levels among South Omaha residents. Once sites are assessed for environmental and health risks, plans will be created for cleanup and redevelopment in a manner consistent with MAPA and South Omaha redevelopment plans. Assessments will also provide the basis for job training, business location and/or expansion and ways to improve the health and well-being of community members living in South Omaha.

MAPA will provide overall leadership and administration of the grant, including budgeting, management, reporting and procurement of subcontract services. The P-MRNRD will use its staff members’ technical expertise to review and comment on technical reports and to provide a lead role developing additional green spaces related to brownfields sites. Metro Community College (MCC) will lead efforts of public outreach and education in coordination with area-wide brownfields assessment and redevelopment planning efforts. MCC will also support health/wellness screening and provide job training opportunities related to lead abatement and green construction for individuals in the impacted South Omaha area, leveraging training facilities, equipment, supplies and no-cost training for students through an existing EPA grant.

The SORA consists of nine square miles from I-480/42nd Street on the west to the Missouri River on the east and from Harrison Street on the south to Center Street to I-80 on the north. This Brownfields Assessment project area includes 17% of the SORA, approximately 1.5 square miles.

Brownfields 2011 Assessment Grant Fact Sheet

 Omaha Brownfields Coalition- Brochure

 Public Outreach Flyer 

 Brownfield Base Map

Omaha Brownfields: ESA Narratives

Below are narratives from completed environmental site assessments (ESA) done as part of this grant. Narratives will be added as ESAs are completed. The complete ESA is too large of a file to post but assessments are available for review by the public. For more information or to view the full assessment, please contact Lynn Dittmer at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (402) 444-6866 ext 230.

 Carpenter Paper-ESA narrative.pdf

 Graham Parcel- ESA narrative.pdf

 Henery Parcel-ESA narrative.pdf

 Vinton Street-ESA narrative.pdf

Kraft Monico-ESA narrative.pdf

 Snelling Parcel-ESA narrative.pdf

 33rd & Q- ESA narrative.pdf

 Leavenworth Phase II- ESA narrative (only)

Carter Lake Restoration

Carter Lake is on Nebraska's Section 303(d) list of impaired waters (NDEQ, 2006) for phosphorus, nitrogen, algae, and pH. As well, the state of Iowa has determined Carter Lake is impaired for excess algae and turbidity (Iowa DNR, 2004). The primary water quality issues with the lake stem from high nutrient concentrations.

In 2006, the cities of Carter Lake and Omaha requested assistance from environmental agencies to address water quality problems at Carter Lake. At that time, a community-based watershed planning process was initiated. As part of the planning process, a voluntary council of interested citizens was formed under the name of Carter Lake Environmental Assessment and Rehabilitation (CLEAR) Council. The CLEAR Council, with assistance from numerous local and state agencies, developed a conceptual plan to address water quality concerns.

The planning process for Carter Lake was designed to result in a community-based management plan that will provide a framework for protecting water quality in Carter Lake. The qualitative goals generated by the stakeholders in the second public meeting became the foundation for quantitative water quality goals developed by the CLEAR Council and Technical Advisory Team (TAT). The qualitative goals of the Carter Lake Water Quality Project are to reduce contaminant levels in fish to safe levels and to achieve and maintain full support for aquatic life, recreation, and aesthetic use.

The management plan identifies alternatives that focus meeting quantitative goals set by the WC. The total cost of the lake restoration project is approximately $6,000,000, and most of the funds are already earmarked through grants from various state and federal agencies. Due to the funding entities being from two different states, it was necessary to funnel funding through a neutral fiscal agent which MAPA is fulfilling.

For more information, please visit the Carter Lake Water Quality Project website.