Trail Enhancement

The Master Plan of the MoPac East Recreation Trail lists the following goals for the trail:

1. To develop and manage the corridor to provide quality outdoor recreation for a variety of non-motorized trail users.
2. To preserve, manage, and enhance the natural resources of the corridor and to serve as a facility for environmental education and public awareness.
3. To provide a connection between the urban trail network in Lincoln and the rural community and to offer a linkage opportunity for future trails in the region.

The MoPac East Trail Enhancement Program is designed to provide ways for individuals and organizations to help us reach our goals. We want the trail to belong to its users, the people who appreciate the unique and natural setting provided for their enjoyment and well-being. The program allows people to "adopt" portions of the trail or specific projects as their own. Everyone, young and old alike, is welcome to participate.

What will your contribution be?
We are looking for individuals, organizations or businesses who would like to join the MoPac Enhancement effort by: (1) making donations, (2) helping with regularly scheduled clean-ups, (3) assisting in simple building projects, (4) monitoring and managing wildlife habitat, or (5) donating trees, shrubs and other native vegetation for the corridor.

Adopt-a-Trail Volunteers

Any individual, organization or sponsoring business can volunteer and make a one-year commitment to the program.

Trail clean-up projects involve picking up litter on half or one mile of the trail corridor at least four times during the year. Clean-up dates will be scheduled with the NRD. The NRD will provide volunteers with trash bags. Any items found that are too large for bags will be marked with flags (also provided by the NRD). Volunteers will submit a brief report noting the location of flagged debris and any other problems they feel should be brought to the attention of NRD staff.

Trailhead clean-up projects involve picking up litter and doing a visual inspection of the trailhead at least once a month throughout the year. A trailhead is a designated area along the MoPac East that will provide parking facilities and access to the trail. Schedule all clean-up times with the NRD. Place litter in receptacles at the site or in bags provided by the NRD. Submit a brief report to the NRD if any vandalism, hazards, large debris, areas in need of repair or any unauthorized use was noted during your inspection.

MoPac Builders

The NRD needs donors and volunteers to help construct the following projects: bridge repair, information kiosks, shelters, picnic tables, benches, interpretive signs, trailhead facilities, wildlife habitat boxes, etc.

Volunteers must provide materials and/or labor towards the completion of projects.

Wildlife Watchers

The NRD installs wildlife habitat boxes along the trail to provide nesting areas for a variety of birds and other small animals. "Wildlife Watchers" will adopt a wildlife habitat box or structure at a predetermined location on the trail. For new boxes, an NRD-approved design will be provided. The volunteer will maintain a log book to record (every two weeks) observations of wildlife use and any maintenance that was done on the structure. Maintenance could include: (1) repair, (2) replacement, (3) seasonal cleaning, (4) disinfecting. At the end of each year, the "Wildlife Watcher" will submit the log book to the NRD.

No experience is necessary to volunteer-the NRD will give you all the training you need to be a successful wildlife watcher! The information you provide will be useful to the NRD for long-term monitoring of wildlife species on the trail.

MoPac Development Fund

Donation Levels:

All donations are tax deductible. Donations can be sent to: Nebraska Trails Foundation, 213 South 9th Street, Lincoln, NE 68508.

MoPac Planter

The NRD will apply your generous contribution towards the planting of trees and shrubs within the corridor.

Donation Levels:

Donations are needed to help us plant trees and shrubs along the trail. The Lower Platte South NRD contracted the services of the Nebraska Forest Service to develop a Vegetation Management Plan for the MoPac East Trail. The plan evaluates existing plantings and lays out a detailed implementation schedule for additional plantings. The NRD envisions a series of planting projects that will provide:

1) Important wildlife habitat
2) Shade for trail users
3) Wind protection
4) Lasting beauty to the MoPac corridor

For more information about this program, contact Dan Schulz at 476-2729 or dschulz@lpsnrd.org.