Douglas County is located in Eastern Nebraska between the Missouri River to the east and the Platte River to the west. The census of 2010 marked the population at 517,110 people with Omaha being the most populous city and county seat. The county is 339.6 square miles in total area with a mix of urban, suburban, and agricultural land uses. The eastern portion of the county, along the Missouri River, is historically oak forest and the remainder of the county is historically tallgrass prairie. However, of the original 15 million acres of tallgrass prairie that once covered the eastern third of Nebraska, approximately 2% remains. In Douglas County, urban and suburban development continues to expand further into rural areas depleting valuable agricultural land and wildlife habitat. The remaining undeveloped land is predominantly located in the northwest corner of the county. Protected natural areas are quite limited and typically exist in islands without suitable wildlife corridors connecting them. Green spaces are present but are often largely comprised of non-native turf grass that requires significant maintenance and is not supportive of high biodiversity. Additionally, the county is excessively car dependent with very limited transit options available as more sustainable methods of transportation.
I chose Douglas County because I live in the Omaha metro area and would like to learn more about its biodiversity as well as options to improve the local environment for native flora and fauna. Throughout the course of this project, I will analyze details of the county’s existing ecology, conservation efforts, and future development and conservation planning. Additionally, I will investigate methods to improve planning efforts and improve biodiversity. I plan on utilizing publicly available information produced by local nonprofit, governmental, and academic organizations. Additionally, I will reach out to professionals involved in conservation and planning in the county. Finally, I will obtain as much first-hand information as possible through field investigation. All of this will be utilized to develop a strategic plan to actively promote biodiversity in the county.
