Sergeant Mad Bear (Kuruks Tîčaris) Recreation Area

Sergeant Mad Bear (Kuruks Tîčaris) Recreation Area (formerly WP-2 Regional Detention Basin) is a flood control structure included in the Plan. It is placed on a tributary to the South Papillion Creek that controls over 700 acres of drainage area and will provide flood reduction benefits on the South, West and Big Papillion Creek branches. It is located at a previous NRCS grade control site, which was a small embankment that was partially removed to accommodate the new dam structure. The water quality basin upstream of WP-2 was constructed in 2022, as the sanitary sewer line from the adjacent neighborhood runs through the embankment and development pressures required this to be constructed ahead of the dam. The rest of the project was completed in 2026. A stream mitigation design was developed for the segment downstream of the new dam, which helps stabilize the stream bed from future degradation, restore bank slopes to natural slopes and vegetation, and reuse trees removed for the project as habitat and bank stabilization features.  

Supplemental funding from the Nebraska’s Water Sustainability Fund was granted for WP-2 due to the flood control, grade stabilization, water quality improvements, recreation, and wildlife habitat improvement benefits of the project. The Nebraska Game and Park Commission helped fund day use facilities and angler access at the site. The City of Gretna will take over ownership and maintenance of the recreation area, while the Papio NRD will maintain the dam structure. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will begin stocking the lake with fish when there are sufficient water depths for the species to survive.