Construction will soon begin on Zorinsky Lake Water Quality Basin # 1 following approval by the Papio-Missouri River NRD Board of a construction bid of $2.79 million from Hawkins Construction. The structure will protect the quality of water in Zorinsky Lake, one of Omaha's most popular water-based recreation areas and flood control reservoirs. The project calls for the construction of a concrete weir, sanitary sewer relocation and excavation of the sediment retention basin to be built northwest of the Highway 6/31 intersection with Highway 92 in Douglas County.

The work is anticipated to begin March 1st with substantial completion by September. No recreational features are planned for the structure whose sole purpose is to prevent the degradation of Zorinsky Lake located downstream.

"Other similar water quality improvement basins have been built upstream of Zorinsky and other Omaha area flood control/recreational lakes and are increasing the projected life spans of the reservoirs," said NRD General Manager John Winkler. "These projects greatly improve the quality of lake water and prevent the siltation that would otherwise occur in these lakes," he said.

The NRD is building Zorinsky Lake Water Quality Basin # 1 through an agreement with the Papillion Creek Watershed Partnership. The partnership, established in 2001, includes representatives from Omaha, Papillion, Bellevue, Gretna, Boys Town, Ralston, LaVista, Sarpy County and the Natural Resources District. The organization has a mission to address issues related to flooding and water quality in the 402 square mile Papillion Creek Watershed. "Construction of this water quality basin is a result of many years of coordination between the NRD and our Papillion Creek Watershed partners," said Winkler.