Chalco Hills Recreation Area
Chalco Hills Recreation Area, in southwest Omaha, is the Metro area’s premier outdoor recreation facility. At Chalco Hills, you can try your luck with fishing; relax at a picnic site; bike, hike or jog more than 7 miles of trails (North Loop-4.5 miles, Full Loop-7.2 miles). The area is managed by the Papio-Missouri River NRD. The main entrance to this public recreation site is found at 154th and Giles Rd.
Operation Hours: 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. – seven days a week.
Featured at Chalco Hills is Wehrspann Lake, a 245-acre flood control reservoir considered one of Nebraska’s premier fishing spots thanks to angler’s support of catch and release. Wehrspann Lake is one of eight Papio Creek Watershed flood mitigation reservoirs surrounding Omaha. The most common fish in the lake include Largemouth Bass, Catfish, Walleye, Sunfish and, Crappie. The lake is stocked by the NE Game and Parks Commission.
Recreation Area Maps
Coming to the park? Explore the features and amenities it has to offer by using our print or interactive park maps.
Boaters and anglers can find lake contour maps of Wehrspann Lake and Prairie View Lake here.
One Stop Service Center
Featured at this recreation area is the Natural Resources Center, the Papio NRD’s headquarters. Located in our building are two US Department of Agriculture Agencies: The Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Farm Services Agency, as well as a field office for the US Army Corps of Engineers, and the Civil Air Patrol. The District works closely with these agencies for effective management of our natural resources, and we are nationally known for this co-location of resource management offices convenient for all interested in our environment.
Wehrspann Lake
Located at Chalco Hills Recreation Area, Wehrspann Lake is a 250-acre lake surrounded by 940 acres of trees and grasses. Recreational opportunities include fishing, hiking, biking, picnicking and nature studying.
Wehrspann Lake at Chalco Hills Recreation Area is located near Highway 50 and Interstate 80 in Sarpy County. The area is managed by the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District. The lake, a flood control reservoir built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, offers flood control to the West Branch Papio Creek Watershed. Designed and managed to be an excellent fishery, Wehrspann Lake opened to the public in August, 1988.
Bass Limit
Wehrspann Lake anglers are asked to follow a special size limit on bass. This 21″ limit is enforced to allow bass to reproduce at least once before harvesting, to create a trophy fishery and to control panfish.
Catch & Release
In an effort to protect the fishery, the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District encourages the practice of catch and release at Wehrspann Lake.
The practice of catch and release is quite simple – Put Them Back Alive.
- Be sure to wet hands before handling or measuring fish.
- Release immediately.
- If the line is deeply hooked in the throat or stomach, cut the line, as the hook will work itself out.
Rules and Regulations for All Papio NRD Recreation Areas
For More Information Contact:
Bill Warren, Park Superintendent
bwarren@papionrd.org