Some News Items, April 11, 2016

I know there have already been news releases on these news items, but I like to highlight them again to try to get word around as well as possible.  Although believe me, I know that no matter how much something is publicized there will be someone who did not know when they needed to.  I took a phone call last Friday from a gentleman who had just pulled into the parking lot at Goose Lake and discovered it was closed.  I tried to give him some options so his trip was not ruined.

Goose Lake

Goose Lake WMA Closed Because of Invasive Plant Infestation
LINCOLN – Goose Lake Wildlife Management Area, located southeast of Chambers in southern Holt County, is closed to public access until further notice.

The closure by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is necessary because of an infestation of the invasive aquatic plant Eurasian watermilfoil.

Eurasian watermilfoil can spread rapidly because a single fragment of stem or leaf can take root and form a new colony, and plants can grow up to 2 inches per day. Once established, the plant can form dense surface mats that interfere with boating, fishing, swimming and other forms of recreation. Plant fragments can be transported on boats, trailers and other aquatic sporting equipment, so the closure is necessary to assure that fragments are not transported to other water bodies.

Nebraska Game and Parks has developed a plan to eradicate Eurasian watermilfoil from Goose Lake, with a total lake chemical treatment scheduled for mid-April. Eradication has been successful for several lakes in other states. The area will reopen once the risk of transporting plant fragments to other areas has been reduced to an acceptable level.

All water users are reminded to clean, drain, and dry their equipment – such as boats, trailers, waders and decoys – when they leave any body of water to prevent the spread of invasive species.

Eurasian Watermilfoil is an exotic, invasive, relatively aggressive aquatic plant.  It is also closely related to native species of watermilfoils and at times identification to species can be very difficult.  The exotic Watermilfoil is not a new invader and has been present in waters across the United States, and in Nebraska, for years.  In some cases Eurasian Watermilfoil can be so “aggressive” that it literally chokes out other submerged aquatic vegetation and forms dense surface mats.  I will always tell you that any species of aquatic vegetation can be good fish habitat, but some species like Eurasion Watermilfoil can be “too much of a good thing”.

Eurasian Watermilfoil and several other species of aquatic plants for that matter easily can be transported from one waterbody to another by fragments, root cuttings and seeds contained in “mud”.  That is why it is so important to CLEAN, DRAIN, and DRY, when trailering your watercraft from one body of water to another.

Youth Fishing Instructors

I try to take every opportunity to put out the plea for more volunteers for our Youth Fishing Program.  Those volunteers are a huge help to us and we can always use more.  Here is another opportunity to get started on getting involved!

Become a Certified Youth Fishing Instructor April 24 in Gering
LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will certify youth fishing instructors April 24 in Gering. The free workshop will be held at Platte Valley Bank, 1850 10th St., from 2-5 p.m.

Youth fishing instructors will receive training and tools to conduct fishing clinics. These volunteers will have access to Nebraska Game and Parks’ loaner fishing equipment and educational materials for events, as well as receive program incentives. They also are encouraged to volunteer for such Nebraska Game and Parks programs as Family Fishing Nights and the Outdoor Expos.

To reserve a spot in this free workshop, contact Larry Pape at larry.pape@nebraska.gov.