NGPC News

LINCOLN – Lake McConaughy is expected to reach 100 percent capacity by late June, and the high water levels will affect some lake activities. Great boating, fishing and camping will still be available at the lake, but visitors to Lake McConaughy should take high water levels into account and plan accordingly to get the most out of their trip. Among activities that will be affected: Boating: High water levels enhance boating opportunities, as there is more surface area available for …

LINCOLN – As part of a national effort to reduce the number of accidents and deaths related to boating under the influence (BUI), the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will participate in Operation Dry Water June 26-28. While Operation Dry Water is a year-round BUI awareness and enforcement campaign, that effort will be heightened by Game and Parks’ Law Enforcement Division officers during the final weekend of June. Alcohol use while boating is the leading factor in boater deaths. In …

Chadron State Park will celebrate its distinction as Nebraska’s first park and its 94th anniversary Saturday, June 13, with a wide variety of activities for all ages. All of the park’s regular offerings will be in full swing, in addition to many special activities at the Trading Post and other points. There’s plenty to entertain the children at the annual celebration, including free paddleboat rides at the newly renovated pond from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Hippity Hop Horse …

Landowners in the Pine Ridge region are being encouraged to explore opportunities for cost-sharing and technical assistance in habitat enhancement projects available through a partnership between Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Katy Kuhnel, a shortgrass prairie coordinating wildlife biologist for the Nebraska Natural Legacy Program, is available to assist landowners with a wide variety of projects to improve the landscape for wildlife. They include prairie restoration, invasive tree removal, grazing management, infrastructure development and …

Western Nebraska’s unique and diverse wildlife will again be the focus of Bioblitz, an annual event at Oliver Reservoir Recreation Area near Kimball on Friday and Saturday, June 19-20. Scientists and other naturalists will tell attendees about local wildlife and practices to improve habitat and monitor species. Educational and entertaining demonstrations and activities, including trapping animals for observation, are scheduled between 3 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday. Attendees who don’t want to miss any part of the event are …

Fort Robinson State Park will again celebrate Native American culture during one of the High Plains’ premier powwows. The 16th annual Intertribal Gathering will be Friday through Sunday, June 12-14, featuring traditional dancing, drumming and singing in a family-friendly environment. The event annually attracts hundreds of dancers and spectators. Grand entries are scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, and noon Sunday under the direction of master of ceremonies Billy Good Voice Elk Jr. A wide …

LINCOLN – Bring the family to the Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center in Lincoln on June 13 for a fun day of free archery and other activities. “Take Aim at Summer” is an event for people of all ages and experience levels who want to learn or practice archery skills. It will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The indoor and outdoor archery ranges will be open, and there also will be 3-D archery, aerial archery, tomahawk throwing …

LINCOLN – The new boat launch facility at Burchard Lake in Pawnee County is now open for public use. Recent rains in the area have increased water levels to near conservation pool, allowing for boat launching from the new ramp. An aquatic habitat rehabilitation project was completed at Burchard in 2013. The lake was drawn down 11 feet during the project so the outlet structure could be repaired, while maintaining the high-quality fishery. The lake has been filling slowly since …

LINCOLN – An aquatic habitat project began this month at Valentine National Wildlife Refuge to address the lakes’ presence of common carp and their passage through water control structures. Engineers designed improvements to the control structures below Watts, Hackberry, Dewey, Whitewater, Clear, Willow and Pelican lakes. These new structures are designed to limit upstream fish passage and help control high densities of carp in these lakes. In addition, West Long Lake will have some earth fill added to the existing …

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will use $10,000 in funding from a grant program for continued development and management planning for the Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail. Game and Parks received the award under the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s (RTC) newly launched Doppelt Family Trail Development Fund. The fund supports organizations and local governments that are implementing projects to build and improve rail-trails. Three different projects across the United States were funded. “We will use the funds to engage …