LINCOLN, Neb. – Rockford Lake in Gage County no longer is on health alert after testing revealed no elevated toxin levels for two straight weeks. During water testing two weeks ago, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality detected elevated toxin levels produced by blue-green algal blooms in the lake. Health alerts are lifted when algal toxin levels are below advisory concentration for two consecutive weeks. Lakes with beaches and those that allow power boating are tested weekly through the summer …

LINCOLN, Neb. – State parks and historical parks across Nebraska are planning events throughout the fall season to help visitors enjoy this beautiful time of year. Events span a wide variety of interests, including outdoor recreation, wildlife viewing, stargazing, living history, shooting sports and photography. Among the activities slated for this fall: — 14th Annual Missouri River Outdoor Expo, Ponca State Park (SP), Ponca, Sept. 15-16 – Celebrate our outdoor heritage with more than 90 hands-on demonstrations, exhibits, vendors and …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Hunters are reminded that state recreation areas (SRA) are closed to hunting until Sept. 4. Several hunting seasons will be open during the Labor Day weekend. Archery deer, teal, dove, grouse and other small game seasons will be open Sept. 1. SRA regulations prohibit any hunting until the Tuesday following Labor Day. This year that date is Sept. 4. Regulations state the portions of some SRAs are open to hunting from the first Tuesday following Labor Day …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska upland hunters have more great opportunities – and one new challenge – awaiting them this fall. Pheasant harvest opportunities this fall should be as good, or better, than typical over the last five years in the Panhandle, Southwest and Sandhills regions, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s 2018 Upland Game Hunting Outlook. Abundances of pheasants were higher than the five-year averages in the Panhandle, Southwest and Sandhills regions, according to the July Rural Mail …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will accept lottery applications for mountain lion permits Sept. 4-28 for the 2019 hunting season. Hunting will be allowed only in the Pine Ridge Unit of northwestern Nebraska, which has an established population that can sustain a harvest. Hunters may apply for a permit in either of two subunits: the South Subunit (south of U.S. Hwy. 20) or the North Subunit (north of U.S. Hwy. 20). A person may not submit …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Rockford Lake in Gage County remains on health alert. During water testing last week, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality detected elevated toxin levels produced by blue-green algal blooms in the lake. Visitors to Rockford Lake State Recreation Area (SRA) should avoid full body contact activities such as swimming, wading, skiing, jet skiing, etc. Non-contact activities such as boating, fishing and camping are OK. Dog owners are urged to keep pets out of the water and not …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Families are invited to a monarch butterfly habitat tour Sept. 9 at Lake Wanahoo State Recreation Area in Saunders County. The free event is from 1-3 p.m. at the day use area on the east side of the lake. Following a presentation about the decline of monarchs and the type of habitats they need to survive, butterflies will be captured, tagged and released. Appropriate clothing and footwear are recommended. The tour is made possible by Pheasants Forever, …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Riverview Marina State Recreation Area (SRA), which is located along the Missouri River in Otoe County, is closed until further notice because of flooding. Campgrounds, restrooms and other amenities are under water, and electricity to the park has been temporarily disconnected. After water levels recede, regional park staff will clear the area of debris before reopening the park to the public. It is unclear how long the park will remain closed, as water levels can rise and …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Matt Carmin of Doniphan won the Third Annual Director’s Cup archery tournament Aug. 18 at the Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center in Lincoln. Sixty-six archers of all skill levels gathered for the only archery tournament of its kind in the region. Archers from across Nebraska competed in 11 divisions using the unique Lake of the Woods format, in which archers shoot at varying distances based on age and discipline. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Director …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Estimated duck breeding populations are strong, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s recent 2018 waterfowl population status report. Although the numbers are down from 2017, the report shows abundance of most duck species above their long-term averages (1955-2017). In general, habitat conditions during the 2018 Waterfowl Breeding and Population Habitat Survey were slightly poorer relative to 2017, with a few exceptions. Habitat quality generally declined across the survey area compared to last year, except for …