LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has begun the cleanup and repair of its parks and wildlife management areas affected by the March flooding. Much work remains in assessing the impact of the damage at some state parks, state historical parks, state recreation areas and wildlife management areas. Road, buildings, campgrounds and lakes were affected. Among the major state park areas still closed are Niobrara State Park, Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area (SRA), Two Rivers SRA, Schramm …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Rainbow trout continue to be stocked in Nebraska’s urban waters to enhance spring fishing opportunities. The Grove Trout Rearing Station earlier this week stocked 1,200 trout in Papillion’s Lake Halleck and 1,200 in Nebraska City’s Steinhart Park East Pond. The Calamus State Fish Hatchery stocked 750 trout in Ord’s Auble Pond. Each of those lakes also received some additional trout from a surplus created when the Two Rivers State Recreation Area Trout Lake was not stocked for …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Discover a new outdoor activity to enjoy this spring by attending a mushroom hunting class April 13 at the Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center. Instructed by local mushroom expert Tersh Kepler, this beginner’s class covers the basics of mushroom hunting, identification and the common mushrooms of Nebraska. Seats are limited and fill quickly. The Outdoor Education Center is located at 4703 N. 44th Street in Lincoln. To learn more and sign up, look for this …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Activity Center at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park (SP), which houses the park’s indoor playground, will be closed April 22-26 as new carpet is installed. The playground will reopen April 27. The adjacent rock climbing facility, Venture Climb, will remain open. During this time, park guests may use the outdoor playground at Schramm Park State Recreation Area. A park entry permit is required of each vehicle entering a state park.

LINCOLN, Neb. – Hunters should be aware of a new process for awarding big game draw permits starting this year, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Applicants for deer, antelope and elk draw permits who supply valid email addresses will be notified when the draw is complete. Applicants not providing valid email addresses will be responsible for monitoring their status online at OutdoorNebraska.org. Awarded but unpaid permits will result in applicants losing preference points and forfeiting the permit. …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is excited to announce a new summer-long, statewide challenge in which anglers can win great prizes just by sharing their love of fishing. The Take ‘Em Fishing Challenge encourages experienced anglers to take a pledge to go fishing with someone who either has never fished before or who hasn’t fished in several years. Anglers who take a photo of themselves taking someone fishing can enter an online drawing for dozens of …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will conduct prescribed burns on wildlife management areas (WMA), state recreation areas (SRA) and state parks (SP) when conditions are favorable through May 15, according to Pat Molini, Wildlife Division assistant administrator. The areas scheduled for prescribed burns in each district are: Southeast District Fillmore County—Redhead WMA, Sora WMA; Gage County—Diamond Lake WMA, Arrowhead WMA; Jefferson County—Alexandria SW WMA, Flathead WMA, Rose Creek WMA, Rock Glenn WMA; Johnson County—Osage WMA; Lancaster …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Due to damage caused by recent flooding, Two Rivers State Recreation Area’s Trout Lake will not be open for put-and-take trout fishing for the foreseeable future. The lake flooded and must be assessed to determine the potential impact of other species of fish from the river system. The access road to Two Rivers, as well as interior roads, also was damaged. Weather conditions prevented the Trout Lake from being stocked as scheduled in early March. Instead, those …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is soliciting public input for motorized boat ramp improvements at Lake McConaughy’s Martin Bay and Cedar View. Game and Parks will receive input through April 15. Visit http://outdoornebraska.gov/lakemcconaughy/ to see information about the project and to submit input. Game and Parks seeks input only on the boat ramp improvements and not Lake McConaughy in general.

LINCOLN, Neb. – Women interested in making new friends and learning how to better enjoy the outdoors can sign up for fun, hands-on workshops this spring and summer that teach outdoor activities such as kayaking, hunting and fishing. Part of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) series, workshops take place outdoors and focus on a single topic such as hunting, fishing, outdoor cooking or kayaking. They may be held over the course of half a day, …