NGPC News

LINCOLN, Neb. – Northeast Nebraska educators are invited to participate in two Nebraska Game and Parks Commission workshops this summer focusing on engaging children in science, math, nature and outdoor learning. The workshops will provide participants with knowledge and resources to incorporate lessons into their existing curriculum as well as develop new lessons. Each free workshop will take place at 6 p.m. at the Elkhorn Valley Museum in Norfolk. Registration is required, and each workshop is limited to 20 participants. …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Rock Creek Lake will be drawn down over the next few months in preparation for a fish renovation. The project at the Dundy County lake aims to improve water quality and sportfish potential by eliminating gizzard shad. When the water level is down, cedar trees will be used to build fish habitat structures in the lakebed. Rotenone will be applied this fall to remove undesirable fish. Sport fish will be restocked as the lake refills before winter. …

ASHLAND, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and Go Ape, the nation’s premier Zipline & Adventure Park company, opened two new additions to the already popular Treetop Adventure course at the Eugene T. Mahoney State Park on July 11. The new activities — the Treetop Journey course and Monkey Drop freefall activity, give guests of all ages more opportunities for aerial adventure. It is a welcome addition to the robust amenities already available to families at the state …

LINCOLN, Neb. — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission recently received a $250,000 award from the Nebraska Environmental Trust to help landowners complete grassland habitat improvements on 45,000 acres of private lands across Nebraska. Game and Parks and Pheasants Forever will co-lead the project known as the Grassland Enhancement Initiative, which will help landowners implement prescribed fire, tree removal, herbicide application, disking, grazing, or herbaceous seeding, among other habitat improvement practices. In doing so, the initiative will counter threats to …

LINCOLN, Neb. — In order to allow for the maximum number of anglers and their boat trailers at the Plum Creek Wildlife Management Area, the south central Nebraska site closed to camping permanently July 10. The wildlife management area was designed as a fishing access point, not for overnight camping and has no site amenities. Due to the management area’s size and limited parking availability, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will prioritize boat and fishing access to the waterway there. …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Buckshot Bay boat ramp at Calamus State Recreation Area near Burwell will be closed temporarily Monday, July 13 to repair the dock damaged by a weekend storm. The ramp is expected to reopen by mid-afternoon. Additionally, the storm damaged some trees at Sherman Reservoir State Recreation Area near Loup City. Visitors are asked to use caution when visiting Fisherman’s Bridge and Trail 11 areas at Sherman Reservoir. Park staff will be working in these areas Monday …

LINCOLN, Neb. – A health alert for harmful algal blooms, also known as toxic blue-green algae, has been removed at Wagon Train Lake in Lancaster County. Samples taken by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy earlier this week at Wagon Train Lake were below the health alert threshold of 8 parts per billion (ppb) of total microcystin, which is a toxin released by certain strains of blue-green algae. Lakes with beaches and those that allow power boating are tested …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The boat ramp at Mulberry Bend Wildlife Management Area in Dixon County is closed temporarily due to damage from recent rains. Rains have caused undercutting and erosion under large portions of the ramp. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is working to repair the ramp. For a map of other open boat ramps on the Missouri River, visit the Missouri River Outdoor Recreation Access Guide at maps.outdoornebraska.gov/MRRecreationGuide.

LINCOLN, Neb. – Learn about the science behind common sights in nature through a virtual webinar series hosted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission this summer. This series, “The Science of …,” will take place at 3 p.m. Thursdays Central time starting July 9. Educators will discuss the science behind six common nature and animal topics. This series is perfect for anyone curious about our natural world. The webinars are free, but each requires a separate registration. A list …

LINCOLN, Neb. – A 60-year-old Kenesaw woman was injured and hospitalized following a collision of two personal watercraft July 4 at Harlan County Reservoir. The woman and a 33-year-old male relative from Kearney each was operating personal watercraft. As they accelerated to leave Patterson Harbor on the lake’s south shore, the female was struck from behind by the male operator, throwing her into the water. The female was transported to Phelps County Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. The male, who …