Nebraskaland Magazine

Kearney’s new whitewater park By Eric Fowler Even though he hadn’t used it for years, Dylan Knapp brought his whitewater kayak with him when he moved to Kearney in 2021. At the time, he didn’t have a clue he would be dusting it off, along with his bag of playboating tricks, including flat spins, stern squirts and loops, when the state’s first whitewater park opened in his new home a year later. “I picked the perfect time to move to …

Boating access improvements at Enders Reservoir State Recreation Area in southwest Nebraska have begun and are expected to last through the fall. Public access will be affected. Phase 1 of the project will restore boating access to Area A by extending the boat ramp. Other planned amenities here include Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant parking, a new breakwater to protect the ramp, a new staging area near the ramp, and a new gravel parking lot with lighting. Once work at Area …

Access to certain areas of parks in north-central Nebraska and the Panhandle will be temporarily closed to make way for improvements. Mike Morava, regional superintendent for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, said each of the projects is being started early enough in the fall to be finished before visitation peaks next year. Smith Falls State Park near Valentine — Access to Nebraska’s tallest waterfall, Smith Falls, will be closed Sept. 6 through May 2023 as workers replace the aging …

Fort Robinson State Park and Chadron State Park in northwest Nebraska have revised their schedules for some services as visitors and employees returning to school have prompted staffing changes. The revised schedules will take effect Aug. 15. Fort Robinson State Park Restaurant — Hours are now 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Horse Rides — On Monday through Friday, the long ride will start at 8 a.m. and 12:30 …

I have a news release I want to share: Wagon Train SRA lake to be chemically renovated Aug. 10 Wagon Train State Recreation Area lake will be chemically renovated Aug. 10, weather depending, to remove the existing fish population. Activities at the rec area, about 2 miles east of Hickman, will be limited that day. The rotenone treatment is aimed at eliminating common carp, white perch and gizzard shad, which are detrimental to aquatic habitat and water quality. Because rotenone …

By Justin Haag A weekly radio segment featuring topics of the Nebraska Panhandle’s great outdoors. This week, the topic is the concept of community science. The program features Alie Mayes, community science education specialist for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Justin Haag · Panhandle Afield: Community Science Air Dates: Aug. 5-12 Length: 3:00 Episode 231

By Renae Blum/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Busy state parks are busy for a reason: There’s plenty to do and lots to see. But there are plenty of quieter parks, too. They still offer amenities and attractions that make for a fun day or weekend, but typically aren’t as packed with visitors. Here are nine state parks to put on your list when you’re looking for peace and more relaxation. Niobrara State Park Niobrara State Park is a hidden gem: …

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission earned 11 awards at the Association for Conservation Information annual conference held July 24-27 in Nashville, Tenn. The awards recognized excellence in outreach, education and communications. ACI is a nonprofit organization of natural resources communicators representing wildlife conservation and parks and natural resource agencies. Its annual awards contest recognizes excellence and promotes craft improvement through peer critiques. The awards are: First place in Communications Campaign, Educational for “Lake Mac Know Before You Go,” an …

Why do some people get perplexed when they see someone release a massive, master angler-sized catfish? After all, catfish, even the larger ones, sure taste good, don’t they? So why is it every time we see an angler report or a social media post mention or show a picture of a large catfish they have put back in the water, a spirited discussion most likely ensues over what should or should have not been done with that whopper? So how …

By Monica Macoubrie, Wildlife Education Specialist  This is a familiar sight in Nebraska: You’re driving along a two-lane highway listening to the radio, when all of a sudden, a dinosaur walks across the road just ahead of you. OK, not literally a dinosaur, but a living creature that is as close as you can get — a snapping turtle. As you approach the turtle, you notice that it’s earnestly on a mission, however slow and lumbering. It’s trying to make …