By Daryl Bauer, Fisheries Outreach Program Manager
Couple of news items again today. Want to publicize these access notes because I know if you fish these areas, you will want to know!
Frenchman WMA angler access improvements planned
Nebraska Game and Parks has plans to improve fishing, boating, hunting and vehicle access to Frenchman Wildlife Management Area in Hayes County.
The public is invited to attend an open house from 7 to 9 p.m. June 24 at Mihm Hall, 103 Vennum St., Palisade, to learn more.
Planned improvements include vehicle access, angler walking trails, fishing piers, new boat ramps, and considerations for enhanced hunter and wildlife usage of the area.
These projects are made possible by federal Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration funds, which are supported by hunters and anglers who purchase outdoor equipment, licenses and permits.
Frenchman WMA is a popular public fishing site with three sandpit lakes. The lakes recently were renovated, stocked with largemouth bass, black crappie, yellow perch, bluegill and channel catfish.
South Shore boat ramp work delayed at Lewis and Clark
For the protection of the federally endangered pallid sturgeon, work to reopen the South Shore boat ramp at Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area has been delayed.
A federal permit to remove the sediment deposited in the South Shore area inlet has been approved, with the condition work cannot begin until after June 30 when pallid sturgeon spawning season ends.
A contractor will begin removing sediment the first week of July, weather depending, with work expected to take less than a week.
“We know this boat ramp is highly used during our peak season and appreciate everyone’s patience as we work to balance recreational needs with conservation ones,” said Jonathan Voelker, Lewis and Clark SRA park superintendent.
Boaters can use alternative boat ramps at Lewis and Clark SRA/Weigand Marina, Bloomfield Campground Area and Miller Creek Campground Area. Signage has been posted at the site, and updates will be shared as conditions change.
Pallid sturgeon were listed as a federally endangered species in 1990 because of extensive habitat modification, a lack of successful reproduction, commercial harvest and hybridization with the shovelnose sturgeon.
Learn more at OutdoorNebraska.gov.
