The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission on Wednesday outlined its third Aquatic Habitat Plan, a 15-year framework that lists 71 proposed projects to improve fish habitat and public angler access across the state.

Commission fisheries staff said the plan consolidates earlier access and habitat efforts, adds flexibility for vegetation treatments, and prioritizes projects that can leverage outside funding. “We wanted to combine efforts with the access plan and aquatic habitat plan, kind of focus our effort,” Jeff Jackson, aquatic habitat program manager, said during the webinar.

The plan highlights completed and in-progress projects and sketches near-term priorities. Jeff Jackson described recent projects including a $2.7 million overhaul at Standing Bear (boat ramps, jetties, kayak launch and angler access), added artificial habitat at Lewisville, a new ADA-access Trout Lake access in the Two Rivers area funded partly by donations and the Game and Parks Foundation, and a $1.1 million improved access and jetty project at Lake Maloney.

Jackson said the largest recent project was a nearly $10 million restoration at Harlan County Reservoir carried out with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under an 1135 aquatic restoration cost-share, where Corps funding covered roughly 75% of the work. “We’re going to see how this works and see if it’s something we can apply to other reservoirs,” Jackson said of the Harlan County measures, which included dredging a channel back into Methodist Cove, adding artificial habitat, and building protective jetties and shoals.

Commission staff said the agency has spent roughly $110 million over about 27 years to complete about 35 projects statewide with 91 partners and that the third plan narrows and prioritizes future work. Tony Baroda, fisheries division administrator, said the plan reflects staff input and new priorities, including allowing aquatic vegetation treatment purchases as part of aquatic habitat funds and giving district field staff greater input in project selection.

Funding partners named in the presentation included the U.S. Army Corps (1135 program), Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET) grants, WaterSMART grants and EPA Section 319 funds; staff said they will pursue a mix of those sources to leverage state stamp and federal aid dollars. Jackson and Baroda also noted that federal funding availability can be uncertain. “We’re going to leverage your money and make it go as far as possible,” Jackson said.

Staff described district-level proposals: about 14 project locations in the Southwest District (including further work at Lake McConaughy shorelines and sediment issues), 15 projects in the Southeast (including East and West Twin reservoirs and further sand-pit restoration), about 21 projects in the Northwest (Smith Lake WMA, Soldier Creek stream-restoration and the Carter P. Johnson dam removal and stream regrade), and other targeted work in the Northeast such as a study at Niobrara State Park to diagnose a persistent low-water problem.

Jackson said the plan emphasizes projects that can be done in-house to reduce design costs when practicable (for example, simple habitat shoals), and that many projects remain in the design phase, which typically takes roughly a year.

The agency said it will accept public feedback: the plan document and a longer technical appendix are available on the Game and Parks website and staff contact information was provided during the webinar. Baroda asked anglers and stakeholders to review the plan and submit ideas for their regions.

The presentation included no motions or formal votes. Staff asked for public comment through the webinar Q&A and said unanswered questions would be addressed by email to attendees within a week.