NGPC unveils third Aquatic Habitat Plan, lists 71 projects and major restorations across Nebraska

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission on an online webinar introduced its third Aquatic Habitat Plan, a 15-year framework that lists about 71 projects intended to improve fish habitat and public angler access across the state.

Jeff Jackson, NGPC’s aquatic habitat program manager, said the plan combines previous access and habitat efforts and prioritizes work that can be leveraged with partners. “We've got about 71 projects on this third aquatic habitat plan,” Jackson said.

The plan lists a mix of local access improvements and large-scale restoration efforts. Jackson highlighted several completed or nearly completed projects: a roughly $2,700,000 Omaha-area renovation that added a double ramp, kayak launch, jetties and shoreline groins; a $1,100,000 improvement at Lake Maloney with jetty/pier, ADA access and underwater shoals; and a near-$10,000,000 Harlan County Reservoir restoration enabled by a US Army Corps ‘1135’ aquatic restoration cost share that covered about 75 percent of expenses.

NGPC framed the program as a long-running, partner-driven effort: Jackson said the agency has spent “almost a $110,000,000 and accomplished almost a 135 projects around the state” over 27 years, often leveraging federal and nonprofit funding and local donations.

District-level highlights in the plan include: in-house shoal installations in the Southwest District (planned Medicine Creek shoals), potential riprap and jetty work at Lake McConaughey to mitigate sand drift, island and excavation work at sand-pit I‑80 Lakes supported by Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET) grants, and multi-site access improvements in the Southeast and Northwest districts. Jackson said East Twin Reservoir has lost about 50 percent of its volume over 60 years and that a full restoration would cost an estimated $22,000,000, so NGPC plans reduced excavation focused on improving access rather than full-scale restoration.

Funding sources named during the presentation included NET grants, EPA 319 funds, a Water Smart grant (described as delivered through a Bureau of Recreation program in the webinar) and US Army Corps cost shares. Jackson said the agency has added flexibility in the new plan—allowing aquatic vegetation treatments and enabling emergent projects to be added with director- or assistant-division-administrator approval.

NGPC staff said many items are in the design phase (typically about a year) and emphasized field-staff participation in planning for local buy-in. Jackson noted the agency has successfully sought grant funding for large work: for example, the dam-removal/stream-restoration project associated with Carter P Johnson Dam has nearly $3.5 million in grants secured.

The plan and a longer project-by-project document are posted on NGPC’s website; staff solicited public feedback, reminded anglers of upcoming district meetings, and said they will follow up by email to answer remaining questions from the webinar.

Next steps: NGPC will continue design work on listed projects, apply grant funding where available, and accept public input as it finalizes implementation schedules.