LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has been conducting aquatic habitat rehabilitation projects on lakes across the state since 1997 and Don Gabelhouse, administer of the fisheries division, says the results are starting to show.

”We have some prime fishing now,” Gabelhouse said. “The lakes are coming of age and we are seeing dividends from aquatic habitat projects that were completed two to three years ago.”

Aquatic habitat rehabilitation projects on many Nebraska reservoirs were necessary because the reservoirs had been constructed between 1920 and 1980, which meant most were past their prime and were aging rapidly. Fishing quality in the reservoirs declined as many filled with sediment, their shorelines eroded and the water became muddy.

Then in 1996 the Nebraska Legislature passed a bill that created the Nebraska Aquatic Habitat Stamp to fund the enhancement and restoration of aquatic habitat in the states waters.

A “hit list” of 50 reservoirs most in need of rehabilitation was developed and the aquatic habitat rehabilitation projects began in 1997. Today, 41 of the projects have been completed and work on the remaining projects is in the planning stages or underway.

“In most cases we have turned mudholes into clean-water lakes and anglers are reaping the benefits,” Gablehouse said.

“A lot of people dont understand the importance of the link between aquatic vegetation and fish. They see the vegetation only as an impediment to casting their lures, but the bottom line is that fish benefit from the vegetation because it provides the substrate for the food organisms that fish eat,” he said.

“An important part of the projects is the creation of shoreline habitat to benefit the fish. And, to help anglers at the same time, we created shallow water areas adjacent to deep water so people can cast along the edges of the weedbeds. That means they dont have to try to cast into or over the vegetation and risk constantly having their lures hang up in the weeds.

“Weve done some other things to provide access for people who fish from the bank. Weve created fishing piers, jetties, and handicap fishing areas so that people can fish effectively without having a boat.”

Some of the reservoirs where rehabilitation projects have been completed and are now producing excellent fishing are Summitt Lake State Recreation Area (SRA) near Tekamah, Wagon Train SRA near Hickman, Olive Creek SRA near Kramer, Verdon SRA near Verdon, Cottonmill Lake near Kearney, Rock Creek Lake near Parks, Smith Lake Wildlife Management Area south of Rushville, Lake Ogallala SRA near Ogallala and Memphis Lake near Memphis.

Randy Winter, the Commissions aquatic habitat program manager, said the lions share of funding for the projects came from Nebraska Environmental Trust, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, the Sport Fish Restoration Program, and the Nebraska Aquatic Habitat Stamp. “Of the $25 million weve spent on the 50 projects, 80 percent of the funding has come from those four sources,” he said.

Before heading to the lake, purchase a 2005 Nebraska fishing permit and Aquatic Habitat Stamp online from the Game and Parks Commissions web site at www.outdoornebraska.org,  from a Game and Parks office or any of some 900 permit vendors across the state. With a few exceptions, any angler 16 years old or older is required to have a Nebraska fishing permit to fish in Nebraska. The resident annual fishing permit costs $15, a nonresident annual fishing permit is $45, and the Aquatic Habitat Stamp, required of all residents and nonresidents, 18 years and older, is $5. Also pick up a free copy of the 2005 Nebraska Fishing Guide, which has information about fishing regulations and public waters across the state.

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