The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission approved grantees for the Land and Water Conservation Fund Stateside Assistance Program and the Recreational Trails Program at its meeting Jan. 24 in Lincoln.
Commissioners approved the following grant awards, totaling more than $1.9 million, for the Land and Water Conservation Fund Stateside Assistance Program:
- Columbus, $215,606 for the Sertomaland inclusive playground replacement in East Pawnee Park;
- Lincoln, $600,000 for an inclusive playground replacement in Antelope Park;
- Norfolk, $511,500 for development of an additional softball complex at Ta-Ha-Zouka Park; and
- Sidney, $600,000 for the revitalization of Northside Park.
Funding from the LWCF comes from the U.S. Department of the Interior using revenues from federal oil and gas leases on the Outer Continental Shelf.
Commissioners also approved the following recreational trail projects for federal funding through the Recreational Trails Program:
- Imperial, $250,000 to build the Prairie Sage Trail, a 2,400-foot-long concrete trail around the Chase County Community Hospital for the public, patients and staff. It will be the first recreational trail in Imperial;
- Lower Loup Natural Resources District, $250,000 to build a 3,100-foot-long concrete trail at Pibel Lake Recreation Area;
- Nebraska Game and Parks Fort Kearney State Recreation Area, $250,000 to redeck the 1,000-foot-long rail-to-trail bridge over the Platte River for park visitors, trail users and Sandhill crane watchers; and
- U.S. Forest Service Bessey Ranger District, $400,000 to refurbish 1.7 miles of deteriorated Forest Road 224, which provides access to Whitetail Campground and many off-highway vehicle trails from the campground; it also would improve emergency services access to the area.
Funding from the RTP comes from the Federal Highway Administration and is made possible by a portion of the federal motor fuel excise tax paid by users of off-road recreational vehicles.
At the meeting, the commissioners also approved staff recommendations to:
- Approve Nebraska’s Third Aquatic Habitat Plan: 2025-2040; the plan identifies and outlines 71 anticipated aquatic habitat restoration and angler access projects on water bodies across the state. It also provides the flexibility to add projects that align with the goals of the Aquatic Habitat Program;
- Approve the Nebraska Game and Parks Employee Recognition Program;
- For Commission designation of 593 acres of Bureau of Education Land and Funds property, located at Section 36, Township 20N, Range 54W, Banner County, as an addition to the Williams Gap Wildlife Management Area; and
- Approve to relinquish irrigation water rights on the Chet and Jane Fliesbach WMA.
The following reports were presented to the commissioners:
- Game and Parks’ depredation work with landowners in 2024;
- Fisheries Human Dimensions research and how to apply it;
- An Agriculture Program update about the Farm Bill and other projects; and
- Cowboy Trail 30th anniversary events planned in 2025.
Keith Hurley, fish and wildlife specialist, was presented an employee Enterprise Award for innovation for the development of a fisheries data management system.
The commissioners elected their officers for 2025 as follows: Chairman, John Hoggatt, Kearney; Vice Chairman, Donna Kush, Omaha; and 2nd Vice Chairman, Ken Curry.