By Senator Tom Brewer
I recently received an update from the Game and Parks Commission informing me of the progress they have made on several improvements to Fort Robinson State Park. A couple sessions back, the legislature passed bills and appropriations totaling nearly $20 million dollars in support of projects at this park.
This was no accident. I rented a van and drove eleven senators to the Fort a couple of years ago. Along with the Game and Parks Commission we showed them what many consider to be the prettiest part of Nebraska. I remember an Omaha senator at the time saying, “We’re still in Nebraska?” The members of the revenue committee and the appropriations committee that supported the bill were decisive. All the support this bill received on the floor is what happens when you show people Western Nebraska, and we are making some progress.
There is a silted-in pond that needs to be removed because it would likely fail in a flash flood. Any dam removal/stream restoration project must be submitted to the US Army Corps of Engineers for approval. That process is underway and the dirt contractor is ready.
The new museum design is moving forward. They are past the concept phase and are working on the full building. Both the old post Bakery and the Play House have significant historical value and are still in and restorable condition. Designing the restoration of these buildings is underway. Numerous cabin upgrades are also planned. The officers quarters, nurses quarters, bandmasters quarters and nine of the Adobe cabins will all get upgrades and some new kitchens.
One of the challenges facing projects like this in this part of the state is the sparse population. What makes Fort Robinson so beautiful is also what makes it a tough place to build and restore things. Every construction contractor within 100 miles is busy. Nonetheless I really appreciate the Game and Parks Commission reaching out to all the senators concerned about making this beautiful place a first-class State Park.
In other news, I want to devote a portion of this weekly to Nebraskans who like to fish, especially for walleye. Sandy Flesh in Walleye is a rare degenerative muscle disease of fish. Myofibrogranuloma (MFG) is a rare disease that primarily effects walleye – especially older walleye, but has also been reported in yellow perch. This disease has been around for over 40 years in Nebraska. It has been found in Lake McConaughy, Merritt, Elwood, Calamus and Round Lake in Cherry County where we have a larger population of older walleye.
If you catch a diseased fish, the flesh appears tough, granular, coarse, and yellow to brown; often resembling freezer-burned meat. The good news is, even though eating infected fish is not recommended; there is no known transfer to humans. According to the Game and Parks Commission, humans are not at risk for sandy flesh disease.
Please contact my office with any comments, questions, or concerns. Email me at tbrewer@leg.ne.gov, mail a letter to Sen. Tom Brewer, Room #1423, P.O. Box 94604, Lincoln, NE 68509, or call us at (402) 471-2628.