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LINCOLN — Eastern Nebraska's newest state recreation area and its big lake will snag big talk about big fish after it opens this spring.
That was the fishing forecast Friday as the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission approved an agreement to manage and operate Lake Wanahoo.
The new 677-acre lake near Wahoo is part of a project that will provide camping, hiking, swimming, fishing, boating, horseback riding, bird-watching and hunting just over the horizons of Omaha and Lincoln. The 1,777-acre property is owned by the Lower Platte North Natural Resources District.
"Which lake in eastern Nebraska will have more talk about the fishery than any other lake?'' said a teasing John Miyoshi, the district's general manager. "Fish surveys show tremendous growth of the fish in the lake. We are very excited about the possibilities.''
Roger Kuhn, the commission's parks manager, said it's not often that a large body of water is created and developed near Nebraska's population base.
Kuhn said the reservoir will receive heavy usage, creating jobs and businesses in the Wahoo area.
"Don't underestimate the power of recreation,'' Kuhn said. "Local taxpayers will benefit the most.''
Kuhn said annual revenue projections of $73,000 from camping and shower fees and the sale of park permits are expected cover the commission's costs in managing and operating the site. No full-time Game and Parks staff will be assigned to the area.
Personnel from nearby Two Rivers State Recreation Area will work at Wanahoo.
The commission has other similar agreements to manage the Salt Valley lakes near Lincoln, Willow Creek near Norfolk, Summit Lake near Tekamah and Oliver Reservoir near Kimball.
Commissioners also approved $436,285 in federal recreation trail grants for Bellevue, Lincoln, Ponca State Park and McCook projects.
In Bellevue, a project connecting the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District trail and residential neighborhoods will be Sarpy County's first step into building trails.
The new segments total 3,800 feet and will link to both the NRD trail and the Marv Holubar Trail near the Twin Creek shopping area. An extension under Highway 370 will follow Quail Creek and then turn west along Maass Road.
About 4,200 feet of asphalt trail in Lincoln's Pioneers Park will be replaced with concrete. The park's trails receive more than 500,000 visitors a year.
McCook will add a 2,000-foot trail to connect to an existing system. Ponca State Park will purchase equipment to cut and groom cross-country skiing trails.
In other business, commissioners, approved:
* Purchasing an 11.4-acre tract of native oak forest with development potential for about $90,000 as an addition to Platte River State Park. The land links two sections of the park.
* Transferring Pibel Lake State Recreation near Bartlett to the Lower Loup NRD, and Champion Lake, a state historical park and recreation area, to Chase County.
* Applications for $432,100 in matching federal grants for recreation projects in Arapahoe (recreational vehicle park and disc golf course), Beatrice (playground and sports courts), Cambridge (splash pad), Ceresco (playground and paths), Elmwood (sports courts) and Johnson (trail and ball field improvements).
Contact the writer:
402-444-1127, david.hendee@owh.com
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