Nebraska's Aquatic Habitat Program: ........the teenage years......

In the early 1990’s, anglers and biologists began working together to address declining aquatic habitat conditions associated with the aging of reservoirs and the resulting impacts to the quality of recreational fishing opportunities.  Following several years of public meetings and educational workshops, anglers became advocates, stimulating legislation and supporting an increase in fishing license fees with the caveat that the additional revenue be designated to improve aquatic habitat and fishing at specific locations throughout the state.  Beginning in 1997, a $5 aquatic habitat stamp was required with the purchase of most Nebraska fishing licenses.  Generating $8.4 million dollars in revenue through 2010, these funds have been leveraged with 46 additional partners to complete 50 rehabilitation projects at a cost of nearly 40 million dollars.  Each project is unique, designed to address specific aquatic habitat deficiencies and can range from the simple installation of an aeration unit to improve water quality, structures to increase habitat complexity or large earthmoving equipment to remove deposited sediments and construct retention basins.  Entering its 15^th year, the program has nearly completed the initial list of projects identified in the 1997 legislation.  One hundred new project locations have been added concurrent with a fee increase.  The aquatic habitat stamp now generates $10 from the sale of each annual license, with up to 30% of the revenues designated to improving angler access to public fishing areas.  Although considered extremely successful and popular with Nebraska’s anglers, the program faces continued challenges in acquiring sustained partnership funding and evaluating the success of projects at both a component and ecological scale.