Building Them Right the First Time: Nebraska's New Reservoir Technical Assistance Program

The heyday of reservoir construction is long over, but with climate change the need to provide additional flood protection and augment water supplies may be increasing in the Midwest.  Early in the 1990’s, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission began working with Natural Resource Districts to ensure that planning and construction of new reservoirs incorporated the structural features necessary to extend the functional life of the impoundment as well as provide quality recreational amenities.  This presentation will focus on how we worked together to address watershed inputs, construct long lasting aquatic habitat features within the reservoir, and develop access amenities for anglers and recreational boaters.  The recent construction of nine reservoirs has created 1,500 surface acres (sa) of new fishing opportunities near urban centers that are experiencing very high use.  Our agency has provided on average $5,421/sa (SE ± $1,001) to assist in constructing angler and boating friendly features.   This a tenth of the cost expended by our Aquatic Habitat Program to rehabilitate aging reservoirs.  Small investments of staff time and Sport Fish Restoration funds have yielded new fisheries at a much lower cost than our rehabilitation efforts.