Nebraskaland

48 Nebraskaland • July 2021 t the very southwestern corner of Nebraska in Dundy County lies a truly serene area that is sure to surprise those that venture there. Rock Creek Lake State Recreation Area is a small 54-acre area, with a 50-acre lake fed by the cold spring waters of Rock Creek. Located 4 miles north and a mile east of Parks, Nebraska, this quaint SRA has primitive camping only at roughly 43 non-pad sites, one vault toilet and fi ve primitive restrooms. A new water well is slated for completion this summer. The area off ers numerous picnic tables and grills for both day use and camping. The lake opened in 1935 and was an 80-acre body of water that was the deepest lake in the state at the time. Back then the lake was stocked with bass, trout, crappies and bullheads. Currently, the lake's fi shery is on the rebound after going through a renovation. In 2019, fi sh surveys showed signifi cant declines in abundance and growth of largemouth bass and other sport fi sh due to the high numbers of gizzard shad in the lake. In 2020, the lake underwent a fi sh renovation to improve water quality and sportfi sh potential by eliminating the shad. Sport fi sh were salvaged from the lake before rotenone was applied to remove undesirable fi sh. In an eff ort to prevent accidental introduction of gizzard shad again, a "No Live Baitfi sh" regulation is now in place. The lake was restocked last fall with largemouth bass, black crappie and yellow perch. Adult redear sunfi sh along with adult largemouth bass and channel catfi sh are planned to be stocked this year. Rainbow and tiger trout will not be stocked back into the lake until spring of 2022 to allow the stocked fi sh to gain a good foothold. Typically, Rock Creek is one of Nebraska's great trout fi sheries and is known for holding some of the biggest largemouth bass around. Sean Farrier, fi sheries biologist for the lake, is confi dent the lake will return as a trophy fi shery: "About year three after a renovation, the fi sh will take off , and we'll be seeing some of those bigger fi sh again," he said. Rock Creek Lake State Recreation Area Serenity in southwestern Nebraska By Julie Geiser Paislee Erickson, right and Elyn Bargmann reach for the last light of the sun from one of the fi shing nodes. The nodes are great for picnicking as well. JULIE GEISER, NEBRASKALAND A Rock Creek Lake State Recreation Area Rock Creek Lake SRA is located roughly 4 miles to the northwest of Parks, which is 1 mile off of highway 34 to the north and 10 miles west of Benkelman. The area has a 50-acre lake with 54 acres of land. This area off ers camping, hiking, boating, fi shing and picnicking, as well as primitive camping. A park entry permit is required and may be purchased at Game and Parks offi ces and permit vendors or in advance of your arrival online.

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