March 2022 • Nebraskaland 59
If Game and Parks sees continued
growth and demand at the recreation
areas, it will bring continued need
for investments in infrastructure,
facilities and services to provide the
best opportunities. Changing to the
reservation-only system means Game
and Parks now can better predict its
staffing needs and costs, such as trash
collection — one of the major service
expenses for the parks. Changes to
park entry permits by the Nebraska
Legislature also mean Game and Parks
will see added revenue through higher
nonresident park entry permit fees,
effective in 2022, helping to offset any
new expenses, including to build or
maintain infrastructure.
Other successes have created a win
for two threatened and endangered
species and for the Central Nebraska
Public Power and Irrigation District,
which is tasked with protecting terns
and plovers to maintain its operating
license. Creating designated beach
campsites in 2021 reduced the tern and
plover nest site disturbances that have
long threatened the species' survival.
The Right Course
Comments from the public
overwhelmingly have been positive,
but concerns have been fielded from
a small number of businesses that
reported decreased revenue in 2021.
However, many locals and visitors say
the changes were overdue.
Frequent lake visitor Kelly
Rohrbouck of North Platte suspects
there are many more supporters of the
changes than opponents, even if they
are not as vocal. Her family of four
now spends its summers in a trailer
at Lake McConaughy, a purchase they
made after five years of camping at
Lake Ogallala and crossing the dam
to McConaughy for fishing and other
day use.
"First and foremost, I feel safer,"
she said. "Crowds are still common,
but seem to be manageable and less
confrontational. Also, the ease of
being able to find a spot on the water
where I didn't feel like a jerk setting
up my day-use stuff virtually on top
of someone — or five different groups
huddled around a sliver of land — was
amazing."
Even though the initial reviews
are extremely positive, longtime
law enforcement and emergency
responders have not declared victory
because of one year's results. Having
seen problems at the lake ebb and
flow like coastal waters over the years,
they temper their optimism with
cautiousness.
Similar to those who take the
helm of sailboats at the big water of
Lake McConaughy, officials consider
changes in management strategy
an exciting — albeit challenging —
adventure. Complications may arise,
but officials believe they, and their
partners, are on the right course.
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