PHOTO
BY
ERIC
FOWLER
16 NEBRASKAland • MARCH 2017
Mapping the Missouri
By Renae Blum
Flowing for about 400 miles along Nebraska's eastern
border, the Missouri River, along with the lands open to
public access along its banks, is a prime place for recreation
of all kinds: fishing, hunting, boating, canoeing, kayaking
and more. It's also within easy reach for many of us: More
people live within an hour's drive of the Missouri than any
other river (or lake) in the state.
If you're planning a trip to the Missouri River or are
curious about what you can do there, one resource to
explore is the Missouri River Outdoor Recreation Access
Guide, an online, mobile-friendly interactive map created
by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. All 164
public access sites along the river are marked clearly, with
notes on boating, fishing, hunting, camping and wildlife
viewing opportunities at each site. The map is also a handy
navigational guide, showing river mile markers, proximity
to cities and other sites, and boat ramp locations in case of
emergency.
The mapping application is the product of more than
five years of work and input from more than a dozen
experts across Game and Parks' various divisions. From
the beginning, the goal was to compile the vast amount of
information that staff had gathered over the years into one
place, so that users could see in a glance all their recreation
options in a particular area.
The application does more than simply share information.
It's an example of storytelling mapping, a type of mapping
that incorporates narratives, images, video and
more to provide a closer look at
the map's subject.
Storytelling mapping was developed by ESRI, a software
company in the GIS geospatial community. Game and Parks
IT applications developer Trisha Schlake built the map using
ESRI's new storytelling mapping templates, incorporating
NEBRASKAland photography and in-depth narratives
about recreational opportunities and various segments of
the Missouri. She also added links where users can access
guidebooks, reserve campsites and buy permits. Last spring,
Schlake entered the map in an international storytelling
mapping contest held by ESRI, winning first place in the
category of Travel, Destination and Recreation.
"The possibilities are almost endless on how we can use
this technology to share information," said Game and Parks
Director Jim Douglas. "This interactive map really allows us
to help more people enjoy all aspects of the Missouri River."
View the Missouri River Outdoor Recreation Access Guide
at maps.outdoornebraska.gov/MRRecreationGuide. ■
