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E C O N O M I C I M P A C T
Outdoor recreation contributes greatly to our quality of life. In Nebraska, hunting, fishing,
wildlife viewing and state park visitation supports more than 24,000 jobs and has an economic
impact of more than $2.64 billion annually.
B Y T H E N U M B E R S
Nebraska's state park system is made up of 78 areas encompassing 105,344 acres. The state
park system includes:
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8 state parks, comprising 31,836 acres
•
58 state recreation areas, comprising 66,867 acres
•
10 state historical parks, comprising 2,497 acres
•
2 state recreation trails, comprising 4,144 acres and 324 miles.
Additionally, wildlife management areas, as well as private lands enrolled in the Open Fields
and Waters program, offer walk-in access for hunting, fishing and trapping.
•
Lands enrolled in Open Fields and Waters: 346,973 land acres, 561 water/wetland acres,
and 44.5 river miles
•
Wildlife management areas: 289 areas encompassing 190,884 acres
M A I N T A I N I N G T H E P U B L I C T R U S T
Public outreach and partnerships have helped the Commission create and maintain the
trust of Nebraskans. A multi state survey completed in 2019 called Wildlife Values in the
West looked at the values, attitudes and beliefs of citizens across the nation and in Nebraska,
in relation to fish and wildlife management. Information from this survey can help the
Commission understand the public's interest in fish and wildlife and its perspectives on
management of natural resources. The study found that 69% of Nebraskans expressed trust in
the Commission to do what is right for the state's fish and wildlife.
