OutdoorNebraska

2019 Annual Report • Nebraska Game and Parks Commission 3 Dear partners in conservation, 2019 at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and across the state was a year of addressing the unexpected. Devastating flooding in March and July s wept away roads, campgrounds, boat ramps and more at many park areas. Niobrara State Park was effectively isolated when bridges outside the entrance were destroyed. The Cowboy Trail sustained major damage, as did maintenance shops and access roads at several wildlife management areas. The damage was major, but we were fortunate. No staff or visitors were hurt. Our conservation officers worked long hours in dangerous conditions to evacuate several communities, staff worked hard to put affected properties back together, and hundreds of parks visitors turned out to help clean up debris. We moved quickly to repair roads and other infrastructure, and upgraded electrical pedestals at several campgrounds. Our staff responded with agility and ingenuity, while keeping an eye on the future. This response reinforced a few things that have long been evident to me: our staff cares deeply about the resources we manage, the public cherishes our state's parks and other outdoor resources, and Nebraskans, by and large, value the Commission's work. According to the 2019 Wildlife Values in the West survey, around 70% of Nebraskans approve of Game and Parks and our work. It is always rewarding to know that your work is appreciated, but more rewarding is knowing that this approval comes after years of hard work. For five years, we have been steadily addressing the backlog of capital maintenance needs across our state park system. For nearly as long, we've been expanding our parks' educational opportunities. We've also begun drafting master plans for our parks so that they remain vibrant and offer activities and amenities that continue to resonate with the public. At Schramm Park State Recreation Area, we completed a huge renovation of Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium, converting it into a state-of-the art nature center. At Lake McConaughy, where skyrocketing visitation resulted in strains on infrastructure and emergency services and posed potential risks to endangered shore birds, we are creating an advisory committee to address issues and make the lake a more family- friendly destination. Our quick response extended beyond our parks to wildlife management endeavors. As row crops have replaced grasslands in western Nebraska, grassland birds and many other species have become displaced, some eating the crops that have replaced their old grounds. In 2019 we worked directly with several landowners to cull the herds and curtail crop losses. We also engaged in extensive outreach about resources for landowners facing crop damage, including a new program pairing landowners with hunters who wish to harvest antlerless deer. We've also made huge gains in the acres enrolled in our Open Fields and Waters Program, which allows walk-in hunting and fishing access on private lands enrolled in the program. Access is one of the largest barriers to hunting, and we have worked hard to make sure as many hunters as possible have access to high-quality public land. On the heels of our successful Trout Slam and Upland Slam, we introduced a new Duck Slam. We encouraged hunters and anglers to introduce someone new to hunting or fishing through our Take 'Em Hunting and Take 'Em Fishing programs, introducing thousands to the time-honored traditions of hunting and fishing in Nebraska. Someday, these new hunters and anglers will likely buy permits and stamps, participating in the future of conservation in Nebraska. We will be here for them too; agile, forward-thinking and devoted to Nebraska's natural resources, as always. T il i d j Sincerely, James N. Douglas Director From the Director

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