OutdoorNebraska

26 2020 Annual Report • State Parks M A J O R I N V E S T M E N T S C O N T I N U E U N D E R T H E L A K E M c C O N A U G H Y / L A K E O G A L L A L A M A S T E R P L A N Nebraska's largest and busiest reservoir continued seeing major improvements throughout 2020, outlined in the Commission's Lake McConaughy Master Plan, implemented in 2016. Significant investments were made in 2020 on new developments and existing amenity preservations, including a major asphalt overlay on Shoreline Road, designation of three new campgrounds with 170 basic campsites, upgrades to the Cedar View Campground, including eight accessible camp pads, two new shower and restroom facilities, 102 new picnic tables, five new gravel parking lots at beach access points, and a new electronic gating system at Arthur Bay and Sandy Beach to manage park entrance after hours. Myriad minor improvements also were completed, including highway and road signage, water system repairs, and an expanded nature trail at the Lake McConaughy Visitor Center. These investments were funded by the Commission's Capital Maintenance Fund and various park revenues, local tourism grants from the Keith County Visitor's Committee and the Nebraska Recreation Road Program. Local stakeholders play a vital role in the implementation of the Master Plan. The Lake McConaughy Advisory Committee collaborated with agency staff on issues related to visitor capacity, law enforcement, labor recruitment and development planning, and provided input about regulation changes to prohibit the consumption of alcohol at Lake McConaughy. New developments for 2021 include the designation of a motorized water trail at Lake McConaughy, a $3 million investment that provides boating access improvements at Martin Bay and Cedar View, funded by the Commission's Capital Maintenance Fund, Park revenues, U.S. Fish and Wildlife's Sportfish Restoration Fund and the Federal Highway Administration's Recreational Trails Program. Also, a major renovation of the busiest park entrance, Martin Bay, will be under construction in 2021. Continued success at Lake McConaughy will depend on the ability to address park capacity issues into the near future. While significant investments have been made to improve the area, more work remains on solving critical issues, such as overcrowding and the protection of natural resources. The new campground at Lake Ogallala State Recreation Area.

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