28 2023 Annual Report
•
Management
Wildlife Crimestoppers introduces
online submission form
A new online Nebraska Wildlife Crimestoppers submission form
makes it easier and more convenient for people to report game
violations. The form is accessible via OutdoorNebraska.gov, which
gives users in the field access to it through their mobile phones. The
form also is accessible via a QR code printed in the hunting, fishing
and boating guides.
With this change, the agency's Crimestoppers webpage was
updated to include information on what details should be provided
when reporting a game violation, as well as a list of common
wildlife violations in Nebraska.
Sandhills fisheries
look to rebound after
hard-hitting winter
Early ice and abundant snowfall throughout the winter
contributed to unfavorable conditions in many Sandhills
lakes in western and north-central Nebraska. This resulted in
complete or partial fish population die-offs, often referred to as
"winterkill," in several water bodies.
Winterkill occurs when aquatic plants are deprived of
sunlight due to snow cover shading. Instead of producing
oxygen via photosynthesis, the plants die back, and the
decaying process takes up the little oxygen available in the
water. The result: little to no oxygen for fish in the lake.
Fisheries crews monitored oxygen levels through late
winter and conducted widespread fish surveys after ice-out to
determine the extent of the winterkill. State fish hatcheries
responded, raising more yellow perch, bluegill, largemouth
bass and northern pike than typical years, and re-prioritizing
stocking efforts where fish were needed most.
Winterkill is a natural and cyclical process for shallow
Sandhills lakes. The productivity and dynamic nature of these
systems will allow the lakes to recover and offer outstanding
fisheries once again.
The sun sets over icy Whitney Lake.
