14 Nebraska Game and Parks Commission • 2016 Annual Report
C O O L - W A T E R S T R E A M S
The new Cool-Water Streams program has deployed
more than 90 continuous temperature loggers in 30
streams across north central and northwest Nebraska.
The Stream Team has completed an instream habitat
enhancement project on Long Pine Creek, initiated a
riparian restoration project on the Snake River and is
designing the restoration of Dry Spotted Tail Creek.
Four more projects are currently in the planning stages
and should be implemented in 2017.
F R E S H W A T E R M U S S E L R E S T O R A T I O N
Due to population declines of native freshwater
mussels, Game and Parks initiated propagation
efforts to raise mussels in hatcheries to augment
existing populations and to restore them to their
historic range. In 2016, 6,592 plain pocketbook
mussels were released back into the following
streams: Elkhorn River (Holt County), Cache Creek
(Holt County), Shell Creek (Platte County) and
Rose Creek (Jefferson County). These mussels were
approximately 1.5-1.75 inches in length and 15
months of age. The mussel can grow up to 7 inches
in length. All the mussels were marked for future
reference and research.
R O A D M A P F O R F U T U R E O F
F I S H E R I E S
Game and Parks embarked on an effort to create a
"Road Map for Fisheries Plan" during 2016. This plan
is designed to create a pathway for future fisheries
emphasis and direction. A meeting was held in March
to develop a vision and goals for fisheries. Public
meetings were held across the state to gather input
from stakeholders. An external review of the agencies
fish hatchery facilities is near completion that will be
incorporated into the comprehensive plan.
