Agencies remove carp, add ramp to Cottontail

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By the Lincoln Journal Star

Cottontail Lake near Martell was renovated July 13 to remove common carp and install a new concrete boat ramp.

The 29-acre lake will be restocked with largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish later this summer and fall.

The project was a joint effort of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District.

Water, prey fish added to Elwood Reservoir

Water deliveries and prey fish stockings at Elwood Reservoir will hopefully help game fish at the drought-stricken reservoir south of Lexington.

In June, 15.5 feet of water was delivered to Elwood, which came after a 9-foot delivery in December. The deliveries were possible because central Platte River flows remained above target flows established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and they exceeded existing instream flow rights.

The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, the Central Platte Natural Resources District, the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, and the Game and Parks Commission cooperated on the project. The commission and the CNPPID shared the $74,600 cost of the project.

Since 2004, low water levels in Elwood have threatened the reservoir’s fishery of walleye, wipers, channel catfish and muskellunge.

The commission continues to monitor water quality and fish populations in the reservoir. Spring sampling efforts revealed a lack of gizzard shad and alewife, the primary prey fish in Elwood. In June, adult shad and alewife were stocked, and they have since spawned.

Walleye stockings have been adjusted to match reservoir water levels, while stockings of channel catfish, muskellunge and wipers have been either adjusted or postponed. Boat access is limited to the temporary rock-based boat ramp adjacent to the main concrete ramp.

Four-wheel drive vehicles are still recommended, but larger boats should have access for most of the rest of the summer.

Swan Creek lake gets angling improvements

Swan Creek 67 Lake near Swanton recently underwent changes to make the lake more accommodating to anglers.

Several jetties were built to allow better access to deeper water, and a concrete boat ramp was installed. The 39-acre lake was renovated July 19 to remove common carp and will be restocked with bass, bluegill and channel catfish later this summer and fall.

The project was a joint effort of The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the Lower Big Blue Natural Resources District.