New Life for Aging Waters

As aquatic habitat degrades, reproduction and growth of fish species that live near the shore and can be caught from the bank decline. Continued stocking of largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie and northern pike accomplishes little as quiet, clear, vegetated water is replaced by roiling, muddy water.

From the 1920s through the 1980s, nearly 145,000 acres of multi-purpose reservoirs were constructed in Nebraska, primarily for flood protection and irrigation. During this period, anglers could turn their backs on reservoirs where fishing had begun to decline and concentrate on new, highly productive waters. When major reservoir construction halted in the mid-1980s, a decline in the quality of fishing was inevitable.

Today, most Nebraska reservoirs are past their prime and aging rapidly. They are filling with sediment, their shorelines are eroding, and their water is becoming muddy. Many reservoirs are drastically drawn down in summer because of irrigation demands.

Those conditions not only reduce the number of fish, but community, said Don Gabelhouse, administrator of the Game and Parks Commission's Fisheries Division. "As a reservoir degrades, populations of fish species that live near shore and can be caught from the bank decline. Stocking more largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie and northern pike accomplishes little if quiet, clear water with aquatic vegetation is being replaced by wind-swept, muddy water. Brush piles and tire reefs can never match the food production and overall habitat value of even a modest weedbed.

"Reservoirs in this second stage of existence are best suited for open-water fish, such as walleyes, white bass, wipers and white crappies. A boat is almost a necessity to consistently catch these open-water fish, and opportunities for bank fishing are drastically reduced. Thus, angler use declines as reservoirs age.

"Reservoirs were built with a calculated life expectancy. In advanced stages of aging, their fish communities consist of species that thrive in murky, shallow systems with low oxygen content, species like bullheads and carp. However, we cannot stand by and watch this occur. We need to 'turn back the clock' and rehabilitate our aging reservoirs."

On February 23, 1996, the Nebraska Legislature began the process of turning back the clock with the passage of a bill creating the nation's first state Aquatic Habitat Stamp. The stamp, to be purchased by most Nebraska anglers starting January 1, 1997, will be used to enhance and restore aquatic habitat in the state's waters. Revenue generated from stamp sales will be deposited in an Aquatic Habitat Fund, and before any money is spent, the Appropriations and Natural Resources committees of the 1997 Nebraska Legislature must approve a plan detailing anticipated expenditures.

But for the Aquatic Habitat Fund to be effective, both anglers and legislative committees must understand why Nebraska needs such a program, what kinds of projects will be undertaken, what benefits the environment, fish populations and anglers can expect when the work is completed, and which reservoirs and lakes will be improved throughout the next six years.