NRD Recreation Sites

BUFFALO COUNTY

*Cottonmill Lake -located northwest of Kearney owned and operated by City of Kearney: swimming fishing fitness trail, nature viewing. As part of a renovation project funded in part by the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund CPNRD provided shore stabilization & erosion protection.

*Heritage Park - southwest Kearney: under development as a City of Kearney park mostly with a grant from a local family CPNRD has completed work to alleviate flooding problems in the area.

*Off-Road Crane Viewing Site: located 3 miles west of the Richard Plautz Crane Viewing Site on State Spur L-10C; off-road parking. An ISTEA grant was acquired (Audubon Society Rowe Sanctuary provided the land for the site) to improve safety for crane viewers and local traffic.

*Richard Plautz Crane Viewing Site: located 2 miles south of I-80/Gibbon interchange on State Spur L-10C; waterfowl viewing deck off-road parking & walking trail. An ISTEA grant was acquired (matching funds from CPNRD and Buffalo County to improve safety for crane viewers and local traffic.  Owned and operated by CPNRD.   
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DAWSON COUNTY

*B-1 Reservoir: located 10 miles north, 5 miles west of Lexington; nature hiking CPNRD developed the recreational area as part of a multi-use project (flood control and recharge demonstration).  
Owned & operated by CPNRD.   In addition to flood control, the purpose of the project was expanded to include recreation and groundwater recharge.  Cracks were identified in the B-1 structure in the fall of 1983.  Repair  consisted  of  installing  a chimney drain system on the back side of the structure. Repair was completed in 1985.  In 1987, the reservoir was opened for day fishing.  In 1995, a petition from numerous landowners in Dawson county requested that the NRD discontinue filling the reservoir because they were concerned that the reservoir was contributing to high water tables in Dawson County.  Hydrological studies conducted by the NRD showed that the B-1 reservoir made no significant contribution to the high water tables and that projected groundwater declines had not materialized due to continued strong annual rainfall amounts.  However, the request to stop filling the reservoir was granted effective January 1, 1996.  By shutting off water supplied by the NPPD canal, the natural runoff flow which is insufficient to support a fishery, is virtually the only source for the reservoir.   In May 2009, the board voted to start filling the B-1 Reservoir in Lexington every other year starting in spring of 2010. The NRD is required to fill the reservoir once every five years to keep the NRD’s water right.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HALL COUNTY

*Alda Trail Site: located 1.5 miles south of Alda on State Spur L-40C; preservation of historical trails (Mormon, California and Fort Kearney trails) at the Townsley-Murdock site. CPNRD provided fencing for the area, which is accessible by the public. Owned and operated by CPNRD..

*Eagle Scout Lake: located in Grand Island in the intersection of North U.S. 281 and Broadwell Avenue; fishing, picnicking, walking trail. The lake was originally a "super cell"' for CPNRD's Moores Creek Flood Control Project and was turned over to the city which developed the recreation features with a sizeable financial contribution from CPNRD.  Map

*Hall County Crane Viewing Deck Site: located 2 mi. south of I-80/Alda interchange; waterfowl viewing deck, off-road parking. An ISTEA grant was acquired to improve safety for crane viewers and local traffic. Hall County has rifle to the property and will further develop the area as a park.

*Off-Road Crane Viewing Site: located 4 mi. west of U.S. 281 on Platte Road 5 mi. south on Platte River Road off-road parking. An ISTEA grant was acquired (matching funds from CPNRD & Hall County) to improve safety for crone viewers and local traffic.   Owned and operated by CPNRD.