Lake Wanahoo Dedication Ceremony Held

View the Photo Gallery – The Lake Wanahoo and Sand Creek Environmental Restoration Project dedication ceremony took place Sept. 29 at Wahoo. Approximately 250 guests attended the event, which included a pancake breakfast.

Speaking at the dedication were Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy, U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson, U.S. Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Omaha District Commander Joel Cross, state Sen. Chris Langemeier, Wahoo Mayor Jerry Johnson, Saunders County Supervisor Doris Karloff, Nebraska Natural Resources Commission and Lower Platte North Natural Resources District (LPNNRD) Director Clint Johannes, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Deputy Director Tim McCoy and Nebraska Environmental Trust Executive Director Mark Brohman.

John Miyoshi, manager of the LPNNRD, read a letter from former Congressman Doug Bereuter, who was unable to attend. Bereuter had helped gain federal support early in the project. The dam at Lake Wanahoo was designated the Doug Bereuter Dam.

The trail around the lake was designated the Ben Nelson Breakwater Trail after the senator continued where Bereuter left off and garnered additional federal support. The new shower house on the west side of the lake was designated the Daryl Reitmajer Show House. The former Wahoo mayor and LPNNRD board member was a longtime supporter of the project. The east side of the lake was designated the Ron Larsen Day Use Area. Larsen supported the project during his term as LPNNRD director.

Game and Parks manages the recreation at Lake Wanahoo as Lake Wanahoo State Recreation Area (SRA). Since opening on April 28, 2012, the SRA has seen 324,000 visitors.  Visit the Lake Wanahoo Parks Page for more information and to download a brochure