Significantly modifying a lake or reservoir is a huge, costly undertaking
involving moving sediment by the thousands of cubic yards, large rocks
by the thousands of tons and water by the hundreds of acre-feet. Even
before the heavy equipment arrives, design and engineering costs usually have reached at least 15
percent of the total project cost.
Obviously, a $5 Aquatic Habitat Stamp generating $1 million per year will not go far, but with
help from other funding sources, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Clean Water
Act, USFWS Sport Fish Restoration Act, Corps of Engineers grants, Nebraska Environmental
Trust Fund grants, Fish America grants and cooperative endeavors with Natural Resource
Districts, cities and counties, more than $2 million per year could be available.
Even if enough money is available, the Game and Parks Commission's ability to stay on schedule
will be affected by weather conditions and other logistical constraints. Heavy equipment cannot
excavate basins that remain wet because of precipitation, for example, and flexibility will be
required. The Commission also must be able to take advantage of opportunities such as
drawdowns and inspections conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Nebraska
Public Power District, or changing irrigation district water needs.
