Surveys by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission show many Sandhills lakes fared better than expected after a harsh winter led to fish kills.
Deep snow over thick ice this winter caused oxygen depletion in many of the region’s most shallow and vegetated lakes, causing fish and the plants they rely upon for survival to die.
As surveys are completed, Game and Parks is developing a stocking plan to replenish the fish populations where needed.
Anglers looking for the most recent information about winterkill surveys may follow the NGPC Fisheries Facebook page. They also can contact Game and Parks fisheries biologists at the Alliance, Valentine and Norfolk offices.
Surveyed lakes with severe winterkill:
Brown County: Cozad Lake at South Pine Wildlife Management Area, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Tower Lake on Yellowthroat WMA.
Cherry County: Watts, Duck and West Long lakes on Valentine National Wildlife Refuge
Garden County: Smith Lake and Island lakes on Crescent Lake NWR
Rock County: Bassett City Lakes
Sheridan County: Smith Lake WMA
Surveyed lakes with partial winterkill:
Cherry County: Pelican and Hackberry lakes on Valentine NWR
Surveyed lakes with minor or no winterkill:
Brown County: Willow Lake WMA
Cherry County: Clear, Dewey and Rice lakes on Valentine NWR, Cottonwood-Steverson WMA
Garden County: Crane Lake on Crescent Lake NWR, Crescent Lake WMA
Grant County: Avocet Lake WMA
Rock County: Twin Lakes WMA
Lakes not surveyed with probable significant winterkill:
Garden County: Island Lake on Crescent Lake NWR
Rock County: Peterson Lake WMA
Sioux County: Agate and Boardgate reservoirs on the Oglala National Grassland
Lakes not surveyed with probable partial winterkill:
Cherry County: Shell Lake WMA
Sheridan County: Walgren Lake State Recreation Area
Lakes not surveyed with probable high survival:
Cherry County: Home Valley Lake
Grant County: Frye Lake WMA