2009 Nebraska Sport Fishing Restoration Grants

The Sport Fish Restoration Program, which is one of the programs funded and authorized by the Dingell-Johnson/Wallop Breaux Act established in 1950, awards grants that improve recreational boating and fishing opportunities throughout the nation. The funding for these grants comes from a 3% tax on electric motors, a 10% tax on fishing equipment, import duties on fishing tackle as well as pleasure yachts and boats, motorboat and small engine fuel tax and interest earned on the Sport Fish Restoration Trust Fund.

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible for administering the Sport Fish Restoration Program grants that are awarded to state agencies throughout the nation, such as the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. In 2009, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission was awarded 12 grants. These 12 grants were the Missouri River Studies, the Statewide fisheries Enhancement Program "Intensive Fisheries Management of Selected Lentic Waters" Program, the Maintenance of Operation of Selected Fish Hatcheries, the Statewide Fisheries Management - Survey and Inventory of Statewide Fisheries, the Sandhill Lakes Fisheries Management Project, the Limnological Assessment of Harlan County Reservoir, the Statewide Private Waters Program, the Sherman Reservoir Aquatic Habitat Assessment Project, the Platte River Catfish Population Dynamics Project, the Population Assessments of Fishes in Nebraska Reservoirs Project, the Administration of Program Lands In-Lieu of Taxes Program and the Angler Behavior in Response to Management Actions in Nebraska Program.

The Missouri River Studies Project is funded by an $84,938.10 grant that continues from March 1, 2009 until February 28, 2010. This grant provides funding for monitoring the population of the state's sportfish including paddlefish, minnows, catfish, sturgeon, native river fish and species that have been introduced.

The Statewide fisheries Enhancement Program "Intensive Fisheries Management of Selected Lentic Waters" Program is funded by an $811,931 grant and runs from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009. This grant provides funding for the enhancement of the quality of fishing on sandpits and impoundment throughout Nebraska. This is to be accomplished by funding the Nebraska Aquatic Habitat Program, by eradicating undesirable population of fish species, by restocking with sport fish species, by funding improvement to the locations such as installing and maintaining aeration systems, fish feeders, fish habitats and protecting shoreline that is eroding. This grant also funds the maintenance of water quality and sediment trapping efficiency.

The Maintenance of Operation of Selected Fish Hatcheries Project is funded by an $886,050 grant and runs from January 11, 2009 through December 31, 2009. This grant provides funding for the operations and maintenance of the Valentine, North Platte and Calamus State Fish Hatcheries.

The Statewide Fisheries Management - Survey and Inventory of Statewide Fisheries is funded by a $282,000 grant and runs from April 1, 2009 through March 31, 2010. This grant provides funding for studying the fish populations in various Nebraska waters and to study the angler harvest data from these waters. This fund also evaluates the chemical, physical and biological characteristics of aquatic habitats and to aid in the development of fishery management plans that would produce an optimum sustained yield of fish in the waters of Nebraska.

The Sandhill Lakes Fisheries Management Project is funded by an $81,378 grant and extends from March 1, 2009 through February 28, 2010. This grant provides funding for researching the bluegill and yellow perch populations located in Nebraska's Sandhill lakes.

The Limnological Assessment of Harlan County Reservoir is funded by a $102,808 grant and continues from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009. This grant provides funding for researching zooplankton in the Harlan County Reservoir and the role it plays in the food cycle of fish larvae diets.

The Statewide Private Waters Program is funded by a $51,150 grant and runs from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009. This grant provides funding for the coordination and management for a program that assists owners of private bodies of water with technical management support. It also provides funding for stocking programs, producing literature relevant to managing private waters and promoting the program, for a program that would benefit owners of private water bodies for allowing "unlimited public access" and funding for surveying angler use and harvest as well as surveys for owners of private water bodies.

The Sherman Reservoir Aquatic habitat Assessment Project is funded by a $44,023 grant and runs from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009. This grant provides funding for a crappie and walleye spawning biology research project at the Sherman Reservoir.

The Platte River Catfish Population Dynamics Project is funded by a $48,320 grant and runs from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009. This grant provides funding for researching the catfish population in the Platte River System.

The Population Assessments of Fishes in Nebraska Reservoirs Project is funded by an $82,549 grant and extends from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009. This grant provides funding for providing "baseline information on channel catfish population" located in the lentic systems of Nebraska and for studies done to aid in increasing the effectiveness of management of various activities related to these populations.

The Administration of Program Lands In-Lieu of Taxes Program is funded by a $50,000 grant and continues from March 1, 2009 through February 28, 2010. This grant provides funding for managing and coordinating the "payment in-lieu of taxes" for land throughout Nebraska that was acquired after January 1, 1977 for the purpose of wildlife management.

The Angler Behavior In Response to Management Actions in Nebraska is funded by a $618,371 grant and runs from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009. This grant provides funding for a study that documents the participation of anglers and their harvest amounts on the Nebraska waters.

The Sport Fish Restoration Program, which funds many grants, provides a cycle that begins and ends with the user of the facility where the grant has been awarded. The funds that are spent getting to the water and while on the water often help fund the grant that is awarded to make improvements as deemed necessary. Improvements such as the ones for which these grants have been awarded in the State of Nebraska create a safer and more accessible way for boaters and anglers to enjoy the vast bodies of water throughout Nebraska. The fund established by the Dingell-Johnson/Wallop Breaux Act enables boaters and anglers to invest in the recreational pastime that they choose each and every time they venture out on the water. Grants awarded by The Sport Fish Restoration Program are calculated using a formula that includes land area, the number of paid license holders as well as minimums and maximum. These grants are disbursed on a reimbursement basis of up to 75% of the cost of the project and up to 100% of the cost of projects for United States territories.