Post date: Aug 16, 2014 2:37:57 AM

Johnson Lake project on its way

By HEATHER JOHNSON hjohnson@nptelegraph.com | Posted: Friday, August 15, 2014 3:00 am

Johnson Lake project on its way

Johnson Lake will soon be the site of an angler access improvement project. Water levels on the lake will decrease during renovations.

Officials say a new project will make fishing better and more accessible at Johnson Lake.

Located south of Lexington, the lake is popular among anglers because it is home to a variety of fish including walleye, white bass and wipers. Soon, it will be easier than ever to catch them.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission plans to start an improvement project near the inlet this fall. Mark Porath, aquatic habitat program manager, said both the north and south shorelines will be affected.

“At the waterline, the rock will be pulled back and a wall will be put in,” Porath said. “We’re going to pour a concrete sidewalk so people have a place to stand. We want to improve the safety of the area so people are less likely to fall.”

The south side will be handicapped-accessible and include a cement parking pad next to an existing shelter. The north side is too steep for wheelchairs, but will have steps.

“In addition to that, we will put in some rock shoals, which are slightly raised areas with different textures on the bottoms to attract fish,” Porath said. “Fish like things that provide protection from the current. The shoals are a good place for them to sit and wait for food to come by.”

The renovations will be paid for with money from fishing permits and a tax on tackle.

“This is a completely angler-funded project,” Porath said.

While crews are in the area, they will also extend a rock structure out about 25 feet near the boat ramp.

“We noticed that at high water levels, there’s not a lot of wind and wave protection,” Porath said. “So we will add to the breakwall to help with that.”

His goal is to be done with the upgrades by the end of the year. Construction won’t be able to start, however, until water levels go down significantly.

According to the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, the lake will remain at normal summer levels until Sept. 1. Stored water will then be used to round out the final deliveries of the irrigation season, which ends Sept. 8.

Lake levels will return to normal operating levels until Oct. 8, at which point, the drawdown for the angler improvement project will begin. Cory Steinke, CNPPID civil engineer, said all shore stations will need to be out of the water before that time.

The total reduction of the lake will be dependent on the water supply. CNPPID anticipates it could be as much as 10 feet below normal levels.

Work will affect water levels, make fishing even better