Lincoln, NE—This spring in 2010, landowners in the northcentral region will have an opportunity to enroll their land, lakes, ponds, rivers and streams in the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Open Fields and Waters Program. They may be eligible to receive payment for allowing public walk-in hunting and fishing on those areas.
The Open Fields and Waters Program will allow enrollment of land types not currently allowed in the Conservation Reserve Program-Management Access Program (CRP-MAP).
For the lands portion, the program is focused on sites that must have a core of mature woodland or quality wetland hunting habitat, which will complement the grassland/upland game focus of the existing CRP-MAP. However, land cannot be enrolled in both CRP-MAP and the Open Fields and Waters Program at the same time.
The program divides the state into two zones. The program’s primary target area, which includes lands near large population centers and along the Platte River, will offer higher rates for public access and will receive more staff emphasis for enrollment. Lands enrolled elsewhere will be offered a reduced rate.
Landowners may be paid as much as $12 per acre for enrolling high quality woodlands or wetlands in the program’s target area and allowing hunter access to their land during all hunting seasons. Payments for hunting access range from $1-$12 per acre. The payment to landowners who enroll lakes or ponds in the program for fishing access will be $250 for bodies of water up to one acre and an additional $40 per acre for larger waters. Access to streams and rivers bordered by private land will be paid at the rate $750 per mile for cold water trout streams and rivers, and $500 per mile for warm water. Other rates will be paid depending on the quality and type of habitat enrolled in the program and the types of hunting permitted on the land.
The Open Fields and Waters Program was developed under the auspices of the Commission’s Recruitment, Development and Retention (RDR) plan, which seeks to develop future, current and past hunters and anglers in Nebraska. The RDR plan intends to help pass on the state’s rich outdoor heritage to Nebraska’s citizens and future generations.
“The Open Fields and Waters Program shows the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is committed to improving public access for hunting and fishing in the northcentral region of Nebraska. Our private landowners are the key to helping us keep our citizens involved in outdoor recreation by providing opportunities to fish and hunt,” said Bill Vodehnal, northcentral region district manager.
More information about the Open Fields and Waters Program can be found on the Commission’s web site at www.OutdoorNebraska.org. Program information is available on request at the Commission’s Bassett district office by calling (402) 684-2921.