LINCOLN Nebraskans can learn about the states new Aquatic Habitat Plan by attending one of a series of meetings around the state, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

A meeting will be held in Kearney at 7 p.m. today at the Harmon Park Activity Center, Sixth Avenue and 31st Street.

A meeting will also be Monday, March 3 at the Bonfire Grill in Broken Bow.

The agency's initial aquatic habitat plan contained 49 projects. The first project was begun in 1997. All but four of the projects have been completed, thanks mostly to funding from the Aquatic Habitat Stamp, which was created by the Nebraska Legislature in 1996.

"It is now time to adopt a new plan and provide an uninterrupted transition for this popular and effective program," said Randy Winter, the Commission's aquatic habitat program manager. "Our new plan describes how we intend to improve living conditions for fish on select lakes, reservoirs, rivers and streams over the next one to two decades - conditions that will produce more and better fish and fishing."

A copy of the proposed new Aquatic Habitat Plan can be found on the agency's Web site at www.OutdoorNebraska.org under the fishing section.

New law will help adults, children share hunting

LINCOLN A new law allows Nebraskans more flexibility in sharing their hunting adventures with their children.

Gov. Dave Heineman on Thursday signed into law LB 690, which created the Hunter Apprentice Exemption Certificate. A signing ceremony was held in the governor's office at the state capitol, with Dr. Mark Pinkerton, a Nebraska Game and Parks Commissioner, in attendance.

The Hunter Apprentice Exemption Certificate may be issued to any non-hunter, ages 12 through 29, who wishes to try hunting in Nebraska and has not yet completed the required Hunter and/or Bow Hunter Education course.

The certificate only can be issued once during a person's lifetime, with one renewal, for a fee of $5. The certificate expires Dec. 31 of the year in which it was issued.

The new law allows hunters ages 12 through 29 more opportunities to try the sport before investing time in the state's Hunter and or Bow Hunter Education Program.

"The Commission feels this new action will help more persons to begin hunting under a qualified mentor, soon finding their way into a Hunter and or Bow Hunter Education class," said Jeff Rawlinson, assistant administrator in the Commission's Information and Education Division.

A person hunting with a Hunter Apprentice Exemption Certificate must have the required valid hunting permit or stamp and be accompanied by a licensed hunter who is at least 19 years old. The person accompanying the hunter must be in unaided verbal and visual contact at all times and may not accompany more than two persons at one time.

Anglers, pond owners may see more dead fish

LINCOLN Nebraska Game and Parks Commission fisheries biologists want to fore-warn anglers and pond owners of the possibility of them seeing some dead fish floating along the bank of their favorite lake or pond when the ice melts this spring.

Dave Tunink, assistant administrator of the Fisheries Division, said winter fish kills occur when snow cover remains on the ice for extended periods of time and causes aquatic vegetation to die and decompose under the ice, reducing the amount of oxygen in the water.

When ice melts from the lake, fish that died under the ice during the winter float to the surface and are washed into shallow water where people see the carcasses floating along the shoreline.

When people see the dead fish, they often assume runoff has carried chemicals into the lake and the chemicals killed the fish, but it is usually just a natural die-off due to low dissolved oxygen levels in the water during the winter months.

Gizzard shad die-offs are very common and occur nearly every winter. Channel catfish anglers are familiar with those die-offs and use the shad as bait.

The severity of die-offs varies from lake to lake and do not always involve the entire fish population.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission