For the protection of the federally endangered pallid sturgeon, work to
reopen the South Shore boat ramp at Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area has been delayed.
A federal permit to remove the sediment deposited in the South Shore area inlet has been approved, with the condition work cannot begin until after June 30 when pallid sturgeon spawning season ends.
A contractor will begin removing sediment the first week of July, weather depending, with work expected to take less than a week.
"We know this boat ramp is highly used during our peak season and ap preciate everyone's patience as we work to balance recreational needs with conservation ones," said Jonathan Voelker, Lewis and Clark SRA park superintendent.
Boaters can use alternative boat ramps at Lewis and Clark SRA/ Weigand Marina, Bloomfield Campground Area and Miller Creek Campground Area. Signage has been posted at the site, and updates will be shared as conditions change.
Pallid sturgeon were listed as a federally endangered species in 1990 because of extensive habitat modifica- tion, a lack of successful reproduction, commercial harvest and hybridization with the shovelnose sturgeon.
Learn more at OutdoorNebraska. gov.
