Cunningham Updated

[Justin83]

Omaha.com Metro/Region Section

Also, the mayor was supposed to hold a press conference this morning to give an update on the progress of the lake and the new marina.
I didn't get to see/hear the press conference, if anybody has a link to it, I'd be interested to hear about it.

[Alex T.]

hope they bolt the picnic tables to a concrete slab or something so they don't end up in the lake like they do at Zorinsky. I was there yesterday and if it's only 10 feet below full pool,nobody will need anything but hip boots to fish it. No fish to catch yet....... Well,hopefully that comment will deter any further non-catching of fish there until they get "big" enough. "The water will be clearer until the weed growth dies off and then it won't be as clear." Ya mean just like it was before ya drained it?

Alex

[OneMoFish]

"The removal of silt increased the lake's average depth by 4 to 6 inches."

"He now thinks the whole project should cost around $6.5 million."

I know I am new to the area, and still don't understand all the silting issues that Nebraska has...but why in the world would Nebraska spend that much money on making a lake 6 inches deeper?

Can anyone shed some light to the new guy on this?

[Alex T.]

Can anyone shed some light to the new guy on this

Or this guy that has been around since before Cunningham opened the first time. I've heard that depositing/cost was a key factor on how much to take out but it just don't make sense(to me). From what I've seen,all of the rehab construction could of been done without draining the lake. I know there was alot of trash fish in the lake but there were alot of good quality fish in the lake also. All I hope for now is enforcement and maintenance to be done on a regualr basis and it doesn't get "ignored" like it did for that last decade or so.

Alex

[OneMoFish]

Actually the "new guy" I was talking about was ME.

why would anyone spend that kind of money to that little?

[Fish On]

The goals of the rehabilitation - to lengthen the life of the lake and improve water quality - have come to fruition, Winter said. With the removal of about 440,000 cubic yards of silt from the lakebed, the stabilization of shorelines and the addition of the wetlands, water clarity has improved.

"There's no doubt right now we've significantly increased the water clarity," Winter said.

The removal of silt increased the lake's average depth by 4 to 6 inches, with some areas much deeper and others only slightly changed.


Gotta read the whole thing.

With Cunningham being a little under 400 acres thats a little over 1100 cubic yards per acre. I doubt they deepened the shoreline areas that were 2' deep. So when you average it all thats a zero going into the equation. I would guess that the deeper parts of the lake had more like 2-3' removed. with only say 15-20% of the lake getting that much removed it makes for an average of 4-6". I hope that makes sense. It does in my mind (whatever thats worth).

[Slack Jaw]

Originally Posted by OneMoFish

"The removal of silt increased the lake's average depth by 4 to 6 inches."

"He now thinks the whole project should cost around $6.5 million."

I know I am new to the area, and still don't understand all the silting issues that Nebraska has...but why in the world would Nebraska spend that much money on making a lake 6 inches deeper?

Can anyone shed some light to the new guy on this?

Apparently nobody told you that tax money grows on trees here in Nebraska.Or maybe you missed the sign at the border:Nebraska The Tax Me State.So pay your taxes and enjoy the show.

[Catfishsteve]

Well, Cunningham (and several other lakes around they city) were certainly never going to get any better going the way they were. I think Cunningham will be a much better lake in 20 yrs now that what it would have been in 20 yrs without all this work.

It was a drag to lose my favorite channel cat spot for some time though!!

I'll also miss that lovely aroma the northern end would get going on hot days with a south breeze!!


Next, Standing Bear?!

[Harold]

Originally Posted by Justin83

Omaha.com Metro/Region Section

Also, the mayor was supposed to hold a press conference this morning to give an update on the progress of the lake and the new marina.
I didn't get to see/hear the press conference, if anybody has a link to it, I'd be interested to hear about it.

LOOK OUT, OMAHA! Could be a new spot for the Omaha ROYALS!

And, that decision will be made BEFORE you hear about it!

Harold F.

[Justin83]

I'm excited about Cunningham's future. The more viable lakes we get around Omaha, the better. By viable, I mean, people using them and fishing them. Right now, in my honest opinion, I think the majority of anglers are going to three different lakes in the Metro, while two others are still getting used, but not near as much. Cunningham will lessen the pressure of those three lakes, as it should add a "fourth" viable lake.

[dlwilson]

So do we know what they will be stocking into cunningham yet? Will it be the same as before minus the millions of carp, white perch and yellow bass. I can honestly say I haven't fished it since I was about 14 years old so it's been a good decade since I've been there last. I normally fish for bass and I never really thought of Cunningham as a bass factory, any idea if they are going to put in some good structure to make it so? I do remember catching some decent white bass and walleye though, I hope they put some of those back in there then maybe it's worth a trip.

[Alex T.]

Already stocked with the basics. Good structure.......depends on how you define that. I'm just wondering what the ligthouse that Fahey referred to will be used for.


Alex

[OldBaldGuy]

NGPC stocking reports:

04/14/2008
Douglas
Glenn Cunningham
Bluegill
85,035
1"

04/14/2008
Douglas
Glenn Cunningham
Bluegill
25,084
2"

04/23/2008
Douglas
Glenn Cunningham
Channel Catfish
39,000
4.5"

04/30/2008
Douglas
Glenn Cunningham
Bluegill
7,883
3"

04/30/2008
Douglas
Glenn Cunningham
Bluegill
25,502
1.5"

05/21/2008
Douglas
Glenn Cunningham
Largemouth Bass
715
5-12"

06/11/2008
Douglas
Glenn Cunningham
Walleye
39,000
1.3"

07/09/2008
Douglas
Glenn Cunningham
Largemouth Bass
20,196
1.65"

07/09/2008
Douglas
Glenn Cunningham
Largemouth Bass
1,162
2.6"

[jetdriver1]

hmmmmmm average fish length, 2.7"...sounds more like a very very large aquarium.

J/K I am confident it will be managed well.

Best Fishes,
Jet

[Hawken]

Looks like some of the 12" bass will be eating all the walleyes!!

[jimbosan]

Originally Posted by Hawken

Looks like some of the 12" bass will be eating all the walleyes!!

Maybe some will fall victim to the dreaded GREEN CARP but there are alot of brush piles,rip rap, and weeds for those little eye's to hide in. I would be more concerned about the people carrying the 5 gallon buckets.

[Mark P]

The density of LMB large enough to eat the fingerlings is low enough and we should get a decent year class of walleyes from this fingerling stocking. However, next year is a whole new ball game. Using advanced fingerlings (7"-9") would work, but they are really pricey to raise as they need to be finished on minnows. We're still evaluating stocking tactics, so stay tuned.

[jetdriver1]

Greetings Mark P, are you part of the Cunningham Project??

Best Fishes,
Jet

[Chad]

From Daryl...

Actually the "new guy" I was talking about was ME.

why would anyone spend that kind of money to that little?

Go here, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission - Aquatic Habitat Program , read the WHOLE THING, then get back to me with any questions you might have.

There is no comparison between the water quality, habitat conditions and fishing before and after the aquatic habitat rehabilitation project. Of course if all you wanted to fish was silted-in, eroded, "mud-holes" then it probably was not worth the investment.

Daryl Bauer
Lakes and Reservoirs Program Manager
Nebraska Game & Parks Commission
daryl.bauer@nebraska.gov

[Chad]

From Daryl...

Or this guy that has been around since before Cunningham opened the first time. I've heard that depositing/cost was a key factor on how much to take out but it just don't make sense(to me). From what I've seen,all of the rehab construction could of been done without draining the lake. I know there was alot of trash fish in the lake but there were alot of good quality fish in the lake also. All I hope for now is enforcement and maintenance to be done on a regualr basis and it doesn't get "ignored" like it did for that last decade or so.

OK, there will always be a few good fish in a body of water when we do a renovation. You bet. A few big catfish, a few big crappies, a few big bass, maybe even a big walleye or two. That and tons of carp, gizzard shad, stunted crappies, and yellow bass. Yep, we wasted one fine fishery when we did the Aquatic Habitat Rehabilitation project on Cunningham, lots of our anglers love to fish for carp, gizzard shad, stunted crappies and yellow bass.

Sure we could have done a rehabilitation project without draining the reservoir. Of course we would not have been able to accomplish nearly as much and what was done would have cost more. I guess that is what most of us would have considered to be a waste of money.

I will tell you this--the water quality, habitat and fishing will be better. I have no doubt about that, and when it is I hope I do not have to listen to all the whining and second-guessing. I told you so.

I can make no guarantees about the maintenance or law enforcement of the area. You know what? That is going to be up to you guys. If you do not want the place to be trashed or raped, then you know the phone numbers to call, keep calling them. If that don't work for you, I can give you additional phone numbers to call. Cunningham is YOUR resource.

Daryl Bauer
Lakes and Reservoirs Program Manager
Nebraska Game & Parks Commission
daryl.bauer@nebraska.gov

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