Alliance Events
Lower Platte River Kayak Tour
2013 LPRCA Kayak Tour
The 2013 LPRCA kayak tour has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 21st! Details are still developing, but we’re planning to spend the morning on the river with some of LPRCA’s finest partners and supporters. The trip is expected to last from approximately 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and lunch will be provided. Registration is now full! Please email or call the LPRCA to sign up for the waiting list! PLEASE NOTICE THE ROUTE CHANGE!
The itinerary for this year's Kayak tour is as follows:
8:00 a.m. Registration begins at Louisville State Recreation Area, Louisville NE
8:30 a.m. Shuttle to put-in at Schramm Park, Hwy 31
9:00 a.m. Brief safety presentation and paddling begins
10:30 a.m. Stop for a break and refreshements on a sandbar (if possible)
12:15 p.m. (approximate) Arrive at Louisville State Recreation Area for lunch, presentations, and conversation. Lunch provided by FYRA Engineering.
This year we’ve scheduled the tour a few months earlier than usual with the hope that this date will allow us to take advantage of higher, spring-like river levels. Nonetheless, the tour route and entire event will be subject to river and weather conditions.
Directions to Louisville State Recreation Area from Lincoln can be found here
Directions to Louisville State Recreation Area from Omaha can be found here
2011 LPRCA Kayak Tour
On Tuesday July 19th, 2011 roughly 30 kayak enthusiasts joined the LPRCA and voyaged down the lower Platte River from Hormel Park boat ramp in Fremont, to Platte River Landing near Valley. Attendees met at Platte River Landing in the morning and were shuttled upstream to Hormel Park where they "put-in". The three-hour voyage downstream covered nine miles of the scenic riparian ecosystem of the lower Platte River. See the LPRCA flyer for more details and view a map of the 2011 route.
The event was free and attendees were provided with kayaks, paddles and life jacket
s. The kayakers enjoyed a mid-tour break on a Platte River sandbar, where bottled water and snacks were provided during a brief presentation discussing terns and plovers. The kayak tour concluded with a free lunch and presentations at the Platte River Landing destination.
Educational opportunities throughout the day included Kayaking 101, updates on the LPRCA issues, and brief presentations by Tim Montgomery (NGPC Rec. Programs), Mary Bomberger Brown (Tern and Plover Partnership), Dave Sands (NE Land Trust), Alan Kolok (UNO research station), Matt Pillard (HDR) and well-known photographer Michael Forsberg who informed participants of his Platte River time-lapse project. Click here to view photos from the 2011 event.
We were very pleased with the huge interest of the general public this year and we were shocked that we hit our participation limit before 10am the morning of registration! For those that were unable to contact us in time, we would love to add you to our mailing list and send you a personal invitation next year.
Water Quality Open
This annual outdoor recreational activity offers educational opportunities by providing displays, demonstrations and environmental trivia throughout the course to raise awareness of conservation needs along the Lower Platte River Corridor. Participants can range from the general public to legislators to natural resources managers.
If you or your organization have an interest in donating or participating in this fabulous event please contact the Alliance.
2012 Water Quality Open
The 15th annual LPRCA Water Quality Open was held on Thursday, August 30th at the beautiful Quarry Oaks Golf Course near Ashland. 36 teams participated in this year's event and registration filled-up fast. The day began with a great presentation by Michael Archer from the NDEQ whose topic was "Just go with the flow. The distribution of sturgeon on the Missouri River Floodplain." Afterwards, participants got a few tips on how to play the Quarry Oaks course and the tournament began with a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. Throughout the day, teams had the opportunity to visit several interesting booths staffed by representatives from The Groundwater Foundation, USGS, the National Drought Mitigation Center, the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, Lancaster County Weed Control and the Lower Platte Weed Management Area, the Nebraska Land Trust, and the City of Lincoln Watershed Management Division.
After a long summer day on the course, participants had the opportunity to socialize and visit displays before the awards dinner/buffet at the clubhouse. Thanks to everyone who helped make this year's event a success!!!
2012 Water Quality Open Photo Albums
Past Water Quality Open Photos
- 2011 Photos
- 2010 Photos
- 2009 Presentation by Dr. Alan Kolok, Director of the Aquatic Toxicology Laboratory at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, on "Emerging Contaminants: The Next Water Quality Frontier"
Lower Platte River Summit
2012 Lower Platte River Summit
"Visualizing Change and Sustainability of the lower Platte River"
On October 18th the LPRCA hosted its biennial Summit focused on current programs, projects, initiatives and other efforts happening within the lower Platte River Corridor. This year's Summit was held at the newly renovated Fremont Opera House (541 North Broad St, Fremont, NE 68025) with a keynote presentation by renowned photographer Michael Forsberg. Attendees also heard from Chad Smith with Headwaters Corporation and Mark Pegg from UNL's School of Natural Resources. The day concluded with a tour of various sites throughout the Fremont, North Bend and Schuyler areas.
Click HERE to view the 2012 Lower Platte River Summit Photo Album
2010 Lower Platte River Summit
The 2010 Lower Platte River Summit was held Thursday October 20th at the Riverview Lodge located in Mahoney State Park near Ashland. The theme for the 2010 event was "Preserving the Rural Environment: the Changing Landscape of the Lower Platte" which correlated perfectly to the keynote presentation. The keynote presenter was Bob Wagner, Senior Policy and Program Advisor for the American Farmland Trust (AFT). The topic of his address was "Protecting Farmland, Promoting Farming, Providing Options--Successful Programs and Activities from Around the Country." His keynote presentation was followed by a panel discussion with local residents and officials including Dave Sands (NE Land Trust), Rebecca Horner (Sarpy County Planner), Mary Hanson (National Park Service), & John Knapp (Sarpy County Landowner).
A bus tour of the project sites and resources of the Lower Platte River Corridor followed in the afternoon. The tour sites included Heldt Produce, MUD wellfields, Ron Patterson Farm and the Lied Pedestrian Bridge. Each site hosted a special presentation. Approximately 75 people attended the all-day event. The 2010 Summit was a great success and we want to thank members of the steering committee: Mary Hanson of the National Park Service, Matt Pillard of HDR Inc., Dave Sands of the Nebraska Land Trust, and W Don Nelson of Prairie Fire. We also want to thank our sponsors of this event: National Park Service, LPSNRD, LPNNRD and PMRNRD. Since the LPRCA Summit is held every-other year, keep an eye out for the next Summit in fall 2012!