Input sought on master plan for Harry Strunk Lake

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation plans a meeting Thursday, March 1, from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m, in the Cambridge Community Building, to accept comments on the updating of the “Resource Management Plan” (RMP) for Harry Strunk Lake/Medicine Creek Reservoir northwest of Cambridge.

The BOR, in cooperation with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, is updating the existing RMP for the Medicine Creek Reservoir, which includes Medicine Creek State Wildlife, Recreation and Concession Areas. Nebraska Game and Parks has a master contract to manage reservoirs owned by the Bureau of Reclamation within Nebraska; that master contract expires in April 2020.

The purpose of the RMP is to balance the protection of natural resources with recreational uses and to provide a diversity of recreational experiences while accounting for future growth and demand.

The RMP process will develop and implement a management strategy that defines long-term management goals and objectives designed to address user needs while ensuring the protection of natural, cultural, recreational and fish and wildlife resources at the Cambridge lake.

Public comments and suggestions will be accepted until Friday, March 23.

Written comments to the Bureau of Reclamation office in McCook can be emailed to Nik Johanson at njohanson@usbr.gov; or mailed to the Bureau of Reclamation, 1706 W. Third, McCook, NE 69001. Writers should indicate whether they want to receive future correspondence concerning the development of the lake’s RMP and activities associated with the process.

Written comments may also be presented at the meeting March 1 in Cambridge.

The meeting will start with a presentation about the RMP process and then transition to an open house-style dialogue to allow members of the public to discuss specific suggestions to be considered in the RMP.