Lake McConaughy Visitor’s Guide

Visitor Services The Lake McConaughy Visitor and Water Interpretive Center is perched on a bluff just south of Kingsley Dam. It features interactive educational exhibits on the and High Plains Aquifer, two large aquariums and the Ethel Abbott Theater, with a variety of promotional and education films involving Lake McConaughy. The Center is open daily year-round. Gatehouses are open daily from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, depending on staffing levels. Park Entry Permits All vehicles entering Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area (SRA) must have a valid park entry permit for each motor vehicle. Permits are available at the Visitor Center, Gatehouses, Cedar View Office, many area businesses, and OutdoorNebraska.org. Daily permits may also be purchased using self-pay stations located at most park entrances. • licensed vehicle: $30, annual; $15, duplicate annual; $6, daily • Non-Nebraska licensed vehicle: $45, annual; $22.50, duplicate annual; $8, daily Camping All camping at Lake McConaughy requires an overnight fee. Self-Pay Stations are available at all park entrances and campgrounds with electrical hookups. • Primitive camping (including on the beach), $10/night • Electrical campsite, $25/night • Full service, $35/night Other highlights • Camping is allowed in any designated camping area or temporary camping area (mowed grass areas and beach areas). Camping in non-designated or un-mowed native grass areas is prohibited. and camping • The maximum occupancy of a campsite is one camping unit and one tent or two tents. reminders: • Camping is allowed for a maximum of 14 consecutive days in any 30-day period. Longer stays may be allowed per park regulations. • Visitors must register for camping immediately and prior to taking occupancy. • Leaving any property unattended for more than 24 hours is prohibited. • Camping on parking lots, roadways or within 20 yards of a boat ramp is prohibited. Lone Eagle, Little Thunder and Lake Ogallala allow reservations for half of the camping sites up to one year in advance. The remaining half of the campsites are available first-come, first-served. Holding campsites for others is not allowed. Park Facilities • Pay shower facilities are located at Lake Ogallala, Little Thunder, Arthur Bay, Lone Eagle and Cedar View. Primitive restrooms and trash containers are available at most areas. • RV Dump Stations are located at Martin Bay, Arthur Bay, Lone Eagle and Cedar View. • Fish-cleaning stations are located at Lake Ogallala, Martin Bay, Otter Creek and Cedar View. • Boat Ramp locations will depend upon water levels but are generally located at Spillway Bay, Martin Bay, Arthur Bay, Lemoyne, Otter Creek and Cedar View. Boating With the lake covering more than 30,000 surface acres, boating is a natural activity at Lake McConaughy! Beach launching is legal, but if you choose to do so, know the capabilities of your tow vehicle. All Nebraska boating laws apply at Lake McConaughy. Visit BoatSafeNebraska.org or pick up a Nebraska Boating Guide for boating regulations. The following are a few safety reminders: • Always be aware of weather forecasts as storms can develop quickly. • Youth under age 13 must wear a life jacket when onboard any boat. • Persons must be at least 14 years of age to operate any motorized watercraft and anyone born after Dec. 31, 1985 must have completed a boating safety course. Swimming Swimming is allowed at most beach areas unless otherwise posted. No lifeguards are on duty.

Day Use Areas There is a designated day use only area at Martin Bay for those visitors looking for open beaches and water to swim and play for the day. Vehicles, boats and overnight camping are prohibited in this area.

Park Regulations Visit OutdoorNebraska.org for a complete list of park information and regulations. The following are highlights of general park regulations: • Alcohol consumption is prohibited at Lake McConaughy SRA. • Quiet hours shall be maintained between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. • The use of ATV/UTVs, golf carts and tractors is prohibited without written permission of the Commission. • Pets must be kept on a leash 6 feet long or less at all times. • Driving or camping in any non-mowed native grass areas is prohibited. • Contained fires are permitted in camping and beach areas. Leaving a fire unattended is prohibited. • The use or possession of fireworks is prohibited. For information on upcoming special events and area businesses, private lake accommodations, and outdoor and fishing reports, download the Lake McConaughy app or visitOutdoorNebraska.org or ilovelakemac.com. Ash Hollow State Ash Hollow State Historical Park, located west of the lake on U.S. Highway 26, is a must-see. Historical Park Ash Hollow was an important stopping point on the Oregon/.

In an emergency, contact 911. For a non-emergency, contact the Nebraska State Patrol at 308-535-8047. Monitor a weather band radio or smartphone apps for weather warnings. There are no designated storm shelters at the lake. 2017-61436 af 8/17 Lake Ogallala

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101-140 Shower/Latrine Viewing Area

141+ Threatened/Endangered Species Zone - closed Piping Plover to all traffic April 15 thru August 15. Open to foot traffic August 16 to April 14. Day Use Zone Remember to share the shoreline with the 0 1 2 Miles many bird species that make their home at Lake Clear Creek Cedar Vue

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d Cedar Vue not enter marked or fenced-off nesting areas, Clear Creek R Otter Creek WMA obey all signs, and keep all pets on leashes. Spring Park good catfishing in early spring Spillway Bay Otter Creek Lemoyne walleye, early May-June Bay 92 Lone Eagle Ash Lake Ogallala Campground Little Thunder Hollow white bass in summer, entire lake North Shore Campground Campground SHP walleye, early May-June Lemoyne Sandy Beach Eagle Canyon Bay Arthur Bay STOP Lake McConaughy 61 92 Martin Bay 26 SRA 2 inch Martin 1 inch No-Name Arthur Bay Lake white bass in summer, entire lake Bay Eurasian Watermilfoil White Perch Zebra Mussel Sandy Beach Bay Ogallala Entrance Lone Eagle Northeast Shore Area SRA Campground Stop the Spread of Harmful Shore line Lakeview Aquatic Plants & Animals. West Sandy R Beach d Arthur Bay

S Entrance Little Thunder Protect our waters. Sandy h Campground Blue Heron o Beach r 92 61 Beach e Self Check. West Theis l H i Bay Beach n A e K-4 Cabin

Y R Area Martin Bay Spillway d T North No Beach #6 Martin Bay Bay H East Theis Name Bay Entrance Martin Bay O Bay Beach Spotted Tail Beach Martin Bay Seagull Beach West Arthur Beach #7 Remove all plants, mud, and debris from boat and equipment. R T East Arthur Turn-around Beach #5 CLEAN Bay Beach West No 26 N H Bay Beach Martin Bay Sundance Beach L Name BayN Martin Bay 61 E A Beach #8M I Beach O Beach #4 Drain all water from your boat; ballast, bilge, livewell, motor, bait bucket. B R T DRAIN I A A S T T Martin Bay Martin Bay N R Burma Y H L Beach #9 Beach #3 Ogallala B A T Road DRY Disinfect and dry all equipment for 5 days before entering a new waterbody. U E Martin Bay A M I Beach

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H B B Martin Bay B 61 U Beach #1 A A A Y N Y Road East 130 Y K D i n E g R s l e y B D A a For more information, contact the Nebraska Invasive Species Project Y m L a k e M c C o n a u g h y To Ogallala http://snr.unl.edu/invasives or 402-472-3133 26 61 Some areas of the park are designated Threatened and Endangered Species Areas, where regulations may differ depending on location. Generally, vehicles and foot traffic Lake McConaughy Boaters who register their motorized watercraft in any are prohibited during the nesting season (April other state will be required to obtain a $15 Aquatic 15 to August 15). Areas are designated by State Recreation Area Invasive Species Stamp each year that they boat in signage, fencing or a combination of the two. 1475 Hwy 61 N • Ogallala, NE 69153-5930 • Phone: 308-284-8800 • Email: [email protected] Nebraska. This stamp is available for purchase online.