Labor Day Weekend Sees lower Turnout at Western Nebraska Lakes
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) – Labor Day weekend typically draws large crowds to nebraska’s lake destinations, but attendance was noticeably lower this year at Lake McConaughy and Lake Maloney.
Approximately 33,000 visitors enjoyed Lake McConaughy over the holiday weekend, according to estimates from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission – a decrease from typical Labor day numbers. Despite lower water levels, currently at around 50% capacity, boaters still took to the water, and the reduced levels provided increased beach access.”This is one of the busier times, and I would say our busiest time being the Fourth of July,” stated Sergeant Jerod Hahn with the Nebraska Game and Parks Law Enforcement Division. “We have a lot of people come in and this weekend, we where probably around a 60/40 split when it came to Colorado residents versus Nebraska residents.”
Similar trends were observed at Lake Maloney outside of North Platte. Conservation officer captain Brian Piernicky, of the Nebraska Game and Parks Division’s southwest district, reported fewer visitors and a lack of importent incidents.
“The crowds were honestly quite low,” Piernicky said. “The weather played a major factor in that. Friday night and Saturday it rained quite a bit, it kind of kept people indoors. Campgrounds were less than 50% full, so I think the weather played a major factor.” He added, “Usually this is kind of our last big hoorah of the summer season and we just didn’t really see that.”
The Nebraska game and Parks Commission continues to prioritize safety, urging all visitors to wear life jackets when on or near the water.
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