Labor Day Weekend Sees lower Turnout at Western Nebraska Lakes
NORTH โฃPLATTE, Neb.โค (KNOP) – Labor Day weekend typically draws large crowds โคto nebraska’s lake destinations, butโ attendance was noticeably lower this โyear at Lake McConaughy and Lake Maloney.
Approximately 33,000 visitors enjoyed Lake McConaughy over theโฃ holiday weekend, according to estimates from the Nebraskaโ Game and Parks Commission – a โขdecrease from typical Labor dayโค numbers. Despite lower water levels,โ currently at around 50% โขcapacity, boaters stillโ took to โขthe water, and the reduced levels provided increased beach access.”This isโ one of the busier times, and I โขwould say our busiest time being the Fourthโค of July,” โคstated Sergeant Jerod Hahn with theโ Nebraska Game and Parks Law Enforcement Division. “We have aโฃ lot ofโค people come in and this weekend, we where probably around a โฃ60/40 split when it came to Colorado residents versus Nebraska โresidents.”
Similar trends were observed at Lake Maloney โฃoutside of North Platte. Conservation officerโข captain Brian Piernicky, of the Nebraska Game and Parks Division’sโข 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 Saturdayโค 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 kindโข of our lastโ big hoorah of the summer โคseason โขand we just didn’t really see that.”
The Nebraska gameโข and Parks Commission continues to prioritize safety, urging all visitors to wear life jackets when on or near the water.
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