The Challenge: The Jenny Newman Lake within Platte River State Park needed serious renovation and restoration. The lake’s principal spillway was deteriorated, water quality was poor, the area was not ADA-compliant and faced a host of other issues critical to the future success of the park.
The Solution: Our Water Resources team was hired by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to design a long-term solution for the lake and its sustainability. The Jenny Newman Renovation Project, completed in 2016, remedied the principal spillway, improved water quality, enhanced angler access and boat launch capabilities, added ADA-compliant parking and walks, and created Crawdad Creek, an interactive series of five ponds that feed the lake.
Project Benefits: Crawdad Creek was the first feature completed as part of Game and Parks’ Venture Parks Complex, which calls for greatly expanded activities and amenities designed to meet the needs of a new generation of state park visitors. Crawdad Creek hosts aquatic invertebrates, insects, reptiles and fish. The creek is a key feature for educational activities for park visitors and its scenic, peaceful setting of the creek provides a place of serenity. The creek’s flowing water also helps maintain suitable oxygen levels within the lake to foster a healthy fishery. The team's innovative solutions focusing on sustainability and community education have reinvigorated Platte River State Park for generations to come.
