In this activity, students will learn about the process of decision-making regarding the use of Lake Minatare, along with the legal regulations concerning Lake Minatare. They will also learn to identify wildlife and vegetation of this unique area in the Nebraska Panhandle. 

Students will: 

• Study the Lake Minatare ecosystem
• Analyze and research the issues relating to the management and protection of the Lake Minatare area. 

A1, A3, A4, A27, B5, B11, C1, C10, D3, D5, D7, D8, E1, E2, E13, F2, F8, F5 

• Copies of student handouts (provided)
• Field guide for native Nebraska birds
• Newspaper articles concerning the refuge/recreation issue (provided in packet)
• Other resource materials for research
• North Platte national wildlife refuge map (provided in packet). 

In 1988, Congress directed the Government Accounting Office (GAO) to review the management of all national wildlife refuges and to determine whether refuges were being managed for the intended purpose for which they were established. As a result of GAO findings, several environmental organizations brought suit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for illegal, incompatible uses occurring on several refuges. 

The North Platte National Wildlife Refuge, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, was established in 1916 by executive order "to provide a preserve and breeding ground for native birds" and was subject to irrigation purposes. The GAO audit determined that certain public use was not compatible with the intended purposes of the refuge. Public use activities found to be incompatible, such as camping, picnicking, motor boating, water skiing, and fishing, were not incompatible by nature but became incompatible due to the indiscriminate and uncontrolled manner in which these activities were allowed to occur.

To address these issues, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service held public meetings to gather comments and suggestion on how to resolve these incompatible uses. Final legislation was finally passed by the U.S. Congress that allowed continued occupation of the residential areas on the north side of the lake and continued use of a majority of the lake’s shoreline. Portions of the lake were set aside for the wildlife refuge only. 

Part I

1. Discuss the background information with class.
2. Assign the newspaper articles to groups of students to read and then present orally to the whole class. This will give the students a foundation to make their visit more meaningful.
3. It is highly suggested that the classroom teacher get in touch with an official from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Scottsbluff, NE. A suggested contact at that office is Brad McKinney. The phone number is (308) 635-7851. 

Part II

1. The class will tour the area in and around Lake Minatare. It may be possible for an official from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to guide this tour. Divide class into three groups.
2. Each will be assigned a level of the tree canopy to observe and record observations (note attached copy sheets.) Different areas of the lake need to be visited in order to see the actual effects of the different activities that take place in the area. 

Part III

1. Orally discuss the key issues involved in the decision making process of the Lake Minatare debate. Who are the players and what are their positions? (Property owners, local county officials, federal government representatives, land developers, special interest groups, and the public as a whole.)
2. Divide students into groups that research and write a short description of the positions of key players. What does each player stand to gain or lose by the legislation passed by the United States government?
3. Set up a class debate between two teams with different interests. After the debate, discuss and summarize the issues presented. Try to reach a consensus about whether the decision was the best decision for all players involved. 

• Write letters to local representatives in state and national government to voice approval or disapproval of the current laws and regulations.
• Research irrigation systems (history, regulations, etc.).
• Search the Internet for similar situations and resolutions of these situations.

Lake Minatare changes considered

File Photo

Popular Lake Minatare Activities, like fishing in solitude on isolated inlets, may be affected by proposed changes at the federal wildlife refuge.

By BARRY BEDLAN Staff Reporter of the Star Herald

SCOTTSBLUFF—Storm clouds are brewing over the future of jet-skiing and boating on Lake Minatare. 

At issue are all outdoor activities at the popular recreational lake and the 20 cabins along its shores. 

In the eye of the storm are federal regulations prohibiting activities that are incompatible with the land's purpose. Lake Minatare sits in the North Platte National Wildlife Refuge, and its purpose is to preserve wildlife, not recreation. 

"Any activity that is detrimental to the resting and breeding of the birds and animals is considered incompatible with the land's purpose," said Larry Malone, Scottsbluff-based manager of the refuge. 

Those activities include camping, picnicking, off-road vehicles use, motorized boating and the location of 20 cabins at Lake Minatare. Officials say the uses are considered incompatible because of litter, noise, soil damage and disruption of nests. 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering a possible solution to the dispute which would allow the cabins to remain on the lakeshore and some recreational activities to continue. 

This would be accomplished by transferring the land management of the lake's developed areas to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Malone said. The bureau would then lease the land to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.  

But because of federal regulations, any removal of land from the wildlife refuge must be approved by the U.S. Congress. 

The public is invited to learn more the about proposal Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at an open house in the Western Nebraska Community College Board Room. 

Officials from the wildlife service, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the Bureau of Reclamation will be on hand to answer questions. Informational packets will be available. 

Efforts to change the lake's management grew from a 1990 lawsuit by the National Audubon Society, which claimed that several hundred U.S. wildlife refuges, including Lake Minatare, were in violation of federal environmental regulations.

When the lawsuit was settled out of court, all wildlife refuges were ordered to rectify their problems by 1995, except for Lake Minatare. It was given "reasonable time" because of the amount of developed areas surrounding the lake, Malone said. 

"As I see it, we have to get it cleaned up within the next two years or we'll be back in the courts to settle the matter," he said. 

Malone said most existing outdoor recreational activities would be permitted if developed areas are removed from the wildlife service's jurisdiction.  

``This is not just a local issue," Malone said. "The national groups look at the wildlife refuge as theirs—just as much as the local people do." 

Local officials were ordered to correct the problems in 1992, but "went about it the wrong way and it upset a lot of people," Malone said. 

At the time, officials met with cabin-owners and informed them that no drastic measures would be made until they were notified and that their leases would be renewed on a yearly basis, he said. 

"They realize that they're dangling on thin string out there," Malone said. "We want to work with the people, but we are also in a bind with federal regulations," he said. 

"We've been trying to figure out for two years how to work with them and fix this nasty situation." 

Malone stressed that the local wildlife service's proposal has not been approved by superiors in Washington, D.C., and Saturday's open house is an opportunity to get public reaction. 

"We have some ideas we'd like people to hear and let us know what they think," Malone said. 

"We are right now leaning toward the divestiture plan, but we are also reviewing all alternatives to find the best one for the public and the wildlife.

Scottsbluff, Neb. (AP)—Officials are considering a plan that would satisfy a lawsuit settlement that requires Lake Minatare to rectify violations of federal environmental regulations. 

The 1990 lawsuit, filed by the National Audubon Society alleged that several hundred U.S. wildlife refuges were violating regulations. 

As part of an out-of-court settlement, all wildlife refuges were ordered to rectify their problems by 1995, except for Lake Minatare. It was given "reasonable time'' because of the amount of developed areas surrounding the lake, said Larry Malone of Scottsbluff, manager of the refuge. 

"As I see it, we have to get it cleaned up within the next two years or we'll be back in the courts to settle the matter," he said. 

Lake Minatare sits in the North Platte National Wildlife Refuge in Nebraska's Panhandle. Federal regulations prohibit activities that are incompatible with the land's purpose. 

"Any activity that is detrimental to the resting and breeding of the birds and animals is considered incompatible with the land's purpose." Malone said. 

Those activities include camping, picnicking, off-road vehicle use, motorized boating and 20 cabins at the lake, officials said. 

The plan being considered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would allow cabins to remain on the lakeshore and some recreational activities to continue. 

The plan proposes transferring the land management of the lake's developed areas to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Malone said. The bureau then would lease the land to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. 

Malone said most existing outdoor recreational activities would be permitted if developed areas are removed from the wildlife service's jurisdiction. 

Federal regulations require that any removal of land from the wildlife refuge be approved by Congress. 

The proposal will be discussed Saturday at Western Nebraska Community College. 

Officials from the wildlife service, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will be available to answer questions. 

"They (cabin owners) realize that they're dangling on thin string out there," Malone said. "We want to work with the people, but we are also in a bind with federal regulations," he said. "We've been trying to figure out for two years how to work with them and fix this nasty situation."

To the Editor of the Star Herald: 

We are writing this letter to comment on the future of Lake Minatare. 

It angers and saddens us to see we may lose one more ''freedom'' for families. 

We have watched as this community poured its support behind remodeling and improving the zoo. The result ... beautiful zoo with fees high enough to make it inaccessible to the average family working for a modest wage. 

Now there is a desire by some to close Lake Minatare to "activities including camping, picnicking, off-road vehicle use, motorized boating." 

Have we become so obsessed with preserving our environment and wildlife we have totally lost sight of family life? 

For many years as we struggled to raise our family, each of us holding a full time job, the one thing we had time and money left to do was take our children to the lake for an afternoon or weekend together... 

Don't misunderstand, we believe in preserving our environment. We have been active in scouting, building bird houses, planting trees, placing nesting sites for birds, and in recycling efforts. However, there are several sites in Nebraska for wildlife Winters Creek Lake and Lake Alice are both closed to motor boating and camping, just to name two. 

The closing of Lake Minatare won't affect us as much as some since our children are raised now. But, please Nebraska, don't forget our young families. We would hate to see "The Good Life" only for the birds. Melvin and Pam Elledge, Gering.