Notes: Nature and Visitor Center to re-open

The Nebraska Nature & Visitor Center near Alda, Neb., is hosting a free open house from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The former Crane Meadows facility will formally re-open its doors after a short program at 11 a.m.

Activities throughout the day include games, nature hikes, hayrack rides and a program with live hawks and owls from the Raptor Recovery Program. Karine Gil, a concert pianist who is also a scientist at the Whooping Crane Maintenance Trust, will be playing music from her new CD throughout the day.

The center includes a 12,000- square-foot building with a gift shop and meeting facilities. The Platte River Trail provides handicapped access by paved trail to two bridges that span the north channel of the Platte River.

Area attractions and organizations will host information booths. A photo exhibition by National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore of Lincoln will be on display through December in the center's Hornaday Art Gallery.

Hot dogs and a soft drink will be available for a free-will donation from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The center is located on Interstate 80 at Exit 305 on the south side of the interchange. For more information about the center, go to www.nebraskanature.org or call 308-382-1820.

Youth fishing instructor training

Adults are invited to become trained as youth fishing instructors at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Mormon Island State Recreation Area near Doniphan.

Certified instructors may volunteer for Nebraska's Youth Fishing Program. Volunteer youth fishing instructors learn how to conduct fishing programs, derbies and club activities for children and families, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

The training is free, but registration is required. Contact Andrea Faas at 402-332-3901 or andrea.faas@nebraska.gov.

Fish salvage scheduled for Lake Maloney

Lake Maloney is being drawn down by the Nebraska Public Power District to aid the inspection of the dam.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission subsequently has rescinded all length limits on fish at the North Platte-area lake from Sept. 28 through Oct. 31. Daily bag limits remain the same.

During this time period, any stranded fish may be harvested by snagging, hand fishing, legal dip or landing nets and archery. Salvaged fish may not be used for stocking into public or private bodies of water. It is anticipated that during the drawdown, many of the fish in the lake will follow the flow downstream leaving the lake.

NPPD has shut down flows from the Sutherland Reservoir outlet canal, which flows into Maloney. The public may not salvage fish in the canal until the commission has completed its salvage. Anyone wanting to salvage fish from the canal must obtain a salvage permit. Call the commission's North Platte office at 308-535-8025 to obtain a permit and find out when they may salvage.

The lake's elevation will drop 14 feet by early November. The public should stay away from the dam. All-terrain vehicles will not be allowed on the exposed lake bottom. During the lake filling process, fish will move in from upstream reservoirs. The commission will continue a normal stocking schedule in 2010 to help the recovery process of the fish population.

CALENDAR

WEDNESDAY

• Family Fishing Night, Bowling Lake, Lincoln, 5 p.m.-7 p.m., free. Call 402-332-3901.

THURSDAY

• Cornhusker Fly Fishers, fly tying class, Cabela's, La Vista, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., free.

FRIDAY

• Nebraska youth waterfowl hunting season opens.

• Nebraska bull elk and antlerless elk hunting seasons open.

SATURDAY

• Annual Fall HawkWatch Festival, Hitchcock Nature Center, Loess Hills Lodge, Honey Creek, Iowa, 1 p.m.-3 p.m., $3 admission, children 5 and under free. Call 712-545-3283.

• Omaha Hiking Club event at Fontenelle Forest Nature Center, 9 a.m. See http://members.cox.net/omahahikingclub/index.htm

SUNDAY

• Eastern Platte Muzzleloaders shoot. Call 402-650-7770.

• Meat Shoot, Sportsmen of Nebraskaland Trap Range, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. I-80 to Mahoney Park, Exit 426, and follow signs. Call Lee, 402-510-7234.

• Nebraska youth waterfowl hunting season opens.

• Living History Demonstrations, Arbor Lodge State Historical Park, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Mansion admission: $4 adults and $1 children, park permit required. Call 402-873-7222.

• Forts of the Northern Plains,” by Jeff Barnes, Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park, 2 p.m. Call 308-346-4715.

• Please submit Calendar items to outdoors@owh.com or send to Outdoors Sports, World-Herald Sports Dept., 1314 Douglas St., Suite 700, Omaha, NE 68102.