Sherman Dam (Nebraska) facts for kids
The Sherman Dam is a large wall made of earth and rock in central Nebraska. It was built in 1961 by a government group called the United States Bureau of Reclamation. This dam is super tall, about 134 feet high, which is like a 13-story building! It's also very long, stretching about 1,912 feet across. The dam holds back the water of Oak Creek, creating a big lake called Sherman Reservoir.
The dam was first built to help stop floods and provide water for farms. Today, it's managed by local groups: the Farwell Irrigation District and the Loup Basin Reclamation District.
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Sherman Reservoir: A Great Lake for Fun!
Sherman Reservoir is the big lake created by the dam. It covers about 2,845 acres of water, with another 4,721 acres of land around it. This huge lake can hold about 69,000 acre-feet of water. It's a popular spot for many outdoor activities!
What Can You Do at Sherman Reservoir?
There are lots of fun things to do at Sherman Reservoir. You can go fishing, hunting, or enjoy boating from several marinas and boat ramps. If you love the outdoors, you can also go camping or hiking. The northern side of the lake is part of the Sherman Reservoir State Recreational Area, which is a special place for visitors.
Camping and Facilities
If you like camping, there are 360 basic camping spots where you can set up your tent. The area has picnic tables, shelters, and places to get water. There are also modern restrooms, vault toilets, and even coin-operated showers. For boats, there are four ramps, and you'll find fish cleaning stations too. If you don't want to rough it, you can rent cabins or park your RV in special spots.
Fishing Fun: What You Can Catch
Sherman Reservoir is a fantastic place for fishing in central Nebraska. Many people come here to catch different kinds of fish.
- Popular Fish: The most popular fish to catch are walleye, crappie, catfish, white bass, and northern pike.
- Spring Fishing: Fishing usually starts in March when you can catch northern pike in the shallow parts of the lake.
- Walleye Season: Walleye fishing is very popular in April when they are spawning. It usually gets even better in May and June.
- White Bass: You can often catch white bass in April and May, and then again in the middle of summer.
- Crappie: Crappie fishing is excellent in May, especially as the lake fills up and creates more places for them to hide.
- Ice Fishing: Even in winter, you can go ice-fishing for crappie and walleye over areas where fish like to gather.
- Catfish: Channel catfish are good to catch all summer long. If you're lucky, you might even catch a huge flathead catfish!
