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Lawmakers are making big plans for a big lake that is between Nebraska’s two largest cities. They include Omaha and the neighboring city. On Monday, state lawmakers did unveil the plan which was part of a $200-million package. It is aimed at water conversation, recreation and thus creating an economic ripple effect.

Lawmakers and a Proposed Reservoir

“What you see here in front of you is a proposed reservoir. It is between Lincoln and Omaha,” said Speaker of the Legislature State Senator Mike Hilgers. He is also a member of the Special Statewide Tourism and Recreational Water Access and Resource Sustainability Committee.”Star Wars” is what it is called.

The recreational area totals 4,000 acres and would be slightly larger than a lake in another Midwest area.

There are upgrades to Lake McConaughy with other projects. They include Niobrara State Park and the Nebraska side of Lewis and Clark Lake. Both are along the South Dakota border.

“In fact, it would have over a $5 billion impact to the state of Nebraska economic impact. Over $150 million for all these projects, is a yearly impact,” Hilgers said.

The big difference between this plan and the one in 2006 is that it didn’t float with lawmakers, Hilgers said.

The city of Ashland would not be flooded or the Platte River would be damming up based on this plan.

“Also, what we are looking at is not as a reservoir build that is not by damming but instead through digging. It can be placing in a way that is not going to impact Ashland,” Hilgers said.

Yet there is no word on the exact location of the lake or how the state is going to pay for it.

I will release my budget soon, please stay tuned,” Governor Pete Ricketts said.

The billion dollars in the Federal Recovery Act money or any state surplus revenues will not be tapping into, said State Senator Carol Blood.