HARLAN COUNTY LAKE, Neb. -- The Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, was proud to host a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Harlan County Salt Cedar Ecosystem Restoration Project at Methodist Cove, Harlan County Lake, Nebraska.
The event took place on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at the main campground shelter in Methodist Cove.
The Harlan County Lake Salt Cedar Ecosystem Restoration Project was a transformative effort aimed at restoring and protecting aquatic habitats within Methodist Cove. Years of sedimentation had degraded the area's ecological integrity, prompting this extensive restoration effort. The initiative reestablished critical depth diversity, enhanced fish habitats, protects against future sediment accumulation and stabilizes the cove’s shoreline.
Key project features include:
- Over 520 feet of constructed breakwaters
- 140,000 cubic yards of sediment excavated
- 770 feet of shoreline protection using riprap
- An 850-foot-long sediment baffle
- Creation of 10 acres of natural aquatic habitat using repurposed cedar trees
- Installation of 0.5 acres of artificial habitat structures
- Development of maintenance and recreational access paths
This $12.27 million project was largely funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and a generous $3 million contribution from NGPC. Recognized by the White House as a priority project, it stands as a national example of strategic environmental restoration.
Designed by Olsson Mead-Hunt and constructed by KRW Construction, the project was completed on time and within budget, with final construction approved on April 25, 2025, by the Kansas City District.
This event marked a major milestone in the preservation and improvement of Nebraska’s natural resources.
Release no. 25-012