Lake McConaughy sees lower attendance during Labor Day weekend

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) - Labor Day weekend usually brings large crowds to lake destinations across Nebraska. This year, the numbers are lower than normal at Lake McConaughy and Lake Maloney.

The holiday weekend brought thousands of visitors to Lake McConaughy but overall turnout was slightly down compared to previous years.

Park officials estimate around 33,000 people visited the lake over the holiday weekend, fewer than the usual crowds seen from past years.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission said safety remains the top priority, urging all visitors to wear life jackets any time they’re on or near the water.

Water levels at Lake McConaughy were also down this year sitting at about 50% capacity, but that didn’t stop boaters from getting out on the lake. Sergeant Jerod Hahn with the Nebraska Game and Parks Law Enforcement Division said that the lower levels meant more beach access for those looking to relax on the shore.

“This is one of the busier times and I would say our busiest time being the Fourth of July. We have a lot of people come in and this weekend. we were probably around the 60/40 split when it came to Colorado residents versus Nebraska residents,” Hahn said.

Conservation officers at Lake Maloney outside of North Platte are recording similar outlooks on the labor day weekend.

Conservation officer captain for the Nebraska Game and Parks Division for the southwest district, Brian Piernicky, said that there were no notable incidents at Lake Maloney unlike past years.

“The crowds were honestly quite low, the weather played a major factor in that. Friday night and Saturday it rained quite a bit, it kind of kept people indoors. Campgrounds were less than 50% full, so I think the weather played a major factor,” Piernicky said. “Usually this is kind of our last big hoorah of the summer season and we just didn’t really see that.”