The Nebraska Legislature gave final approval Tuesday afternoon to a plan that calls for a 4,000-acre lake, a 7-mile long stretch, between Omaha and Lincoln. Questions remain but the proposed lake could be could for area residents and businesses.
 
The proposed new lake would make it slightly larger than the 3,600-acre Lake Okoboji in Iowa, a popular vacation and recreation destination for Nebraskans and those traveling throughout the midwest. 
 
Ninety percent of the estimated $1 billion project will come from private funding. 
 
The proposed lake would need to be built without having to dam the Platte River, nor could it have a negative impact on communities such as Ashland, which is just a stone's throw away the bill states. 

This plan involves no dam, just a sandpit lake, causing a more positive reaction throughout the community and with nearby residents. 

There is a housing boom in Ashland and commercial property is selling two or three times its value. Ashland's small-town charm and proximity to Omaha and Lincoln make it a very attractive community to live in. The proposed lake could be great for local businesses in the area. 

It's estimated the proposed lake could still be a decade away. 

Image Credit: HDR, courtesy image.