Dawes County Lake Quality
Nebraska, 3 lakes, average grade C (Fair)
Only 3 lakes in Dawes County carry an active grade. The county-level summary is therefore representative of those specific lakes, not necessarily of every water body in the county. Dawes County averages to a C. The distribution behind that average matters more than the letter: a few stressed lakes versus many decent ones can produce the same average as the inverse.
The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the grades sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest lake on the books is Nla Lake (B); the most-stressed is Lake Whitney (C).
Quick Answers for Dawes County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Nla Lake — or check the official Nebraska fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Dawes County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nla Lake | B | 11.8 ft | 35.1 µg/L |
| 2 | Box Butte Reservoir | B | 5.6 ft | 51.5 µg/L |
| 3 | Lake Whitney | C | 0.5 ft | - |
Other Counties in Nebraska
See how Dawes County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 34 states.
Where to stay near Dawes County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.