Where is Cottonmill Reservoir?

Cottonmill Reservoir is a lake in Buffalo County, Nebraska. Its water-quality measurements are published by Nebraska DEE and shown on this page as reported.

How deep is Cottonmill Reservoir?

Cottonmill Reservoir has a maximum depth of 20 feet and an average depth of 7.5 feet. The lake covers 45 acres.

Are there boat ramps on Cottonmill Reservoir?

Cottonmill Reservoir has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Cottonmill. Public access is listed as yes.

Can I fish at Cottonmill Reservoir?

Cottonmill Reservoir has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Nebraska's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.

Cottonmill Reservoir

Buffalo County, Nebraska45 acresView map Directions

No nutrient or algae sampling on record from Nebraska DEE for this lake.

Max depth

20 ft

Bathymetric survey

Area

45 acres

Surface area

Shoreline

2.8 mi

Measured length

Impaired · Mercury
20 ft max depth
Public access

See the measurements Directions Where to stay

Cottonmill Reservoir in Buffalo County, Nebraska has water-quality measurements published by Nebraska DEE, shown here as reported. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 45 acres.

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Cottonmill Reservoir is a 45-acre lake in Buffalo County, Nebraska with a maximum depth of 20 feet (8-foot average). Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NDEE. Methodology: how these readings are compared.

What Cottonmill Reservoir is good for

From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.

Boat launch1 documented ramp

Swimming conditions

No reading

Bacteria advisory

Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Cottonmill Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, pathogens (E. coli, fecal). Check local advisories before you swim.

Whether Cottonmill Reservoir is safe to swim in today is a call for the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.

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Water quality measurements for Cottonmill Reservoir

These are the measurements Nebraska DEE publishes for Cottonmill Reservoir, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.

No clarity data. TSI undefined.

Ask about Cottonmill Reservoir

Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.

Lake Details

Max depth

20 ft

Average depth

7.5 ft

Surface area

45 acres

Shoreline

2.8 mi

Public access

Yes

Listed by Nebraska DEE

The depth above comes from a bathymetric survey of this lake, not from a regional estimate.

Recreation & Access

Boat Landings

Yes

Public Access

CottonmillPublic

Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps

Stays via Stay22

Stays near Cottonmill Reservoir

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Cottonmill Reservoir in Buffalo County, Nebraska — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.

Top-rated places to stay near Cottonmill Reservoir

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Fishing Cottonmill Reservoir

→ Cottonmill Reservoir fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

EPA Impairment Status

Cottonmill Reservoir is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).

Causes of impairment

MercuryPathogens (E. coli, fecal)

Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Recreation.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit NE-MP2-L0360 · Official waterbody report

Nearby Lakes in Buffalo County

Ravenna Lake E of RavennaHypereutrophic25.6 miView →Moses Hill Lagoon21.4 miView →Thirty-Two Mile Creek Reservoir29 miView →Roseland Lake31.5 miView →Philips Lake32.8 miView →Harlan County Reservoir2.8 ft clear · Eutrophic—View →

Frequently asked questions about Cottonmill Reservoir

Where is Cottonmill Reservoir?: Cottonmill Reservoir is a lake in Buffalo County, Nebraska. Its water-quality measurements are published by Nebraska DEE and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Cottonmill Reservoir?: Cottonmill Reservoir in Buffalo County, Nebraska has water-quality measurements published by Nebraska DEE, shown here as reported. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 45 acres.
Is Cottonmill Reservoir safe to swim in?: Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Cottonmill Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, pathogens (E. coli, fecal). Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Cottonmill Reservoir?: Cottonmill Reservoir has a maximum depth of 20 feet and an average depth of 7.5 feet. The lake covers 45 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Cottonmill Reservoir?: Cottonmill Reservoir has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Cottonmill. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Cottonmill Reservoir?: Cottonmill Reservoir has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Nebraska's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.