Cub Creek Lake
Keya Paha County, Nebraska31 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae sit in the clean band for this region.
↑ up from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- #1 of 1 in the county
Cub Creek Lake in Keya Paha County, Nebraska has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 4.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 48.1 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.4 µg/L. Surface area: 31 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.9 ft
- Area
- 31 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 48.1 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 8.4 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Watch Cub Creek Lake’s letter
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Cub Creek Lake is a 31-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Keya Paha County, Nebraska. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NDEE, last sampled 2021-09-27. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Cub Creek Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Murky, only visible to about 4.9 ft. Phosphorus 48.1 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 8.4 µg/L. TSI 55. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 48.1 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8.4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 31 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Cub Creek Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Cub Creek Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.43 m/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +2 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Cub Creek Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Cub Creek Dam (completed 1977), built primarily for recreation on the Cub Creek; earth-type dam, 59 ft tall and 1,950 ft long.
- Surface area
- 31 ac
- Normal storage
- 339 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,749 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 5.2 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Middle Niobrara Natural Resources District
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NE01630 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Cub Creek Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit NE-NI3-L0070 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Keya Paha County
Nearby Lakes in Keya Paha County
Frequently asked questions about Cub Creek Lake
Where is Cub Creek Lake?
- Cub Creek Lake is a lake in Keya Paha County, Nebraska. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Cub Creek Lake?
- Cub Creek Lake in Keya Paha County, Nebraska has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 4.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 48.1 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.4 µg/L. Surface area: 31 acres.
Is Cub Creek Lake safe to swim in?
- The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Cub Creek Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Explore Cub Creek Lake across LakeQuality
2 documented falls within 23.2 mi, nearest Smith Falls
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
37 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2014–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy
21NEB001_WQX37 samples · 2014–2021
Analytical methods
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- 447.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll a and b in phytoplankton by HPLC/UV
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database