Enders Reservoir
Chase County, Nebraska2,557 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- #1 of 1 in the county
- 60 ft max depth
- Public access
Enders Reservoir in Chase County, Nebraska has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 56.4 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.3 µg/L. Surface area: 2557 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.8 ft
- Max depth
- ~60 ft est.
- Area
- 2,557 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 56.4 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 10.3 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Enders Reservoir
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Enders Reservoir in Chase 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Enders Reservoir are listed below.
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Enders Reservoir is a 2,557-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Chase County, Nebraska with an estimated average depth of about 60 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NDEE, last sampled 2024-09-17. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Enders Reservoir is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Camping1 public campground nearby
- Big water2,557 acres
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Enders Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 2.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 56.4 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 10.3 µg/L. TSI 59. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 56.4 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10.3 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~60 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~33 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 2,557 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. Nebraska has not published bathymetry for Enders Reservoir.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Recreation & Access
- Enders Main Area SouthPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Enders Reservoir
- Enders Reservoir State Recreation Area0.6 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Fishing Enders Reservoir
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 13 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -1.148 m/yr | 13 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.11 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.03 µg/L/yr | 12 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Enders Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Enders Dike (completed 1951), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the Frenchman Creek; earth-type dam, 28 ft tall and 6,133 ft long.
- Surface area
- 2,557 ac
- Normal storage
- 44,480 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 79,161 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1,097 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Irrigation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NE01070 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Enders Reservoir 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-RE3-L0100 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Chase County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Enders Reservoir holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Chase County
Frequently asked questions about Enders Reservoir
Where is Enders Reservoir?
- Enders Reservoir is a lake in Chase County, Nebraska. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Enders Reservoir?
- Enders Reservoir in Chase County, Nebraska has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 56.4 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.3 µg/L. Surface area: 2557 acres.
Is Enders Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Enders Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Enders Reservoir?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Enders Reservoir, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 60 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate. The lake covers 2557 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Enders Reservoir?
- Enders Reservoir has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Enders Main Area South. Public access is listed as yes.
Are there campgrounds on Enders Reservoir?
- Enders Reservoir has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Enders Reservoir State Recreation Area. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Enders Reservoir across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
167 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2012–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy
21NEB001_WQX167 samples · 2012–2024
Analytical methods
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- 447.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll a and b in phytoplankton by HPLC/UV
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles