Lake Maloney
Lincoln County, NebraskaView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae sit in the clean band for this region.
↑ up from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- #2 of 3 in the county
- Public access
Lake Maloney in Lincoln County, Nebraska has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 47.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.2 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 2.1 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 47.8 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 10.2 µg/L
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Lake Maloney
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Watch Lake Maloney’s letter
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Lake Maloney is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Lincoln County, Nebraska. Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Lincoln County, Lake Maloney ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NDEE, last sampled 2024-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lake Maloney is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Camping1 public campground nearby
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. Lake Maloney is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Very murky, less than 2.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 47.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 10.2 µg/L. TSI 60. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 47.8 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10.2 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 60 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Recreation & Access
- North RampPublic
- Lake Maloney South RampPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Lake Maloney
- Kansas Point Campground1.8 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 Lake Maloney
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 13 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.113 m/yr | 13 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.86 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | -0.25 µg/L/yr | 12 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Maloney is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Maloney (completed 1935), built primarily for hydroelectric on the North & South Platte; concrete-type dam, 44 ft tall and 8,700 ft long.
- Normal storage
- 16,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 19,450 ac-ft
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Nebraska Public Power District
All listed purposes: Hydroelectric;Irrigation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NE01052 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Maloney 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-SP1-L0020 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 3 lakes in Lincoln County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lake Maloney holds Grade B. 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 Lincoln County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Maloney
Where is Lake Maloney?
- Lake Maloney is a lake in Lincoln County, Nebraska. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Maloney?
- Lake Maloney in Lincoln County, Nebraska has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 47.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.2 µg/L.
Is Lake Maloney safe to swim in?
- The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Lake Maloney is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Maloney?
- Lake Maloney has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include North Ramp, Lake Maloney South Ramp. Public access is listed as yes.
Are there campgrounds on Lake Maloney?
- Lake Maloney has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Kansas Point Campground. 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 Lake Maloney across LakeQuality
More Nebraska Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Nebraska
Eutrophic Lakes in Nebraska
Where this data comes from
156 measurements from 3 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_WQX156 samples · 2012–2024
Analytical methods
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- 447.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll a and b in phytoplankton by HPLC/UV
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles