Lone Star Reservoir
Fillmore County, Nebraska75 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run well above the regional average.
↓ down from D at the last regrade
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- #1 of 1 in the county
- Public access
Lone Star Reservoir in Fillmore County, Nebraska has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 740 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 36.5 µg/L. Surface area: 75 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.1 ft
- Area
- 75 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 740 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 36.5 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Lone Star Reservoir
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lone Star Reservoir in Fillmore 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 Lone Star Reservoir are listed below.
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Lone Star Reservoir is a 75-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Fillmore County, Nebraska. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving 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 2024-09-04. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lone Star Reservoir is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Camping1 public campground nearby
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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 F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Lone Star Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 2.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 740 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 36.5 µg/L. TSI 77. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 740 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 36.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 77 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 75 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lone Star Reservoir, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Lone StarPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Lone Star Reservoir
- Lone Star Recreation Area Campground0.4 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 Lone Star Reservoir
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.745 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -69.43 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -3.58 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lone Star Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Little Sandy Creek 61 (completed 2006), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the Walnut Creek; earth-type dam, 46 ft tall and 1,210 ft long.
- Surface area
- 75 ac
- Normal storage
- 502 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,822 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 8.7 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Little Blue Natural Resources District
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NE02785 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.14 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Lone Star 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-LB1-L0050 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.55 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Fillmore County
Nearby Lakes in Fillmore County
Frequently asked questions about Lone Star Reservoir
Where is Lone Star Reservoir?
- Lone Star Reservoir is a lake in Fillmore County, Nebraska. LakeQuality grades it F for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lone Star Reservoir?
- Lone Star Reservoir in Fillmore County, Nebraska has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 740 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 36.5 µg/L. Surface area: 75 acres.
Is Lone Star Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The F is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Lone Star Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Lone Star Reservoir?
- Lone Star Reservoir has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lone Star. Public access is listed as yes.
Are there campgrounds on Lone Star Reservoir?
- Lone Star Reservoir has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Lone Star Recreation Area 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 Lone Star Reservoir across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Nebraska's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Where this data comes from
67 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2012–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy
21NEB001_WQX67 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 (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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles