Oxbow Trails Reservoir
Butler County, Nebraska43 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Algal growth
- #1 of 1 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Oxbow Trails Reservoir in Butler County, Nebraska has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 1.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 356.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 29.4 µg/L. Surface area: 43 acres.
- Clarity
- 1.3 ft
- Area
- 43 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 356.3 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 29.4 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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Oxbow Trails Reservoir is a 43-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Butler County, Nebraska. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NDEE, last sampled 2024-09-11. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Oxbow Trails Reservoir is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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. Oxbow Trails Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), pH / acidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 1.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 356.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 29.4 µg/L. TSI 76. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 356.3 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 29.4 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 76 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 43 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Oxbow Trails Reservoir, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Oxbow Trail Recreation AreaPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Oxbow Trails Reservoir
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Oxbow Trails Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Dam 23-13-02e (completed 1998), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the Tr-Big Blue River; earth-type dam, 45 ft tall and 875 ft long.
- Surface area
- 43 ac
- Normal storage
- 274 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 672 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 3.9 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NE02496 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.15 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Oxbow Trails 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-BB4-L0035 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.31 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Butler County
Nearby Lakes in Butler County
Frequently asked questions about Oxbow Trails Reservoir
Where is Oxbow Trails Reservoir?
- Oxbow Trails Reservoir is a lake in Butler County, Nebraska. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Oxbow Trails Reservoir?
- Oxbow Trails Reservoir in Butler County, Nebraska has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 1.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 356.3 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 29.4 µg/L. Surface area: 43 acres.
Is Oxbow Trails Reservoir safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Oxbow Trails Reservoir is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for algal growth, mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), pH / acidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Oxbow Trails Reservoir?
- Oxbow Trails Reservoir has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Oxbow Trail Recreation Area. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Oxbow Trails Reservoir across LakeQuality
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Other Grade D Lakes in Nebraska
Eutrophic Lakes in Nebraska
Where this data comes from
18 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy
21NEB001_WQX18 samples · 2024
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory