Updated August 2026
Deepest Lake in Nebraska: Lake McConaughy (142 ft)
Lake McConaughy is Nebraska's deepest lake at 142 ft, per the Central Nebraska Public Power & Irrigation District (owner/operator of Kingsley Dam); figure also published by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. No Nebraska lake has a surveyed maximum depth on record.
Bathymetric surveys are published state by state, so measured depths exist for some states and not others. Browse all Nebraska lakes for the water-quality data that does exist.
Sources and method
- Deepest lake: Lake McConaughy, 142 ft, per the Central Nebraska Public Power & Irrigation District (owner/operator of Kingsley Dam); figure also published by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, 2026-07-30.
Get updates on Nebraska's deepest lakes
New water-quality readings for Nebraska lakes as Nebraska DEE publishes them. Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deepest lake in Nebraska?
Lake McConaughy, at 142 ft, in Keith County. Source: Central Nebraska Public Power & Irrigation District (owner/operator of Kingsley Dam); figure also published by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, 2026-07-30.
How are lake depths measured?
Maximum depth is the deepest point at full-pool water level, from state agency bathymetric surveys and, for reservoirs, dam-design records. The ranking uses surveyed depths only, never modeled estimates. Everyday water level can sit below the surveyed figure during drawdowns or drought. Mean depth, the average across the whole basin, is listed where a survey recorded it.
Why are some Nebraska lakes so much deeper than others?
Lake depth depends on how the lake formed. Glacial lakes (common in MN, WI, MI, NY) were carved by ice sheets and can exceed 200 ft. Reservoir lakes (common in IA, MO, OK, KS) are shaped by river valley depth at the dam site — typically 50-150 ft at the dam, much shallower upstream. Flooded mine pits can be deeper still. Oxbow lakes and pothole lakes formed by river meandering or glacial pitting tend to be shallower, usually under 30 ft.
Does deeper mean cleaner?
Not directly, but deeper lakes tend to be cleaner on average. Depth creates thermal stratification in summer, isolating cold deep water from surface algal blooms. Deep lakes also resist nutrient resuspension from wind-driven sediment mixing. That said, many deep lakes still suffer from impairment if the watershed loads heavy phosphorus — each lake's page carries its nutrient readings and EPA impairment status.