The State of Nebraska's Lakes 2026

Cleanest lakes in Nebraska

Cleanest combined nutrient and algae readings, 2026.

1. 1.Lake C W Mcconaughy — Keith County7.2 ft clarity · 58 µg/L P · 7 µg/L chl-a
2. 2.Sherman Reservoir — Sherman County2.4 ft clarity · 100 µg/L P · 4 µg/L chl-a
3. 3.Lake Minatare — Scotts Bluff County5.5 ft clarity · 52 µg/L P · 3 µg/L chl-a
4. 4.Hershey Lake — Lincoln County13.6 ft clarity · 51 µg/L P · 2 µg/L chl-a
5. 5.Bridgeport Middle Lake — Morrill County18.9 ft clarity · 2 µg/L chl-a
6. 6.Hugh Butler Lake — Frontier County2.8 ft clarity · 83 µg/L P · 6 µg/L chl-a
7. 7.Calamus Reservoir — Garfield County3.6 ft clarity · 125 µg/L P · 26 µg/L chl-a
8. 8.Cub Creek Lake — Keya Paha County4.9 ft clarity · 48 µg/L P · 8 µg/L chl-a
9. 9.Lake Maloney — Lincoln County2.1 ft clarity · 48 µg/L P · 10 µg/L chl-a
10. 10.Merritt Reservoir — Cherry County2.0 ft clarity · 147 µg/L P · 92 µg/L chl-a

Highest measured algae

Highest measured chlorophyll-a (algae) concentration.

1. 1.Crescent Lake — Garden County110 µg/L chlorophyll-a
2. 2.Merritt Reservoir — Cherry County92 µg/L chlorophyll-a
3. 3.Pelican Lake — Cherry County89 µg/L chlorophyll-a
4. 4.Wildwood Lake — Lancaster County86 µg/L chlorophyll-a
5. 5.Grove Lake — Antelope County85 µg/L chlorophyll-a
6. 6.Willow Creek Reservoir — Pierce County78 µg/L chlorophyll-a
7. 7.Carter Lake — Douglas County76 µg/L chlorophyll-a
8. 8.Swan Lake — Holt County75 µg/L chlorophyll-a
9. 9.Willow Creek Reservoir — Sarpy County66 µg/L chlorophyll-a
10. 10.Burchard Lake — Pawnee County65 µg/L chlorophyll-a

Trending lakes

Improving

1. 1.Sherman Reservoir — Sherman County
2. 2.Lake Minatare — Scotts Bluff County
3. 3.Hugh Butler Lake — Frontier County
4. 4.Calamus Reservoir — Garfield County
5. 5.Oliver Reservoir — Kimball County
6. 6.Harry Strunk Lake — Frontier County
7. 7.Kramper Lake — Dakota County
8. 8.Kirkman'S Cove Lake — Richardson County

Declining

1. 1.Maskenthine Reservoir — Stanton County
2. 2.Summit Lake — Burt County
3. 3.Rockford Lake — Gage County
4. 4.Liberty Cove Lake — Webster County
5. 5.Grove Lake — Antelope County
6. 6.Hedgefield Lake — Lancaster County
7. 7.Burchard Lake — Pawnee County
8. 8.Wildwood Lake — Lancaster County