The State of Nebraska's Lakes 2026

Cleanest lakes in Nebraska

Highest combined water-quality score, 2026.

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

Most-polluted lakes

Lowest combined water-quality score among monitored lakes.

1. 1.FMaskenthine Reservoir — Stanton County2.1 ft clarity · 151 µg/L P · 63 µg/L chl-a
2. 2.FLone Star Reservoir — Fillmore County2.1 ft clarity · 740 µg/L P · 37 µg/L chl-a
3. 3.FWillow Creek Reservoir — Sarpy County1.5 ft clarity · 97 µg/L P · 66 µg/L chl-a
4. 4.FSummit Lake — Burt County2.6 ft clarity · 104 µg/L P · 38 µg/L chl-a
5. 5.FRockford Lake — Gage County1.7 ft clarity · 328 µg/L P · 36 µg/L chl-a
6. 6.FBig Indian Lake — Gage County1.5 ft clarity · 255 µg/L P · 42 µg/L chl-a
7. 7.FHedgefield Lake — Lancaster County1.6 ft clarity · 680 µg/L P · 47 µg/L chl-a
8. 8.FMeadowlark Lake — Seward County1.8 ft clarity · 236 µg/L P · 50 µg/L chl-a
9. 9.FBurchard Lake — Pawnee County1.9 ft clarity · 114 µg/L P · 65 µg/L chl-a
10. 10.FWildwood Lake — Lancaster County1.7 ft clarity · 228 µg/L P · 86 µg/L chl-a

Worst algae hotspots

Highest measured chlorophyll-a (algae) concentration.

1. 1.BCrescent Lake — Garden County110 µg/L chlorophyll-a
2. 2.BMerritt Reservoir — Cherry County92 µg/L chlorophyll-a
3. 3.BPelican Lake — Cherry County89 µg/L chlorophyll-a
4. 4.FWildwood Lake — Lancaster County86 µg/L chlorophyll-a
5. 5.FGrove Lake — Antelope County85 µg/L chlorophyll-a
6. 6.NRWillow Creek Reservoir — Pierce County78 µg/L chlorophyll-a
7. 7.NRCarter Lake — Douglas County76 µg/L chlorophyll-a
8. 8.BSwan Lake — Holt County75 µg/L chlorophyll-a
9. 9.FWillow Creek Reservoir — Sarpy County66 µg/L chlorophyll-a
10. 10.FBurchard Lake — Pawnee County65 µg/L chlorophyll-a

Trending lakes

Improving

1. 1.ASherman Reservoir — Sherman County
2. 2.ALake Minatare — Scotts Bluff County
3. 3.AHugh Butler Lake — Frontier County
4. 4.BCalamus Reservoir — Garfield County
5. 5.BOliver Reservoir — Kimball County
6. 6.CHarry Strunk Lake — Frontier County
7. 7.CKramper Lake — Dakota County
8. 8.DKirkman'S Cove Lake — Richardson County

Declining

1. 1.FMaskenthine Reservoir — Stanton County
2. 2.FSummit Lake — Burt County
3. 3.FRockford Lake — Gage County
4. 4.FLiberty Cove Lake — Webster County
5. 5.FGrove Lake — Antelope County
6. 6.FHedgefield Lake — Lancaster County
7. 7.FBurchard Lake — Pawnee County
8. 8.FWildwood Lake — Lancaster County