What this tracks
This dataset records Nebraska’s lakes and their characteristics, including size, water quality classifications, and permitted uses.
Why it matters to you
If you’re planning a fishing trip in Nebraska, this data tells you whether a lake allows public access and what types of fish habitats it supports. Farmers can check which lakes are approved for agricultural water use. The water quality classifications help homeowners evaluate recreational safety near different water bodies.
How to read this data
Name — Official lake name with location details, like “Donald Whitney Memorial Lake (WMA) (Sec 16-1N-5E, Gage County)”
Recreation — Permitted activities (PCR in sample = Primary Contact Recreation like swimming)
Area_acres — Lake surface area (13.03 acres in sample)
Nutrient_Class — Water quality rating (E in sample = Eutrophic, meaning higher nutrient levels)
Try it yourself
Search for lakes in your county by filtering the “Name” field for your area (e.g., “Gage County” in the sample) to find nearby recreational water bodies.