2013 Toxic Blue-green Algae
and Bacteria Sampling Results


NDEQ conducts weekly or bi-weekly sampling for toxic blue-green algae and bacteria at a number of public recreational lakes across Nebraska from May through September, and these results are updated weekly. Samples are typically collected on Monday and posted on the web site on Thursday or Friday.

Updated Information, Sept. 27, 2013:
NDEQ Expands Bacteria Sampling
Due to the fact that some floodwaters from the South Platte and Platte River are being diverted into a number of Nebraska canals and reservoirs, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality has expanded and will be extending its weekly sampling plan for bacteria.
More information and sampling results


At the top of the table below is a list of all
Current Lake(s) on Health Alert for toxic blue-green algae. Lakes that have been placed on Health Alert must subsequently have two consecutive weeks of low readings before the alert is ended. Samples above 20 ppb microcystin are placed on alert.

For more information about health alerts and what to look for, go to
Precautions and Facts Regarding Toxic Algae at Nebraska Lakes.

For more information about the history of toxic algae sampling in Nebraska, go to
Cyanobacteria: The Nebraska Experience

The next category, High E. Coli Bacteria Readings, lists lakes that showed unusually high readings of bacteria in the most recent sampling, which can also be a health concern. Samples above 235 counts/ 100 ml water are considered high.

Click here for more information about bacteria and its potential health effects.

The last category, Other Lakes Sampled, lists the results for lakes which are not under Health Alert for toxic algae, and their most recent sample results for bacteria are considered low.

Click on any lake name on the table below to view a chart of that lake’s sample results for toxic algae (Microcystins) and E.coli bacteria for the 2013 recreational season

Lake NameLake # -- County- Last Updated - Microcystin (ppb) - E.coli Bacteria
Hide details for Current Lake(s) on Health AlertCurrent Lake(s) on Health Alert
Kirkman's Cove21Richardson 10/03/201324.924
Swan Creek Lake # 5A39Saline10/03/20131.890
Willow Creek Lake45Pierce10/03/201312.1815
Hide details for High E.coli Bacteria LevelsHigh E.coli Bacteria Levels
Cub Creek Lake # 12A11Jefferson10/03/20130.141203
Johnson Lake20Gosper10/04/20130.1548
Mormon Island Lake32Hall10/03/20130.52419
Hide details for Other Lakes SampledOther Lakes Sampled
Bader Park Swimming Lake 1Merrick10/03/2013019
Big Indian Creek Lake 2Gage10/03/20130.922
Bluestem Lake3Lancaster10/03/20132.542
Box Butte Lake4Dawes10/03/20130.0612
Branched Oak Lake5aLancaster10/03/20131.3825
Branched Oak Lake5bLancaster10/03/20131.7959
Bridgeport Middle Lake6Morril10/03/20130.220
Calamus Lake7Garfield10/03/20130.445
Carter Lake8Douglas10/03/20130.094
Conestoga Lake9Lancaster10/03/20138.8294
Cottonwood Lake (Yankton)10Cedar09/19/2013010
Cunningham Lake12Douglas09/19/201303
Davis Creek Lake13Sherman10/03/20130.10
Enders Lake at East Beach14Chase10/03/20130.150
Fremont Lake # 1015Dodge10/03/20130.130
Fremont Lake # 2016aDodge10/03/20130.043
Fremont Lake # 2016bDodge10/03/20130.010
Fremont Lake # 917Dodge10/03/20130.130
Ft. Kearney Lake No. 750Buffalo10/03/20130.13
Harlan Lake18Harlan09/05/20130.084
Holmes Lake19Lancaster10/03/20130.119
Iron Horse Trail Lake47Pawnee County10/03/20130.430
Lake North22Platte10/03/20130.0124
Lewis and Clark Reservoir23Knox09/19/2013010
Lone Star Lake24Fillmore10/03/20131.035
Louisville Lake SRA No. 225Cass10/03/20130.113
Maloney Lake26Lincoln10/03/20130.4513
Maple Creek Recreation Area Lake49Colfax10/03/20130.112
Maskenthine Lake27Stanton10/03/20134.881
McConaughy Lake28Keith10/03/20132.672
Medicine Creek Lake29Frontier10/03/201300
Merritt Reservoir30Cherry10/03/20131.229
Minatare Lake31Scotts Bluff10/03/20130.0324
Oliver Lake33Kimball10/03/201302
Pawnee Lake34aLancaster10/03/20130.333
Pawnee Lake34bLancaster09/26/20130.811
Red Willow Lake35Frontier10/03/20130.330.34
Rockford Lake36Gage10/03/20131.780
Sherman Lake37Sherman10/03/201301
Sutherland Lake38Lincoln10/03/20132.324
Swanson Lake40Hitchcock09/26/20130.62
Two Rivers SRA Lake No. 441Douglas10/03/201301
Valentine Mill Pond42Cherry10/03/20130173
Victory Lake43Dodge10/03/201309
Wagon Train Lake44Lancaster10/03/20130.041
Windmill Lake No. 551Buffalo10/03/201312.1815
Wirth Brothers Lake46Johnson10/03/2013036


The map below shows the locations of the lakes referred to in the table above

Bader Park Lake Big Indian Creek Lake Bluestem Lake Box Butte Lake Branched Oak Lake Bridgeport Middle Lake Calamus Lake Carter Lake Conestoga Lake Cottonwood Lake (Yankton) Cub Creek Lake Cunningham Lake Davis Creek Lake Enders Lake Fremont Lake Harlan Lake Holmes Lake Johnson Lake Kirkman's Cove Lake North Lewis and Clark Reservoir Lone Star Lake Louisville Lake Maloney Lake Maskenthine Lake McConaughy Lake Medicine Creek Lake Merritt Reservoir Minatare Lake Mormon Island Lake Oliver Lake Pawnee Lake Red Willow Lake Rockford Lake Sherman Lake Sutherland Lake Swan Creek Lake # 5A Swanson Lake Two Rivers SRA Lake Valentine Mill Pond Wagon Train Lake Willow Creek Lake Wirth Brothers Lake Iron Horse Trail Lake Ed Zorinsky Lake Maple Creek SRA Lake Ft. Kearny Lake No. 7 Windmill Lake No. 5

The links below will take you to the sampling results taken during the recreational seasons ( May through September) for 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007.

Updated information regarding 2013 toxic blue-green algae and bacteria sampling will be posted on the page staring May 9, 2012

2012 Bacteria and Toxic Algae Monitoring: Weekly Results

2011 Bacteria and Toxic Algae Monitoring: Weekly Results

2010 Bacteria and Toxic Algae Monitoring: Weekly Results

2009 Bacteria and Toxic Algae Monitoring: Weekly Results

2008 Bacteria and Toxic Algae Monitoring: Weekly Results

2007 Bacteria and Toxic Algae Monitoring: Weekly Results



Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
1200 "N" Street, Suite 400
PO Pox 98922
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509
(402) 471-2186