Discover the Oldest Man-Made Lake in Nebraska

Key Points:

• The oldest man-made lake in Nebraska is Lake McConaughy, which finished construction in 1941.
• It is also the largest man-made lake in Nebraska.
• Lake McConaughy is twenty-one miles long.

The “cornhusker state” is known for many things. Some of those things are its prairie landscapes, rock formations in the panhandle, and dunes in the Sandhills. Nebraska has over one thousand five hundred lakes, but one lake stands out from the rest. Lake McConaughy is not only the largest lake in Nebraska, it’s also the deepest lake in Nebraska and the oldest man-made lake in the state.

Lake McConaughy’s History

Construction of the Kingsley Dam led to the eventual creation of the famous Lake McConaughy. Kingsley Dam resides at the North Pallete River. “Big Mac” was a part of the New Deal constructed by Franklin D. Roosevelt. President Roosevelt initiated the plan so that the country could get out of The Great Depression. Both the dam and the reservoir were named after two people: George P. Kingsley and Charles McConaughy. George and C.W. were two promoters for the overall project of the dam and the lake.

Kingsley Dam served many purposes. The dam would play a part in flood control, irrigation, hydroelectric power generation, and recreational purposes. There is another lake before one gets to the Kingsley Dam and that’s Lake Ogallala. Ogallala isn’t as large as Lake McConaughy. The dam also made Lake Ogallala.

Charles McConaughy was a grain merchant who paid attention to the Nebraska soils and annual flooding for crop irrigation. The North Pallete River was highly unpredictable due to the unusual flooding and harsh quicksand. Eventually, the creation of the lakes and the dam helped Nebraska become one of the nation’s leading agricultural states. The construction of the lake started in 1938 and finished in 1941.

The Nature of Lake McConaughy

Lake McConaughy is composed of 37,5000 acres of land. Although it’s twenty-one miles long, the shoreline that circles the lake is over one hundred miles. The depth of the lake fluctuates based on the North Pallete River and the Kingsley Dam. Snowy weather can melt and provide much more water for the dam and Lake McConaughy. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District to monitor and maintain proper water levels for recreation. The lake has become a national tourist site for campers, boaters, and fans of nature throughout the years.

In the wintertime, the shorelines get a snowy blanket. It can also be a perfect place for sledding and snow-skiing. However, the lake doesn’t freeze. So, ice fishing is something that can’t be done around the entire lake. Although the peak of the lake’s activities happens in the summer, the wintertime provides a new world of adventures for visitors and anglers.

Boating

Residents can go boating at the magnificent Lake McConaughy. “Big Mac” does offer rentals, but the rentals are limited. People who do bring their personally owned boats must have their registration and safety equipment on board. Personal floating devices are required for everyone on the boat.

Wildlife at Lake McConaughy

Lake McConaughy contains a large ecosystem of different animals. There are over three hundred different bird species around the lake including Sandhill Cranes, large seagulls, shorebirds, ducks, and geese. Bald Eagles congregate at the lake during the wintertime. The plains that surround the lake also have white-tailed deer surrounding the lake. Hunting is allowed as long as you have a hunting license and permits available. The Nebraska Game & Parks organization has a full list of hunting season rules and places to hunt at.

Camping

There are seven different camping sites at the lake. Amenities vary greatly based on the type of camping experience you desire. If you want a full primitive environment where you only want to camp with tents, there’s a site for that. If you want to camp at full-service sites with electric and sewage hook-ups along with parking for vans and RVs, they have that too. Reservations can be set thirty days in advance. You can make them over the phone or online.

What About The Kids?

Lake McConaughy is a family-friendly environment where people of all ages can have fun. There are destined play areas, fire pits, and picnic tables for the kids. The state’s Game and Parks Commission has several wildlife education programs and extra-curricular activities for kids to get into.

Summary of Lake McConaughy

• The oldest man-made lake in Nebraska is Lake McConaughy, which finished construction in 1941.
• It is also the largest man-made lake in Nebraska.
• Lake McConaughy is twenty-one miles long.
• Its max depth is 142 feet. Therefore, it’s the deepest lake in Nebraska.
• There are seven camping sites to choose from.
• Fishing is a popular thing to do at the lake.
• People can hunt at the lake but under certain conditions.
• Franklin D. Roosevelt and two Nebraska locals familiar with the farming conditions of Nebraska collaborated on the plan for the lake and the Kingsley Dam.