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University of Nebraska–Lincoln

UNL Water

Your natural resource for reliable water information.

lakeside development photo

Lakes, ponds and streams provide a variety of beneficial recreational and economic uses. Fishing, swimming, and providing wildlife habitat; added landscape aesthetics and increased property values; water for livestock and irrigation; these are just a few of the benefits returned to Nebraskans.

Water quality protection practices properly implemented on the landscape can reduce or eliminate overland runoff water and associated pollutants which will enter lakes, ponds and streams.

Reducing the amount of nutrients such as phosphorus that enter a water body, is the most important step toward reducing toxic algae in lakes and ponds. Like many agriculturally dominated states, Nebraska waters have elevated nutrient levels and high potential for toxic algae outbreaks; thus the importance of water quality testing cannot be overstated. Testing is not only important to properly identify current or potential issues, but also to establish background data on a water body to which future tests can be compared. Water quality test data allows owners, users, and managers to make informed decisions regarding management of an individual lake, pond, or stream.

In some cases shoreline, stream bank and/or lake restoration is the best option to sustain long term beneficial use of the lake, pond or stream.

Information presented within the Lakes, Ponds & Streams section of this Water Web site has been reviewed by University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lake, Pond and Stream Protection Team members Tadd Barrow, Tom Franti, David Shelton, Steve Tonn and Charlie Wortmann.
Did You Know?

47 public waters are tested weekly for toxic algae with results posted on the NDEQ Web site.

For private waters, UNL has a volunteer monitoring program in place. We send the clientele a lake sample collection kit, complete with instructions and information allowing them to collect a sample from their own private pond/lake to be tested for toxic algae.