Lake McConaughy, Nebraska
A Major Drought Continues to Severely Impact The Reservoir
(update as of August 2, 2006)

Image © K. Dewey, High Plains Regional Climate Center. See links to more photos below.
Kingsley Dam at Lake McConaughy, Nebraska, November 12, 2004.
NOTE:  The reservoir (lake) is full when the water reaches the level of the horizontal boom
which connects the outlet tower on the left and the spillway tower on the right.
The change in color from light to darker tan along the dam also shows the normal height of the water.
 

ALSO SEE:  January 1, 1999 - July 31, 2006 Nebraska Drought Update

ALSO SEE:  June 6, 2006 Drought Update for the Central Nebraska Platte River (includes photos)


Lake McConaughy Elevation August 2, 2005 - August 2, 2006

Lake McConaughy Statistics, August 1, 2005 vs August 1, 2006

 
August 2, 2006
this year
August 2, 2005
a year ago
Difference
(this year compared 
to last year
Elevation
3204.2 feet
3208.6 feet
-4.4 feet
Below max elevation
-65.8 feet
-61.4 feet
-4.4 feet
% Capacity
24.6%
28.4%
-3.8%
Volume
429,400 acre ft.
494,900 acre ft.
-65,500 acre ft.
Amount below capacity
Maximum elevation is 3270 feet.
maximum volume (storage) is 1,900,600 acre feet

Lake McConaughy Elevation January 1,1941 - August 2, 2006

Lake McConaughy Quick Facts:
  •  The lake north of Ogallala on the North Platte River is Nebraska 's largest reservoir.
  • It was filled in 1952 after Kingsley Dam's completion in 1941.
  • Lake McConaughy was built for irrigation but it is also popular for recreation.
  • Lake McConaughy is 22.1 miles long at maximum pool and is 142 feet deep at maximum depth when full. 
  • The Outlet Tower height is 185 feet high and the Spillway Tower is 172 feet high.
  • The Spillway Tower has 12 gates which are 16 feet high and 22 feet wide.
  • The Outlet tower is used for normal water release (water enters the tower at the bottom of the reservoir).  Water enters the hydroplant from this tower. 
  • The Spillway Tower is used only in the event of very high water and is a flood control outlet for the reservoir. 
  • Kingsley Dam is 162 feet in height, 28 feet wide at the top and 3.1 miles long.
The information source for these data is the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District. 


Links to High Plains Climate Center Information about Lake McConaughy:
 Photo Gallery of Lake McConaughy on November 12, 2004.

 Photo Gallery (November 2004) of the Lost Town of Lemoyne which reimerged from Lake McConaughy.
 

Links to the UNL National Drought Mitigation Center Information:
What is drought?

Current Drought Monitor Map

Animation of Drought Monitor Maps (last 12 weeks)


The following map shows the lingering drought in most of Nebraska

 


The Climate Prediction Center Outlooks for mid June show a continuation of warmer
than normal and drier than normal conditions for much of the Great Plains.


 

LINKS:
Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District
Central Nebraska Lake Levels
Climate Prediction Center 8-14 Day Outlooks
Lake McConaughy
Lake McConaughy Web Cam
No-till on the Plains
Nebraska Public Power District
National Drought Mitigation Center
Water Resources Data for the Nation

Map Showing Location of Lake McConaughy Relative to Interstate 80 in western Nebraska







UNL
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
High Plains Regional Climate Center

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