Lake McConaughy covers 30,500 acres in Nebraska and drops to 142 feet at its deepest point. It is a reservoir impounded in 1941 and managed by Central Nebraska PPID. Water level is the thing to understand here: the pool can move roughly 25 feet, typically drawn down in autumn. That changes dock function, boat access, and what the shoreline looks like in listing photos versus in person. Short-term rental posture: Keith County rules. Confirm at the municipal level before underwriting rental income.
What stands out
Beaches
Boating
Watch outs
Seasonal drawdown near 25 ft — verify dock reach at low pool
Multi-year level volatility; review historical pool elevation before buying
Score breakdown
Water6.8
Recreation7.2
Value3.5
Access7.3
Investment3.7
Each axis is computed by published formula from this lake's own
attributes. How we score.
Water quality grade
Water A
ExcellentClear, low-nutrient water. Typically oligotrophic with high clarity and little seasonal algae.
Water B
GoodHealthy water with moderate clarity. Some seasonal variation, no persistent problems.
Water C
FairProductive water — good fishing, reduced clarity. Algae possible in late summer.
Water D
PoorNutrient-rich or heavily drawn down. Swimmable conditions vary; check before you rely on them.
Computed from measured clarity, trophic state, and drawdown magnitude —
not an opinion. See the formula.
Overall score, 1–10
8.0+
ExceptionalStrong on every axis we measure.
7.0–7.9
StrongClearly above average, usually with one standout axis.
6.0–6.9
SolidA good lake with a trade-off worth understanding.
5.0–5.9
MixedReal strengths and real compromises.
Under 5
CompromisedSomething material — volatility, water quality, or access.
Weighted: water 26% · recreation 22% · investment 20% · value 18% · access 14%.
Fishery
WalleyeWhite bassWiperTrout
On the water
BeachesBoatingFishingCamping
No USGS gauge on this lake. Water level and clarity figures below come from
published lake management data rather than a live sensor.
What the drawdown looks like
Full pool vs autumn low · Lake McConaughy
The dock sits at full-pool elevation. At low pool the waterline retreats
and the reach to navigable water changes. Scale is illustrative; the 25 ft
figure is from published operations for this lake.
Where it is
True shoreline from USGS NHD
101 km²
The outline is this lake's actual boundary from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset,
not an approximation — 496 boundary points. Basemap is USGS topographic
with contours and hydrography. Switch layers at the top right.
Depth profile
Idealized cross-section. Max depth 142 ft,
average 45 ft. Depth at a specific dock depends on local bathymetry —
verify at the property.
This lake moves. A drawdown near
25 feet changes dock reach, boat access, and the look of the shoreline.
Tour in the low season, or at minimum look at the gauge history above before you offer.
Dock & shoreline
Permitting authorityCentral Nebraska PPIDWake / speed rulesOpen water
A dock is never guaranteed. Confirm in writing with
Central Nebraska PPID that the specific parcel is eligible before you remove contingencies.
Short-term rental posture
Keith County rules
Generally permitted, but rules change. Confirm the specific municipality and any HOA covenant.
Modeled estimates. Market figures are derived from
lake attributes and regional patterns, not from MLS data. Treat them as a starting point, not a comp.
$535,000
Median waterfront
$4,885
Per shoreline foot
-2.8%
Year over year
78
Est. inventory
65
Avg days on market
$693
Est. nightly rate
Rental snapshot
Modeled occupancy61%Booked nights / yr160Gross revenue$120,361Net operating income$60,969Yield on median price11.40%