Lake Size: 35,700 acres (144 km)
Deepest Depth: 142 ft (43 m)
Latitude: 41.225
Longitude: -101.716667
Counties: Keith County
Cities: Ogallala

Information: The lake, formed by Kingsley Dam, is a man-made body of water that is 22 miles (35 km) long, 4 miles (6.4 km) wide at its largest point, and 142 feet (43 m) deep near the dam (at full capacity) – it was constructed between 1936 and 1941 and is fed by the North Platte River. When full, the reservoir has a capacity of 1.74 million acre-feet, covers 35,700 acres (144 km2) and has 76 miles (122 km) of shoreline, making it the largest reservoir in Nebraska. Lake McConaughy was constructed to store water for irrigation for The Tri-County (later renamed Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District, also known as "Central") hydro-irrigation project. A hydro-electric plant was later added and went online in 1984. Central, a political subdivision of the State of Nebraska, owns and operates the dam and reservoir and an associated hydroplant below the dam. The source of water for Lake McConaughy is primarily the North Platte River. Water flows into the lake from a 32,500-square-mile drainage area above the dam. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation reservoirs on the North Platte River in Wyoming capture precipitation and snowmelt from the mountains and utilize the water for irrigation and hydroelectric production within the North Platte Projects. Return flows from these projects to the North Platte River make up a significant portion of the inflows to Lake McConaughy. Lake McConaughy is also a popular location for fishing, boating, water sports, camping and hunting. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) operates a State Recreation Area at the lake. NGPC's offices are at the Lake McConaughy Visitors Center just south of the dam. The Visitor Center contains a water interpretive center, gift shop, theater, and information office.