NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Fish Consumption Advisories

Fish consumption advisories are in effect at the Nebraska lakes and stream segments listed on the table below. Samples are collected by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, analyzed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and advisories are issued by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. A more detailed explanation of the sampling program can be found in the document, “Findings of the 2010 Regional Ambient Fish Tissue Program in Nebraska.”

These advisories are not a ban on eating fish, but the state suggests the public limit long-term consumption of fish caught from those specific waterbodies to one eight-ounce meal per week. These advisories are based on sampling taken through 2010. The table below lists the waterbody advisories by county and the contaminants of primary concern. Many compounds were analyzed in the samples, but only the primary ones listed led to consumption advisories. Refer to the numerical listing to find the waterbody’s location on the map located below the table.

Eleven Advisories Removed: In the latest round of test results, advisories were removed from 11 water bodies. The waterbodies removed from the list are:
Fish Consumption Advisories:
New Advisory Sites Highlighted in Yellow
MAP I.D. #
WATERBODY
COUNTY
FISH SPECIES
PRIMARY POLLUTANT(S) OF CONCERN
1
Lake HastingsAdamsCarpPCBs
2
Ravenna LakeBuffaloLargemouth BassMercury
3
Bassway Strip Lake No. 5BuffaloLargemouth BassMercury
4
Kea LakeBuffaloLargemouth BassMercury
5
Cottonmill LakeBuffaloLargemouth BassMercury
6
Yanney Park LakeBufflaloLargemouth BassMercury, Selenium
7
Platte River CassChannel CatfishPCBs, Mercury
8
Weeping Water City LakeCassLargemouth BassMercury, Selenium
9
EndersChaseWhite BassMercury
10
Valentine Mill PondCherryLargemouth BassMercury
11
Merritt ReservoirCherryWalleyeMercury
12
Cottonwood LakeCherryLargemouth BassMercury
13
Shell LakeCherryNorthern PikeMercury
14
West Point City LakeCumingLargemouth BassMercury
15
Crystal Cove LakeDakotaLargemouth BassMercury
16
Box Butte ReservoirDawesNorthern PikeMercury
17
Chappell Interstate LakeDeuelLargemouth BassMercury, Selenium
18
Dead Timber LakeDodgeLargemouth BassMercury
19
Fremont Lake No. 1DodgeLargemouth BassMercury
20
Johnson LakeDodgeLargemouth BassMercury
21
Lake BenningtonDouglasLargemouth BassMercury
22
Zorinsky LakeDouglasLargemouth BassMercury
23
Carter LakeDouglasLargemouth BassPCBs
24
Standing Bear LakeDouglasLargemouth BassMercury
25
Rock Creek LakeDundyLargemouth BassMercury
26
Hugh Butler/Red Willow Lake FrontierNorthern PikeMercury
27
Muddy CreekFurnasChannel CatfishMercury
28
Big Blue RiverGageCarpPCBs, Dieldrin
29
Wolf-Wildcat LakeGageLargemouth BassMercury
30
Rockford LakeGageLargemouth BassMercury
31
Phillips LakeGosperCarpMercury
32
Eagle Scout LakeHallLargemouth BassMercury
33
Frenchman WMA LakeHayesLargemouth BassMercury
34
O'Neill City LakeHoltLargemouth BassMercury
35
North Loup SRA LakeHowardLargemouth BassMercury, Selenium
36
Farwell South ReservoirHowardLargemouth BassMercury
37
Cub Creek LakeKeya PahaLargemouth BassMercury
38
Niobrara RiverKnoxCarpMercury, Selenium
39
Salt CreekLancasterCarpPCBs, Mercury
40
Wagon Train LakeLancasterLargemouth BassMercury
41
Wildwood ReservoirLancasterLargemouth BassMercury
42
Bluestem LakeLancasterChannel CatfishMercury
43
Stagecoach LakeLancasterLargemouth BassMercury
44
Merganser Lake LancasterLargemouth BassMercury
45
Oak Creek LancasterChannel CatfishPCBs, Mercury
46
Holmes LakeLancasterLargemouth BassMercury
47
North Platte RiverLincolnLargemouth BassMercury
48
Maloney Res. Outlet CanalLincolnCarpMercury
49
Sutherland Outlet CanalLincolnCarpPCBs, Mercury
50
Interstate LakeLincolnLargemouth BassMercury
51
East Hershey LakeLincolnLargemouth BassMercury
52
Hershey LakeLincolnLargemouth BassMercury
53
North Platte RiverMorrillCarpMercury, Selenium
54
Steinart Park LakeOtoeLargemouth BassMercury
55
Burchard LakePawneeLargemouth BassMercury
56
Mayberry WMA LakePawneeLargemouth BassMercury
57
Prairie Knoll LakePawnee Largemouth BassMercury
58
Iron Horse Trial LakePawnee Largemouth BassMercury
59
Holdredge Park LakePhelpsLargemouth BassMercury, Selenium
60
Columbus City Park PondPlatteLargemouth BassMercury
61
Verdon LakeRichardsonLargemouth BassMercury
62
Kirkman's Cove LakeRichardsonLargemouth Bass, CarpMercury
63
Willard L. Meyer/Swan Creek 5ASalineLargemouth BassMercury
64
Offutt LakeSarpyChannel CatfishPCBs
65
West Papillion CreekSarpyCarpPCBs, Dieldrin
66
Walnut Creek LakeSarpyLargemouth BassMercury
67
Wehrspann LakeSarpyLargemouth BassMercury
68
Halleck Park LakeSarpyLargemouth BassMercury, Selenium
69
Czechland LakeSaundersLargemouth BassMercury
70
Memphis LakeSaundersLargemouth BassMercury
71
Walgren LakeSheridanLargemouth BassMercury
72
Sherman ReservoirShermanWalleyeMercury
73
Carter P. Johnson LakeSiouxLargemouth BassMercury
74
Maskenthine LakeStantonLargemouth BassMercury
75
Big Sandy CreekThayerChannel CatfishMercury
76
Liberty CoveWebsterLargemouth BassMercury
77
Pibel LakeWheelerLargemouth BassMercury
78
Recharge LakeYorkLargemouth BassMercury


Map of Nebraska Fish Consumption Advisories Through 2008


*The “Fish Species” listed on the table denotes the type of fish that were analyzed from that waterbody. Although advisories are issued only for the species analyzed, it should be noted that other species of fish inhabiting the same waterbody may bioaccumulate similar levels of contaminants. However, these levels can vary depending on the type of fish. For example, mercury tends to bioaccumulate to a greater extent in larger predator fish, such as largemouth bass, and are typically lower in smaller fish and species such as bluegill and crappie.

Additional links:
For more information about the chemicals of primary concern and health risks, see NHHS’s Environmental Risk Assessment web page. The URL is: http://dhhs.ne.gov/publichealth/Pages/puh_enh_environmentalriskassessment_fishtissue.aspx

The Nebraska Fishing Guide provides information you need to fish Nebraska water, including: regulations; seasons; limits; special area regulations; public waters guide; stocking reports; outdoor reports; a fish identification guide; Master Angler Awards; photos; discussion forum; and, the ability to purchase a permit online. The URL is: http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/Fishing/guides/fishguide/fishguide.asp

(This page was last updated on July 6, 2012)


Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
1200 "N" Street, Suite 400
P.O. Box 98922
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509
(402) 471-2186