20 Nebraskaland • June 2024
t 2,845 acres and a little more than
4 miles long, Sherman Reservoir
is far from Nebraska's largest.
Yet between fi ve large bays that
branch off the main lake, and the many
coves found in each of those, the lake
boasts a maze of 77 miles of shoreline
when full. That ranks second among the
state's lakes, leaving plenty of water for
boaters to explore and shoreline habitat
for fi sh.
Full Pool
Completed in 1962, Sherman Dam was
built by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
on Oak Creek northeast of Loup City.
The creek, dry except following rain,
doesn't supply the water for the lake,
however. Instead, water is diverted from
the Middle Loup River at Arcadia Dam,
18 miles to the northwest, and fl ows
through a canal to the lake, where it
backs up into loess canyons branching
off the main arm. During the summer,
water stored in the lake, owned by the
Farwell Irrigation District, irrigates
49,000 acres of farmland in the Middle
Loup Valley.
Sherman Reservoir State Recreation
Area off ers more than 300 primitive
campsites in nine locations around the
lake, including a few in out-of-the way
corners. Until 2023, the only hookups
for RVs were found in the seasonal and
nightly spots off ered by the Trade Winds
Marina on the east side of the lake.
Following expansion and improvements,
the West Ridge Area campground now
provides 61 pads with electrical hookups
overlooking Thunder Bay on the south
shore of the lake.
During the summer, boats and personal
watercraft buzz around the lake, many
pulling skiers and tubers, the size and
shape of the lake providing shelter from
the wind on most days. Lacking the sand
beaches off ered by several of the state's
lakes, sun seekers often retreat to a bay,
drop anchor and fl oat the afternoon
away on a hot summer day.
Starting in July, irrigation releases
draw the lake down an average of 9
feet. Unlike some reservoirs, however,
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