Ogallala in Keith County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Kingsley Dam and Lake McConaughy
⎯⎯⎯
Lake Control Structures
⎯⎯⎯
Kingsley Hydroplant
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 2, 2021
1. Kingsley Dam and Lake McConaughy / Lake Control Structures / Kingsley Hydroplant Marker
Kingsley Dam and Lake McConaughy
Kingsley Dam was constructed between 1936 and 1941 to form Lake McConaughy, Nebraska's largest lake and the main storage reservoir for the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District's hydro-irrigation project. Lake McConaughy is almost 22 miles long, covers more than 30,000 acres when full and can hold almost 2 million acre-feet of water.
The dam was constructed by pumping a mixture of loess soil and water (Brule clay) into the middle to form the watertight core while the sides were formed by pumping sand and gravel from the bed of the North Platte River (Lake Ogallala was formed during this process). The dam is 162 ft high, 1,100 ft wide at its base and 28 ft wide at the top. More than 26 million cubic yards of earth were moved during construction of the 3.5 mile-long dam. The face is covered by more than a million tons of rock in several layers and more than 180,000 concrete tetrahedrons.
The dam is named for George P. Kingsley of Minden and the lake for Charles W. McConaughy of Holdrege, both of whom were early advocates of developing the state's water resources for irrigation
this page online
Lake Control Structures
The Outlet Tower (the structure furthest from the dam) is used for normal water releases. Water enters the structure through gates at the bottom of the lake. Since addition of the hydroplant, most releases through the dam are controlled by wicket gates inside the hydroplant. The tower is 185 ft tall and is connected with the hydroplant by a steel-reinforced concrete tube 20 ft in diameter.
The “Morning Glory” Spillway is a flood-control structure that controls the top 16 feet of the reservoir. The spillway is 172 ft tall with a diameter of 101 ft. Its 12 gates, each 16 ft high and 22 ft wide, weigh 20 tons each.
Kingsley Hydroplant
The Kingsley Hydroplant was constructed between 1981 and 1984 to add to Nebraska's power generating capabilities. The 50-megawatt plant, like three other hydroplants owned by Central, is operated from the Control Center in Gothenburg. The hydroplant is named for Donaldson W. Kingsley, the first president of the Central District's board of directors.
The immense spray of water occasionally seen coming from the plant passes through the bypass valve, which was originally
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 2, 2021
2. Kingsley Dam and Lake McConaughy / Lake Control Structures / Kingsley Hydroplant Marker
Looking east from Scenic State Highway 61. The Kingsley Hydroplant and Ogallala Lake are in the background.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1936.
Location. 41° 12.64′ N, 101° 40.211′ W. Marker is in Ogallala, Nebraska, in Keith County. It is on Scenic State Highway 61 6.1 miles north of North Spruce Street, on the right when traveling north. The marker is in a pull-out on the east side of the highway overlooking the Kingsley Hydroplant and Ogallala Lake. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ogallala NE 69153, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Nebraska. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Corn Belt, on the prairies, on the Great Plains, and specifically on
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 2, 2021
3. Kingsley Hydroplant and Ogallala Lake
Looking east from Nebraska Highway 61 across the Ogallala Lake (low) side of Kingsley Dam.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: George P. Kingsley Dam (within shouting distance of this marker); Central Nebraska Project (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Road to Zion (approx. ¾ mile away); Cowboy Capital (approx. 6 miles away); Boot Hill Kiosk (approx. 6.1 miles away); Boot Hill (approx. 6.1 miles away); The Trail Boss (approx. 6.1 miles away); Keith County Veterans Memorial (approx. 6.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ogallala.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Also see . . . Kingsley Dam (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: Kingsley Dam is located on the east side of Lake McConaughy in central Keith County, Nebraska, and was the second largest hydraulic fill dam in the world at the time of its completion. It was built as part of the New Deal project. On the(Submitted on September 18, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)east side of the dam is Lake Ogallala and on the south side is the Kingsley Hydroelectricity Plant. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District are also located in this area. Kingsley Dam, the Kingsley Hydroelectricity Plant, the Morning Glory Spillway, and the Outlet Tower – a large structure near the dam used to release water from the lake – are main visual icons of Lake McConaughy.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 2, 20214. Kingsley Dam & Outlet TowerLooking north along Kingsley Dam from the west (Lake McConaughy) side of Nebraska Highway 61 (which travels north along the dam).
Credits. This page was last revised on September 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 16, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 17 times since then. Photos: 1. submitted on September 17, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 18, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
