Sutherland Reservoir State Recreation Area

🏆🏆🏆🏆 3,020-acre reservoir on the Platte River — part of the massive North Platte hydroelectric system supplying power to central Nebraska.

Visitor Information

About Sutherland Reservoir

Sutherland Reservoir State Recreation Area in Lincoln County provides recreation on a 3,060-acre reservoir along the Platte River in central Nebraska. The reservoir is part of the North Platte irrigation system and supports excellent walleye and white bass fishing.

Things to Do

Fishing for walleye, white bass, and catfish, boating, camping (80+ sites), swimming, and hunting (seasonal). A major western Nebraska water recreation destination.

About Sutherland

Sutherland Reservoir State Recreation Area in Lincoln County holds a 3,042-acre irrigation reservoir on the North Platte River corridor — one of the largest bodies of water in western Nebraska. Built as part of the massive Sutherland Project (1935), the reservoir stores North Platte River water for irrigation across the central Platte Valley. The open water attracts migrating waterfowl and shorebirds in impressive numbers.

Things to Do

Fishing for walleye, white bass, and wipers, boating and water skiing on the large reservoir, camping, swimming, sailing (the steady prairie winds are excellent), and waterfowl hunting (seasonal).

Getting There

Sutherland Reservoir SRA is located near Sutherland in Lincoln County, along the Platte River valley in central Nebraska. The 3,000-acre reservoir, built for irrigation, has become one of western Nebraska’s most popular recreation lakes. The Platte River nearby hosts one of nature’s greatest spectacles each spring — over 500,000 sandhill cranes stop along a 60-mile stretch during their annual migration.

Insider Tips

Supply canal lake: Sutherland is a large reservoir on the Tri-County Supply Canal system — the same system that feeds Johnson Lake. Pro tip: The lake produces excellent walleye fishing — troll crawler harnesses along the main channel in summer. Bald eagles: Winter concentrations of bald eagles along the canal and reservoir can exceed 100 birds — one of the largest gatherings in Nebraska.

Best Time to Visit

Summer: Walleye fishing, boating, and swimming. Winter: Bald eagle watching (December-February). Spring: Walleye spawn. Fall: Waterfowl migration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do eagles concentrate here?

The dam and canal outflows keep water open (unfrozen) in winter, concentrating fish and making them accessible to eagles. Hundreds of bald eagles gather at open-water sites across Nebraska each winter — the North Platte area is one of the top viewing locations.