Carter Lake is a shallow oxbow lake in Nebraska and Iowa, located next to Omaha, and marks one of the only spots the Iowa-Nebraska border is not on the Missouri River. Soon after its formation the lake was called the East Omaha Lake, and then Lake Nakoma. The city of Carter Lake, Iowa, takes its name from the lake. The lake was formed from the Saratoga Bend in the Missouri River.
The lake offers recreational opportunities such as fishing, boating, swimming, and picnicking. The lake is home to native species including black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, green sunfish, and largemouth bass. Additionally, the lake is occasionally stocked with channel catfish and northern pike. Invasive species present in the lake include curlyleaf pondweed and Eurasian watermilfoil. Fishing regulations in the lake are limited.
