North Dakota vs Minnesota, Lake Water Quality Comparison
A data-driven comparison of lake water quality between North Dakota and Minnesota, built from EPA Water Quality Portal monitoring data.
| North Dakota | Minnesota | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Lakes | 149 | 2,394 |
| Average Score | 1.77 | 2.48 |
| Oligotrophic (Cleanest) | 1 | 232 |
| Eutrophic (High Nutrient) | 55 | 586 |
| Fish Species Documented | 0 | 72 |
| Lakes with Fish Data | 0 | 1,623 |
| Lakes with Invasives | 8 | 791 |
| Average Depth (ft) | - | 43 ft |
| Lakes with Depth Data | 0 | 1,842 |
| Improving Trend | 21 | 741 |
| Declining Trend | 32 | 845 |
| Ice Data Available | 0 | 1,054 |
Analysis
North Dakota has 149 lakes with nutrient and algae readings, against 2,394 in Minnesota. On average water quality, Minnesota comes out ahead.North Dakota counts 1 oligotrophic lakes, the clearest trophic class, against 232 in Minnesota.
Long-term monitoring shows 21 improving and 32 declining lakes in North Dakota, versus 741 improving and 845 declining in Minnesota. Dataset coverage varies by state: North Dakota has maximum-depth data for 0 lakes and documented fish species on 0, compared with 1,842 and 1,623 for Minnesota. Where a figure is zero, that state dataset has not yet been ingested — grades there rest on EPA clarity and nutrient measurements alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does North Dakota or Minnesota have cleaner lakes?
North Dakota lakes average a composite water-quality score of 1.77; Minnesota lakes average 2.48. Minnesota has the better average water quality. Grades are computed from EPA Water Quality Portal clarity and nutrient measurements.
Which state has more measured lakes?
North Dakota has 149 measured lakes while Minnesota has 2,394. Counts reflect lakes with enough EPA Water Quality Portal monitoring data to reae, not the total number of lakes in each state.