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LakeQuality
Late afternoon sun over Slim Lake, scattering a bright path across wind-textured water
B

Benson County Lake Quality

North Dakota, 31 lakes, average grade B (Good)

There are 31 monitored lakes in Benson County. The mix is varied enough that the county-level average tells you the broad strokes, not the choose-this-cabin specifics. 5 of those lakes carry an A–F grade. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. With an average grade of B, Benson County sits comfortably above the North Dakota median.

The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the grades sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest lake on the books is Wood Lake (B); the most-stressed is Devils Lake (C).

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Where to stay near Benson County

Top-rated places to stay near Benson County

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Quick Answers for Benson County

Cleanest lakes in Benson County →Cleanest lakes in North Dakota →Safest swimming lakes in North Dakota →

Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Wood Lake — or check the official North Dakota fishing regulations.

All Lakes in Benson County

31 lakes · 5 graded, 26 not rated5 graded lakes · 26 not rated, hidden

#LakeGradeClarityPhosphorusAlgaeTrophicAccess
1BWood LakeBensonBNo recent samples5.3 µg/LNo recent samplesNo recent samples✓ Public
2BFree Peoples LakeBensonBNo recent samples27.6 µg/LNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
3BFort Totten Bay LakeBensonBNo recent samples18.3 µg/LNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
4BMission Bay LakeBensonBNo recent samples31.9 µg/LNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
5CDevils LakeBensonC3.7 ft313 µg/L13.9 µg/LNo recent samples✓ Public
NRLegreid LakeBensonNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRShin Bone LakeBensonNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRElbow LakeBensonNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRSpring LakeBensonNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRTwin LakesBensonNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRWood LakeBensonNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samples✓ Public
NRMallard LakeBensonNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRStony LakeBensonNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRLong LakeBensonNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRO'Connell LakeBensonNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRLake IbsenBensonNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRLake YriBensonNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRLake MurieBensonNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRSilver LakeBensonNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRMallard LakeBensonNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRBroken Bone LakeBensonNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRHorseshoe LakeBensonNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRMud LakeBensonNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRTwin LakesBensonNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRSheep LakeBensonNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRFish LakeBensonNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRLake SeventeenBensonNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRRoberts LakeBensonNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRCranberry LakeBensonNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRSand LakeBensonNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded
NRLong LakeBensonNRNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNo recent samplesNot recorded

NR = not rated: there is not enough recent sampling to support a letter. That is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 (insufficient information), not a failing grade. How grading works.

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Other Counties in North Dakota

Rolette County

80 lakes · Avg grade B

Renville County

2 lakes · Avg grade B

Bottineau County

47 lakes · Avg grade B

McLean County

43 lakes · Avg grade B

Barnes County

22 lakes · Avg grade C

Mercer County

1 lake · Avg grade C

See how Benson County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all United States (49 states), Canada (Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador), and 38 other country hubs..

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.