Burleigh County Lake Quality
North Dakota, 1 lakes, average grade D (Poor)
Burleigh County has 1 graded lakes — a thin enough sample that one or two stressed lakes can move the county average noticeably. Use the per-lake pages below for what actually matters. The county-wide average grade is D — water quality issues are persistent across most of the monitored basins. 0 lakes fall into the F bracket outright.
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 Mcdowell Dam Lake (D); the most-stressed is Mcdowell Dam Lake (D).
Quick Answers for Burleigh County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Mcdowell Dam Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or check the official North Dakota fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Burleigh County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mcdowell Dam Lake | D | 1.6 ft | 39.6 ft | - |
Other Counties in North Dakota
See how Burleigh County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 15 states.
Where to stay near Burleigh County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.