Grand Forks County Lake Quality
North Dakota, 4 lakes, average grade D (Poor)
Grand Forks County has 4 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. On average, Grand Forks County lakes grade D, with phosphorus loading and reduced clarity showing up across most of the dataset.
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 Fordville Dam Lake (C); the most-stressed is Kolding Dam Lake (F).
Quick Answers for Grand Forks County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Fordville Dam Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or check the official North Dakota fishing regulations.
Fishing in Grand Forks County
All Lakes in Grand Forks County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fordville Dam Lake | C | 4.4 ft | 29.9 ft | - |
| 2 | Larimore Dam Lake | D | 3 ft | 28.2 ft | - |
| 3 | Kolding Dam Lake | F | 1.7 ft | 24 ft | - |
| 4 | Niagara Dam Lake | F | 1 ft | 22 ft | - |
Other Counties in North Dakota
See how Grand Forks 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 Grand Forks County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.