Stark County Lake Quality
North Dakota, 3 lakes, average grade C (Fair)
Only 3 lakes in Stark County carry an active grade. The county-level summary is therefore representative of those specific lakes, not necessarily of every water body in the county. Stark County averages to a C. The distribution behind that average matters more than the letter: a few stressed lakes versus many decent ones can produce the same average as the inverse.
Most of the county's monitored lakes are shallow — under 50 feet — which means wind keeps the water column mixed all summer and sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the surface layer whenever the bottom is disturbed. Patterson Lake (B) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Stark County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Patterson Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or check the official North Dakota fishing regulations.
Fishing in Stark County
All Lakes in Stark County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patterson Lake | B | - | 24.8 ft | - |
| 2 | Belfield Dam Lake | C | 3.8 ft | 16.3 ft | - |
| 3 | E. A. Patterson Lake | D | 5.3 ft | 18.4 ft | 262.5 µg/L |
Other Counties in North Dakota
See how Stark 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 Stark County
Top-rated places to stay near Stark County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.