Steele County Lake Quality
North Dakota, 7 lakes — no lake here has enough monitoring data for a grade
Steele County holds 7 monitored lakes. With a sample that small the county-level summary describes those specific waters, not necessarily every water body in the county. No lake in Steele County has enough sampling behind it for an A–F grade yet. The 7 monitored lakes below carry whatever clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a measurements exist.
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.
Where to stay near Steele County
Top-rated places to stay near Steele County
Prices for Sep 11–13, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Steele County?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Steele County — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Quick Answers for Steele County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for South Golden Lake — or check the official North Dakota fishing regulations.
All Lakes in Steele County
7 lakes · 0 graded, 7 not rated0 graded lakes · 7 not rated, hidden
| # | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae | Trophic | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NRSouth Golden LakeSteele | NR | 6.2 ft | No recent samples | 12.2 µg/L | No recent samples | ✓ Public | |
| NRNorth Golden LakeSteele | NR | 3.8 ft | No recent samples | 18.5 µg/L | No recent samples | ✓ Public | |
| NRLake TobiasonSteele | NR | 8.1 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRGolden Rush LakeSteele | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRWillow LakeSteele | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRLone Tree LakeSteele | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not recorded | |
| NRStony LakeSteele | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | Not 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.
Lake Match
Which lake suits how you actually use one?
Six questions — swimming, fishing, quiet, cabins, drive time — and a shortlist of graded lakes that fit, with the water quality behind each one.
Other Counties in North Dakota
See how Steele 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.