Spottail Shiner
Invasive SpeciesFound in 2 lakes
Spottail Shiner is documented in 2 lakes across our dataset — 2 in North Dakota. Each state's natural-resources agency maintains an official "infested waters" roster that triggers boat-launch decontamination protocols. 2 lakes — narrow enough that aggressive containment is still on the table. Most upper-Midwest invasives that established here did so quietly over a decade before anyone noticed, so a low number today is not a guarantee for tomorrow.
The presence of Spottail Shiner does not directly change a lake's LakeGrade rubric score — the grade measures the water itself, not the species inhabiting it. But invasive presence is a meaningful adjacent signal worth reading alongside the grade.
Lakes with Spottail Shiner
| Lake | County | State | Grade | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qacmainstfbk Lake | Mercer | ND | A | - |
| Qacmainstdup Lake | Mercer | ND | B | - |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes have spottail shiner?
Spottail Shiner has been documented in 2 graded lakes: 2 in North Dakota.
Does spottail shiner affect water quality?
Invasive species can significantly affect lake ecosystems. They may alter nutrient cycling, displace native species, and change water clarity. Lakes with spottail shiner should be monitored for changes in water quality over time.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.