Belcourt Lake Beach is a 827-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Rolette County, North Dakota with a maximum depth of 25 feet (11-foot average). Water quality is graded F based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Northern Pike, Walleye, and Yellow Perch. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 13 other monitored lakes in Rolette County, Belcourt Lake Beach ranks #14 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, North Dakota DNR, last sampled 2025-09-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Belcourt Lake Beach water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Based on E. coli testing, Belcourt Lake Beach occasionally exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 5.3% of 38 samples across 7 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check North Dakota’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 1 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 77.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 77 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 24.5 ft |
| Average Depth | 10.8 ft |
| Surface Area | 827 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 13.4 mi |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Belcourt Lake Beach
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Belcourt Lake Beach in Rolette County, North Dakota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Belcourt Lake Beach
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 Belcourt Lake Beach?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Belcourt Lake Beach — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at North Dakota’s top lakes →
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Belcourt Lake Beach
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.05 m/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.17 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Belcourt Lake Beach averages about 69°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 73°F) and coldest in Jun (about 65°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 9 field readings (2012–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #14 of 14 lakes in Rolette County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Belcourt Lake Beach holds Grade F. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BGordon Center LakeRolette County · 3.8 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → B)
- BWheaton LakeRolette County · 3.9 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → B)
- DBelourt Outlet LakeRolette County · 0.1 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DBelcourt Center LakeRolette County · 0.8 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DBelcourt Inlet LakeRolette County · 1.3 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Rolette County
Explore Belcourt Lake Beach across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across North Dakota
Fish species and best lakes in Rolette County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Dakota's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
North Dakota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More North Dakota Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in North Dakota
Hypereutrophic Lakes in North Dakota
Compare Belcourt Lake Beach With Nearby Lakes
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Belcourt Lake Beach is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Belcourt Lake (completed 1930), built primarily for recreation on the Ox Creek; earth-type dam, 13 ft tall and 700 ft long.
- Surface area
- 827 ac
- Normal storage
- 5,651 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 9,159 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 28.4 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- BIA
All listed purposes: Recreation;Fish and Wildlife Pond;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND00535 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.13 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Depth, fish, and access data from North Dakota Game & Fish
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2025-09-10
Monitoring stations: 1