Belfield Dam Lake
Stark County, North Dakota9 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Eutrophic
- #2 of 3 in the county
- Limited data
Belfield Dam Lake in Stark County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 53 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.2 µg/L. Surface area: 8.9 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.8 ft
- Typical in October
- 47°F
- Area
- 9 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
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Belfield Dam Lake is a 9-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Stark County, North Dakota. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Stark County, Belfield Dam Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NDDEQ, last sampled 2023-10-24. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 3.8 ft. Phosphorus 53 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 5.2 µg/L. TSI 55. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 53 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.2 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Belfield Dam Lake typically sits around 47°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 65°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 68°F) and coldest in Oct (about 47°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 14 field readings (2023–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Belfield Dam Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 9 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Belfield Dam Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Belfield Dam Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Belfield Dam Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Belfield Railroad Dam (completed 1910), built primarily for recreation on the Norwegian Creek; earth-type dam, 20 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 8.9 ac
- Normal storage
- 70 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 127 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0.67 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- City of Belfield
All listed purposes: Recreation;Fish and Wildlife Pond.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND00459 · Operator website
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Belfield Dam Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Belfield City OfBelfield · 1.4 mi away · NPDES ND0022144Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 3 lakes in Stark County
Nearby Lakes in Stark County
Frequently asked questions about Belfield Dam Lake
Where is Belfield Dam Lake?
- Belfield Dam Lake is a lake in Stark County, North Dakota. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Belfield Dam Lake?
- Belfield Dam Lake in Stark County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 53 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 5.2 µg/L. Surface area: 8.9 acres.
Is Belfield Dam Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Belfield Dam Lake?
- Belfield Dam Lake typically sits around 47°F at the surface in October, from 14 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Belfield Dam Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Dakota's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
North Dakota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
Planning a trip around Theodore Roosevelt?
Belfield Dam Lake is about 23 miles from Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Crowds there swing hard by season, so the month you pick changes both how busy the park is and what lodging costs.
Best time to visit Theodore Roosevelt →More North Dakota Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in North Dakota
Eutrophic Lakes in North Dakota
Where this data comes from
20 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Dakota Department Of Environmental Quality
21NDHDWQ_WQX20 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 447.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll a and b in phytoplankton by HPLC/UV
- 4500 NO3 E ~ Nitrate in Water- Cadmium Reduction
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Depth, fish, and access data from North Dakota Game & Fish