Belourt Outlet Lake is a 827-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Rolette County, North Dakota with a maximum depth of 25 feet (11-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 2 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. Compared to the 13 other monitored lakes in Rolette County, Belourt Outlet Lake ranks #9 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, North Dakota DNR, last sampled 2025-09-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Based on E. coli testing, Belourt Outlet Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 9 samples across 3 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: D, Poor
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 12.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 12.5 µg/L | C |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 24.5 ft |
| Average Depth | 10.8 ft |
| Surface Area | 827 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 13.4 mi |
Where to stay near Belourt Outlet Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Belourt Outlet Lake 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.
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Belourt Outlet Lake
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 |
Water Temperature
Belourt Outlet Lake averages about 70°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 73°F) and coldest in May (about 55°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 147 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Belourt Outlet Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #9 of 14 lakes in Rolette County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Belourt Outlet Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BGordon Center LakeRolette County · 3.8 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- BWheaton LakeRolette County · 3.9 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
Nearby Lakes in Rolette County
Explore Belourt Outlet Lake 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
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
North Dakota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More North Dakota Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in North Dakota
Eutrophic Lakes in North Dakota
Compare Belourt Outlet Lake With Nearby Lakes
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Belourt Outlet Lake 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 (0.06 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Belourt Outlet Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Belcourt Public UtilitiesBelcourt · 2.8 mi away · NPDES ND0023647
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.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Depth, fish, and access data from North Dakota Game & Fish
Most recent sample: 2025-09-16
Monitoring stations: 1