Big Stone Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Roberts County, South Dakota. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 4 public boat landings. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Roberts County, Big Stone Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, South Dakota DNR, last sampled 2023-08-09. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 108.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 67.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 108.5 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Big Stone Lake
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Fishing Big Stone Lake
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Roberts County
Nearby Lakes in Roberts County
Explore Big Stone Lake across LakeGrade
More South Dakota Lake Rankings
Eutrophic Lakes in South Dakota
More records, surveys & data sources
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Big Stone Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Lg Everist IncOrtonville · 3.1 mi away · NPDES MN0068764Recent violation
- Big Stone CityBig Stone City · 3.8 mi away · NPDES SD0023663
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
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2023-08-09
Monitoring stations: 2