Buffalo Lake is a 990-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Pierce County, North Dakota with a maximum depth of 16 feet (13-foot average). Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Northern Pike, Walleye, and Black Crappie. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Pierce County, Buffalo Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, North Dakota DNR, last sampled 2021-10-18. 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 0.3 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 219.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 88.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 0.3 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 219.5 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 88 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 15.9 ft |
| Average Depth | 12.9 ft |
| Surface Area | 990 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4 mi |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Buffalo Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Buffalo Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.15 m/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +126.3 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Buffalo Lake averages about 66°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 69°F) and coldest in Oct (about 49°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 38 field readings (2020–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Buffalo Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 3 lakes in Pierce County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Buffalo Lake holds Grade F. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- ARound LakeMcHenry County · 20.7 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → A)
- CHarvey Dam LakeWells County · 17.1 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- CBalta Dam LakePierce County · 14.8 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- CLake GeorgeMcHenry County · 28.5 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- DAntelope LakePierce County · 12.6 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Pierce County
Explore Buffalo Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across North Dakota
Fish species and best lakes in Pierce 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 Buffalo Lake With Nearby Lakes
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Buffalo Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Buffalo Lake Dam (completed 1930), built primarily for fish and wildlife pond on the Buffalo Coulee; earth-type dam, 12 ft tall and 4,250 ft long.
- Surface area
- 990 ac
- Normal storage
- 5,200 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 11,200 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 384 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND00347 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Buffalo Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit ND-09020202-003-L_00 · Official waterbody report
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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: 2021-10-18
Monitoring stations: 1