Where is Buffalo Lakes?

Buffalo Lakes is a lake in Marshall County, South Dakota. Its water-quality measurements are published by SD DANR and shown on this page as reported.

Are there boat ramps on Buffalo Lakes?

Buffalo Lakes has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Southwest Buffalo Public Water Access. Public access is listed as yes.

Can I fish at Buffalo Lakes?

Buffalo Lakes has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by South Dakota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.

Buffalo Lakes

Marshall County, South Dakota1,986 acresView map Directions

No nutrient or algae sampling on record from SD DANR for this lake.

Area

1,986 acres

Surface area

Shoreline

23.1 mi

Measured length

Impaired · Mercury
Public access
Limited data

See the measurements Directions Where to stay

Buffalo Lakes in Marshall County, South Dakota has water-quality measurements published by SD DANR, shown here as reported. Surface area: 1986 acres.

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Buffalo Lakes is a 1,986-acre lake in Marshall County, South Dakota. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, SD DANR. Methodology: how these readings are compared.

What Buffalo Lakes is good for

From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.

Boat launch1 documented ramp
Big water1,986 acres

Swimming conditions

No reading

Limited data

Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Buffalo Lakes is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.

Whether Buffalo Lakes is safe to swim in today is a call for the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.

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Water quality measurements for Buffalo Lakes

These are the measurements SD DANR publishes for Buffalo Lakes, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.

No clarity data.

Ask about Buffalo Lakes

Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.

Lake Details

Surface area

1,986 acres

Shoreline

23.1 mi

Public access

Yes

Listed by SD DANR

No bathymetric survey has been published for Buffalo Lakes, so its depth is not documented here.

Recreation & Access

Boat Landings

Yes

Public Access

Southwest Buffalo Public Water AccessPublic

Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps

Stays via Stay22

Stays near Buffalo Lakes

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Buffalo Lakes in Marshall County, South 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 Buffalo Lakes

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Fishing Buffalo Lakes

→ Buffalo Lakes fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

EPA Impairment Status

Buffalo Lakes is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).

Causes of impairment

Mercury

Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life.

A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit SD-JA-L-SOUTH_BUFFALO_01 · Official waterbody report

Nearby Lakes in Marshall County

Almos Lake1.1 miView →Josephine Lake2.3 miView →Meyer Slough3.4 miView →Lake Isabella2.6 miView →Piyas Lake3.2 miView →South Red Iron Lake3.8 miView →

Frequently asked questions about Buffalo Lakes

Where is Buffalo Lakes?: Buffalo Lakes is a lake in Marshall County, South Dakota. Its water-quality measurements are published by SD DANR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Buffalo Lakes?: Buffalo Lakes in Marshall County, South Dakota has water-quality measurements published by SD DANR, shown here as reported. Surface area: 1986 acres.
Is Buffalo Lakes safe to swim in?: Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Buffalo Lakes is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Buffalo Lakes?: Buffalo Lakes has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Southwest Buffalo Public Water Access. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Buffalo Lakes?: Buffalo Lakes has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by South Dakota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.