Carlson-Tande Dam Lake
Griggs County, North Dakota16 acresView mapDirections
Not enough samples to grade — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. No letter yet. Here is what we do have.
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- Public access
- Limited data
Carlson-Tande Dam Lake in Griggs County, North Dakota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5.6 ft visibility. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.1 µg/L. Surface area: 15.79 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 70°F
- Area
- 16 acres
- Chlorophyll-a
- 8.1 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Carlson-Tande Dam Lake’s letter
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Why Carlson-Tande Dam Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Carlson-Tande Dam Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity and algae (chlorophyll-a), but not phosphorus.
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by NDDEQ and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Carlson-Tande Dam Lake is a 16-acre lake in Griggs County, North Dakota. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NDDEQ, last sampled 2025-10-14. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Carlson-Tande Dam Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Carlson-Tande Dam Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Carlson-Tande Dam Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 5.6 ft. Chlorophyll-a 8.1 µg/L. TSI 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8.1 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Carlson-Tande Dam Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 66°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 70°F) and coldest in Oct (about 51°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 24 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Carlson-Tande Dam Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 16 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Carlson-Tande Dam Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Carlson-Tande DamPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Carlson-Tande Dam Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.118 m/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Carlson-Tande Dam Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Carlson-Tande Dam (completed 1967), built primarily for recreation on the Sheyenne River-TR; earth-type dam, 29 ft tall and 425 ft long.
- Surface area
- 15.79 ac
- Normal storage
- 152.35 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 232.23 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1.72 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Griggs County WRB
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND00299 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Carlson-Tande Dam 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-09020203-005-L_00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.19 km)
Graded lakes near Carlson-Tande Dam Lake
Carlson-Tande Dam Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Griggs County
Frequently asked questions about Carlson-Tande Dam Lake
Where is Carlson-Tande Dam Lake?
- Carlson-Tande Dam Lake is a lake in Griggs County, North Dakota. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity.
What is the water quality grade for Carlson-Tande Dam Lake?
- Carlson-Tande Dam Lake in Griggs County, North Dakota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5.6 ft visibility. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.1 µg/L. Surface area: 15.79 acres.
Is Carlson-Tande Dam Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Carlson-Tande Dam Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Carlson-Tande Dam Lake?
- Carlson-Tande Dam Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August, from 24 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Are there boat ramps on Carlson-Tande Dam Lake?
- Carlson-Tande Dam Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Carlson-Tande Dam. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
17 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Dakota Department Of Environmental Quality
21NDHDWQ_WQX17 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 447.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll a and b in phytoplankton by HPLC/UV
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Depth, fish, and access data from North Dakota Game & Fish
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory