Cedar Lake is a 210-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Slope County, North Dakota with a maximum depth of 14 feet (5-foot average). Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2023. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, and Walleye. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Slope County, Cedar Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, North Dakota DNR, last sampled 2023-10-10. 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 1.3 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 53.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 71.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.3 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 53.4 µg/L | F |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 71 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 14.2 ft |
| Average Depth | 5.1 ft |
| Surface Area | 210 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 12.3 mi |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Cedar Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Cedar Lake
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Cedar Lake averages about 67°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 71°F) and coldest in Oct (about 47°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 14 field readings (2023–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Cedar Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Slope County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Cedar Lake holds Grade F. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- CKalina Dam LakeBowman County · 26.3 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- CIndian Creek Dam LakeHettinger County · 16.5 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- CLarson LakeHettinger County · 23.6 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- CBowman-Haley Dam LakeBowman County · 25 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- DGascoyne LakeBowman County · 12.5 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Slope County
Explore Cedar Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across North Dakota
Fish species and best lakes in Slope 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
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Other Grade F Lakes in North Dakota
Hypereutrophic Lakes in North Dakota
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Cedar Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Cedar Lake Dam (completed 1935), built primarily for fish and wildlife pond on the Cedar Creek; earth-type dam, 23 ft tall and 723 ft long.
- Surface area
- 210 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,255 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,875 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 208 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- ND Game & Fish
All listed purposes: Fish and Wildlife Pond;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND00122 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Cedar 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-10130205-003-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: 2023-10-10
Monitoring stations: 1