Davis Dam Lake
Slope County, North Dakota15 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #1 of 2 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Davis Dam Lake in Slope County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.8 µg/L. Surface area: 15.3 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.5 ft
- Typical in October
- 52°F
- Area
- 15 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Davis Dam Lake’s letter
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Davis Dam Lake is a 15-acre mesotrophic lake in Slope County, North Dakota. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Slope County, Davis Dam Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NDDEQ, last sampled 2023-10-05. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Davis Dam Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft. Phosphorus 26.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4.8 µg/L. TSI 48. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 26.5 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.8 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Water Temperature
Davis Dam Lake typically sits around 52°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 65°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 69°F) and coldest in Oct (about 52°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 17 field readings (2011–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Davis Dam Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 15 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Davis Dam Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Davis DamPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Davis Dam Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Davis Dam Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Davis Fish Dam (completed 1963), built primarily for recreation on the Spring Creek; earth-type dam, 31 ft tall and 470 ft long.
- Surface area
- 15.3 ac
- Normal storage
- 147.7 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 307.4 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 7.6 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- ND Game & Fish
All listed purposes: Recreation;Fish and Wildlife Pond.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND00211 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.22 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Slope County
Nearby Lakes in Slope County
Frequently asked questions about Davis Dam Lake
Where is Davis Dam Lake?
- Davis Dam Lake is a lake in Slope County, North Dakota. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Davis Dam Lake?
- Davis Dam Lake in Slope County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.8 µg/L. Surface area: 15.3 acres.
Is Davis Dam Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Davis Dam Lake?
- Davis Dam Lake typically sits around 52°F at the surface in October, from 17 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Are there boat ramps on Davis Dam Lake?
- Davis Dam Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Davis Dam. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Davis Dam Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Dakota's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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More North Dakota Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in North Dakota
Mesotrophic Lakes in North Dakota
Where this data comes from
20 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Dakota Department Of Environmental Quality
21NDHDWQ_WQX20 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 447.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll a and b in phytoplankton by HPLC/UV
- 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
Depth, fish, and access data from North Dakota Game & Fish
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory