Photo: Andrew Filer from Seattle (ex-Minneapolis) — CC BY-SA 2.0Devils Lake is a 140,000-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Ramsey County, North Dakota with a maximum depth of 58 feet (26-foot average). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Northern Pike, Walleye, and Yellow Perch. Public access is available with 4 public boat landings. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Ramsey County, Devils Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, North Dakota DNR, last sampled 2025-10-09. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Devils Lake Water Quality Report Card (2026)
A printable one-page report card for Devils Lake: grade, clarity, phosphorus, algae, multi-year trend, depth, and fish — with sources.
Swimming Safety
Swim with caution, moderate algae may be present
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Murky, only visible to about 5.2 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 17 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 56.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.2 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 17 µg/L | C |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 58.1 ft |
| Average Depth | 25.5 ft |
| Surface Area | 140,000 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 531 mi |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Devils Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Devils Lake
Recreation & Access
Current Conditions
Latest reading Jul 6, 2026, 5:00 AM from USGS gauge 05056500. See live data ↗ — readings update every 15–60 minutes; this page refreshes on each build.
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 8 lakes in Ramsey County
Nearby Lakes in Ramsey County
Explore Devils Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across North Dakota
Fish species and best lakes in Ramsey County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Devils Lake Region area
Where to stay at North Dakota's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
North Dakota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More North Dakota Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in North Dakota
Eutrophic Lakes in North Dakota
Compare Devils Lake With Nearby Lakes
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Devils Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Spirit Lake Jetty 1 (completed 1997), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the Sheyenne River -TR; earth-type dam, 22 ft tall and 2,145 ft long.
- Surface area
- 140,000 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,166,418 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 3,341,785 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 3,322 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- BIA
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Other;Fish and Wildlife Pond;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND01090 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Devils 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-09020201-006-L_00 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Devils Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Spirit Lake Casino WwtfSaint Michael · 3.9 mi away · NPDES ND0031178Recent violation
- Nd Natl Guard Camp GraftonDevils Lake · 2.4 mi away · NPDES ND0025160
- Devils Lake Municipal WtpDevils Lake · 4.7 mi away · NPDES ND0026379
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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: 2025-10-09
Monitoring stations: 3