Devils Lake
Benson County, North DakotaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Eutrophic
- #5 of 5 in the county
- Public access
Devils Lake in Benson County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 313 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.9 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3.7 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Devils Lake
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Devils Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Benson County, North Dakota. Water quality is graded C based on 3 sampling years through 2025. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 4 public boat landings. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Benson County, Devils Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NDDEQ, last sampled 2025-10-09. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Devils Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch4 documented ramps
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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)
Murky, only visible to about 3.7 ft. Phosphorus 313 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 13.9 µg/L. TSI 67. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 313 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 13.9 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
→ Devils Lake water level: the live USGS gauge reading
Recreation & Access
- Devils LakePublic
- Devils LakePublic
- Devils LakePublic
- Devils LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Devils Lake
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 5 lakes in Benson County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Devils Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Benson County
Frequently asked questions about Devils Lake
Where is Devils Lake?
- Devils Lake is a lake in Benson 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 Devils Lake?
- Devils Lake in Benson County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 313 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.9 µg/L.
Is Devils Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Devils Lake?
- Devils Lake has 4 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Devils Lake, Devils Lake, Devils Lake, Devils Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Devils Lake across LakeQuality
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
Where this data comes from
134 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Dakota Department Of Environmental Quality
21NDHDWQ_WQX134 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 (2)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory