What is the water quality grade for Dry Lake?

Dry Lake in Ramsey County, North Dakota received a water quality grade of D (Poor). Water clarity: 2.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 639.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 24.1 ft. Surface area: 5471.1 acres.

Is Dry Lake safe to swim in?

Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk. Dry Lake has an overall water quality grade of D. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 13.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.

How deep is Dry Lake?

Dry Lake has a maximum depth of 24.1 feet and an average depth of 14.4 feet. The lake covers 5471.1 acres.

What fish are in Dry Lake?

Fish species found in Dry Lake include Northern Pike, Walleye, Yellow Perch, Black Bullhead. Dry Lake is located in Ramsey County, North Dakota.

Ramsey County, North Dakota

Dry Lake

Grade DPoor · 2.8 ft clarity

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Hypereutrophic

Dry Lake is a 5,471-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Ramsey County, North Dakota with a maximum depth of 24 feet (14-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Northern Pike, Walleye, and Yellow Perch. Public access is available. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Ramsey County, Dry Lake ranks #4 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, North Dakota DNR, last sampled 2023-10-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

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PDF

Dry Lake Water Quality Report Card (2026)

A printable one-page report card for Dry Lake: grade, clarity, phosphorus, algae, multi-year trend, depth, and fish — with sources.

Swimming Safety

Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk

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Water Quality Grade: D, Poor

Very murky, less than 2.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 639.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 13.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 72.

Metric	Value	Grade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)	2.8 ft	F
Phosphorus	639.5 µg/L	F
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)	13.1 µg/L	C
Trophic State Index (TSI)	72	Hypereutrophic

Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity

Lake Details

Characteristic	Value
Maximum Depth	24.1 ft
Average Depth	14.4 ft
Surface Area	5,471 acres
Shoreline Length	42.7 mi
Public Access	Yes

Where to stay near Dry Lake

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Fish Species

Northern Pike Walleye Yellow Perch Black Bullhead

Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.

Fishing Dry Lake

Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving

Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

Metric	Trend	Change/Year	Years
Water Clarity	↑ Improving	+4.05 m/yr	4
Phosphorus	↓ Declining	+61.1 µg/L/yr	4
Chlorophyll-a	↑ Improving	-39.71 µg/L/yr	4

See year-by-year chart →

Current Conditions

1452.29 ft

Water Elevation

Latest reading Jul 6, 2026, 4:45 AM from USGS gauge 05056241. See live data ↗ — readings update every 15–60 minutes; this page refreshes on each build.

Water Temperature

Dry Lake averages about 71°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 74°F) and coldest in Nov (about 33°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.