Fordville Dam Lake
Grand Forks County, WisconsinEutrophic
Fordville Dam Lake is a 197-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Grand Forks County, ND. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Grand Forks County, Fordville Dam Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2024-08-05. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C, Fair
Murky, only visible to about 4.4 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 5.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.4 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.2 µg/L | B |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 197.1 acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 4 lakes in Grand Forks County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Fordville Dam Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Grand Forks County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Fordville Dam Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Fordville Dam (completed 1978), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the South Branch Forest River; earth-type dam, 54 ft tall and 1,875 ft long.
- Surface area
- 197.1 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,185.6 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 10,703.4 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 41.5 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Grand Forks County WRB
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND00386 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Fordville Dam Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit ND-09020308-001-L_00 · Official waterbody report
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2024-08-05
Monitoring stations: 3