Frettum Dam Lake
Kidder County, North DakotaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
↓ down from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #3 of 3 in the county
- 14 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Frettum Dam Lake in Kidder County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 46 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.2 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 2.6 ft
- Max depth
- ~14 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
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Frettum Dam Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Kidder County, North Dakota with an estimated average depth of about 14 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Kidder County, Frettum Dam Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NDDEQ, last sampled 2024-10-10. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 2.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 46 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4.2 µg/L. TSI 56. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 46 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.2 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~14 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~8 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. North Dakota has not published bathymetry for Frettum Dam Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Fishing Frettum Dam Lake
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 3 lakes in Kidder County
Nearby Lakes in Kidder County
Frequently asked questions about Frettum Dam Lake
Where is Frettum Dam Lake?
- Frettum Dam Lake is a lake in Kidder County, North Dakota. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Frettum Dam Lake?
- Frettum Dam Lake in Kidder County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 46 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.2 µg/L.
Is Frettum Dam Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Frettum Dam Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Frettum Dam Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 14 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Explore Frettum 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
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
20 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Dakota Department Of Environmental Quality
21NDHDWQ_WQX20 samples · 2024
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Depth, fish, and access data from North Dakota Game & Fish