Gordon Beach Lake is a 164-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Rolette County, North Dakota with a maximum depth of 28 feet (17-foot average). Water quality is graded F based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Northern Pike, Walleye, and Yellow Perch. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 13 other monitored lakes in Rolette County, Gordon Beach Lake ranks #13 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, North Dakota DNR, last sampled 2025-09-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Based on E. coli testing, Gordon Beach Lake rarely exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 3.9% of 51 samples across 7 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check North Dakota’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 1 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 77.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 77 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 28.3 ft |
| Average Depth | 17.2 ft |
| Surface Area | 164 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 2.8 mi |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Gordon Beach Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Gordon Beach Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.01 m/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.62 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Gordon Beach Lake averages about 68°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 73°F) and coldest in Feb (about 36°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 34 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #13 of 14 lakes in Rolette County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Gordon Beach Lake holds Grade F. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BWheaton LakeRolette County · 0.3 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → B)
- BGordon Center LakeRolette County · 0.4 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → B)
- BJarvis Lake CenterRolette County · 3.3 mi · Two grade letters higher (F → B)
- DBelcourt Inlet LakeRolette County · 2.3 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DBelcourt Center LakeRolette County · 2.9 mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Rolette County
Explore Gordon Beach Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across North Dakota
Fish species and best lakes in Rolette County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Dakota's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
North Dakota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More North Dakota Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in North Dakota
Hypereutrophic Lakes in North Dakota
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Gordon Beach Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Gordon (completed 1960), built primarily for recreation on the Ox Creek; earth-type dam, 10 ft tall and 365 ft long.
- Surface area
- 164 ac
- Normal storage
- 926 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,643 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 3.43 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- BIA
All listed purposes: Recreation;Fish and Wildlife Pond;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND01068 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.43 km)
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
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: 2025-09-10
Monitoring stations: 1