Gordon Center Lake
Rolette County, North Dakota164 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae sit in the clean band for this region.
- Eutrophic
- #3 of 6 in the county
Gordon Center Lake in Rolette County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 8.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.5 µg/L. Surface area: 164 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.2 ft
- Typical in September
- 61°F
- Area
- 164 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 26.5 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 8.5 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Watch Gordon Center Lake’s letter
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Gordon Center Lake is a 164-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Rolette County, North Dakota. Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Rolette County, Gordon Center Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NDDEQ, last sampled 2025-09-23. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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 B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.2 ft. Phosphorus 26.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 8.5 µg/L. TSI 50. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 26.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8.5 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Gordon Center Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 66°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 68°F) and coldest in Feb (about 37°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 132 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Gordon Center Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 164 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Gordon Center Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Gordon Center 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 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +8.3 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.39 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Gordon Center 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 (0.28 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 6 lakes in Rolette County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Gordon Center Lake holds Grade B. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Rolette County
Frequently asked questions about Gordon Center Lake
Where is Gordon Center Lake?
- Gordon Center Lake is a lake in Rolette County, North Dakota. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Gordon Center Lake?
- Gordon Center Lake in Rolette County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 8.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.5 µg/L. Surface area: 164 acres.
Is Gordon Center Lake safe to swim in?
- The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Gordon Center Lake?
- Gordon Center Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in September, from 132 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Gordon Center 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
153 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Turtle Mountain Environmental Office (Tribal)
TURTLEMT153 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- GS_UNKNOWN
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Depth, fish, and access data from North Dakota Game & Fish