Harvey Dam Lake
Wells County, North Dakota360 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- #1 of 1 in the county
- 47 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Harvey Dam Lake in Wells County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 147 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.8 µg/L. Surface area: 360 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.4 ft
- Typical in September
- 52°F
- Max depth
- ~47 ft est.
- Area
- 360 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 147 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 6.8 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Harvey Dam Lake’s letter
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Harvey Dam Lake is a 360-acre mesotrophic lake in Wells County, North Dakota with an estimated average depth of about 47 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 3 sampling years through 2024. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NDDEQ, last sampled 2024-10-16. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Harvey Dam Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
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 C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 5.4 ft. Phosphorus 147 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 6.8 µg/L. TSI 59. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 147 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.8 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Water Temperature
Harvey Dam Lake typically sits around 52°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 67°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 71°F) and coldest in May (about 52°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 12 field readings (2016–2017) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Harvey Dam Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~47 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~14 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 360 acres |
| 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 Harvey 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.
Recreation & Access
- Harvey DamPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Harvey Dam Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Harvey Dam Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Harvey Dam (completed 1920), built primarily for water supply on the Sheyenne River; earth-type dam, 35 ft tall and 690 ft long.
- Surface area
- 360 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,700 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 7,646 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 534 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Wells County WRB
All listed purposes: Water Supply;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND00189 · Operator website
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Harvey Dam Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Susag Sand & Gravel HarveyHarvey · 0.8 mi away · NPDES ND0025950
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Wells County
Nearby Lakes in Wells County
Frequently asked questions about Harvey Dam Lake
Where is Harvey Dam Lake?
- Harvey Dam Lake is a lake in Wells County, North Dakota. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Harvey Dam Lake?
- Harvey Dam Lake in Wells County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 147 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.8 µg/L. Surface area: 360 acres.
Is Harvey Dam Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Harvey Dam Lake?
- Harvey Dam Lake typically sits around 52°F at the surface in September, from 12 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2017). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Harvey Dam Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Harvey Dam Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 47 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate. The lake covers 360 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Harvey Dam Lake?
- Harvey Dam Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Harvey Dam. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Harvey Dam Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Dakota's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
North Dakota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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Other Grade C Lakes in North Dakota
Mesotrophic Lakes in North Dakota
Where this data comes from
29 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_WQX29 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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Depth, fish, and access data from North Dakota Game & Fish
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory