Homme Dam Lake is a 290-acre mesotrophic lake in Walsh County, North Dakota with a maximum depth of 29 feet (13-foot average). Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, and Black Crappie. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Walsh County, Homme Dam Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, North Dakota DNR, last sampled 2025-06-11. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Homme Dam Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Murky, only visible to about 5.7 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 4.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.7 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.4 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 29.3 ft |
| Average Depth | 12.8 ft |
| Surface Area | 290 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5.3 mi |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Homme Dam Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Homme Dam Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.5 m/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -3.22 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Recreation & Access
Current Conditions
Latest reading Jul 6, 2026, 5:00 AM from USGS gauge 05088500. See live data ↗ — readings update every 15–60 minutes; this page refreshes on each build.
Water Temperature
Homme Dam Lake averages about 59°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 60°F) and coldest in Feb (about 41°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 201 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Homme Dam Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Walsh County
Nearby Lakes in Walsh County
Explore Homme Dam Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across North Dakota
Fish species and best lakes in Walsh County
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
More North Dakota Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in North Dakota
Mesotrophic Lakes in North Dakota
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Homme Dam Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Homme Dam (completed 1950), built primarily for water supply on the SOUTH BRANCH OF PARK RIVER; concrete-type dam, 72 ft tall and 865 ft long.
- Surface area
- 290 ac
- Normal storage
- 3,550 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 7,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 226 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- USACE - St. Paul District
All listed purposes: Water Supply;Other;Fish and Wildlife Pond;Recreation;Flood Risk Reduction.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND00310 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Homme Dam Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit ND-09020310-001-L_00 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Homme Dam Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Park River WtpPark River · 2.3 mi away · NPDES ND0000060
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.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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: 2025-06-11
Monitoring stations: 3