Indian Creek Dam Lake
Hettinger County, North Dakota236 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- #1 of 3 in the county
- 17 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Indian Creek Dam Lake in Hettinger County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 94 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.2 µg/L. Surface area: 236 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.1 ft
- Typical in October
- 49°F
- Max depth
- ~17 ft est.
- Area
- 236 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 94 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 8.2 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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Indian Creek Dam Lake is a 236-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Hettinger County, North Dakota with an estimated average depth of about 17 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Hettinger County, Indian Creek Dam Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NDDEQ, last sampled 2023-10-10. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Indian Creek 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. Indian Creek Dam Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Very murky, less than 3.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 94 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 8.2 µg/L. TSI 61. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 94 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8.2 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Indian Creek Dam Lake typically sits around 49°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 66°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 70°F) and coldest in Oct (about 49°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 14 field readings (2023–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Indian Creek Dam Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~17 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~12 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 236 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 Indian Creek 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
- Indian Creek DamPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Indian Creek Dam Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Indian Creek Dam Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Indian Creek Dam (completed 1979), built primarily for recreation on the Indian Creek; earth-type dam, 43 ft tall and 890 ft long.
- Surface area
- 236 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,661 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 5,648 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 14 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- ND Game & Fish
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND00397 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Indian Creek Dam Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit ND-10130204-006-L_00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 3 lakes in Hettinger County
Nearby Lakes in Hettinger County
Frequently asked questions about Indian Creek Dam Lake
Where is Indian Creek Dam Lake?
- Indian Creek Dam Lake is a lake in Hettinger 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 Indian Creek Dam Lake?
- Indian Creek Dam Lake in Hettinger County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 94 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.2 µg/L. Surface area: 236 acres.
Is Indian Creek Dam Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Indian Creek Dam Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Indian Creek Dam Lake?
- Indian Creek Dam Lake typically sits around 49°F at the surface in October, from 14 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Indian Creek Dam Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Indian Creek Dam Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 17 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 236 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Indian Creek Dam Lake?
- Indian Creek Dam Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Indian Creek Dam. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Indian Creek 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
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
21 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Dakota Department Of Environmental Quality
21NDHDWQ_WQX21 samples · 2023
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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