Lake Ashtabula
Barnes County, North Dakota5,470 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #3 of 3 in the county
- Public access
Lake Ashtabula in Barnes County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 348 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.4 µg/L. Surface area: 5470 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.6 ft
- Area
- 5,470 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Lake Ashtabula’s letter
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Lake Ashtabula is a 5,470-acre mesotrophic lake in Barnes County, North Dakota. Water quality is graded C based on 3 sampling years through 2025. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Barnes County, Lake Ashtabula ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NDDEQ, last sampled 2025-05-28. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lake Ashtabula is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Big water5,470 acres
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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 6.6 ft. Phosphorus 348 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 3.4 µg/L. TSI 60. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 348 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 60 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 5,470 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Ashtabula, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Lake AshtabulaPublic
- Lake AshtabulaPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Lake Ashtabula
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Ashtabula is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Baldhill Dam (completed 1950), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the SHEYENNE RIVER; concrete-type dam, 60 ft tall and 1,800 ft long.
- Surface area
- 5,470 ac
- Normal storage
- 69,500 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 156,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 8,078 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- USACE - St. Paul District
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND00309 · Operator website
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Lake Ashtabula under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Baldhill Dam NfhValley City · 1.9 mi away · NPDES ND0000132Recent violation
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 #3 of 3 lakes in Barnes County
Nearby Lakes in Barnes County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Ashtabula
Where is Lake Ashtabula?
- Lake Ashtabula is a lake in Barnes 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 Lake Ashtabula?
- Lake Ashtabula in Barnes County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 6.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 348 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.4 µg/L. Surface area: 5470 acres.
Is Lake Ashtabula safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Ashtabula?
- Lake Ashtabula has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Ashtabula, Lake Ashtabula. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Ashtabula 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
More North Dakota Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in North Dakota
Mesotrophic Lakes in North Dakota
Where this data comes from
556 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Dakota Department Of Environmental Quality
21NDHDWQ_WQX556 samples · 2020–2025
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 (3)
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)
Depth, fish, and access data from North Dakota Game & Fish
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory