Lake Audubon
McLean County, North Dakota19,095 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae sit in the clean band for this region.
- Eutrophic
- #2 of 3 in the county
- 102 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Lake Audubon in McLean County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 4.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 31 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.7 µg/L. Surface area: 19095 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.7 ft
- Max depth
- ~102 ft est.
- Area
- 19,095 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 31 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 4.7 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Lake Audubon’s letter
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Lake Audubon is a 19,095-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in McLean County, North Dakota with an estimated average depth of about 102 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 10 public boat landings. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in McLean County, Lake Audubon ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NDDEQ, last sampled 2024-10-08. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lake Audubon is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch10 documented ramps
- Big water19,095 acres
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 B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Murky, only visible to about 4.7 ft. Phosphorus 31 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4.7 µg/L. TSI 51. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 31 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.7 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~102 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~14 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 19,095 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 Lake Audubon.
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
- Lake AudubonPublic
- Lake SakakaweaPublic
- Lake AudubonPublic
- Lake AudubonPublic
- Lake AudubonPublic
- Lake AudubonPublic
Showing 6 of 10 documented landings from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory.
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Lake Audubon
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Audubon is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Garrison Dam - Snake Creek Embankment (completed 1952), built primarily for other on the MISSOURI; earth-type dam, 95 ft tall and 12,900 ft long.
- Surface area
- 19,095 ac
- Normal storage
- 346,419 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 396,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 250 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- USACE - Omaha District
All listed purposes: Other;Irrigation;Fish and Wildlife Pond;Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND00145 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 3 lakes in McLean County
Nearby Lakes in McLean County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Audubon
Where is Lake Audubon?
- Lake Audubon is a lake in McLean 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 Lake Audubon?
- Lake Audubon in McLean County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 4.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 31 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.7 µg/L. Surface area: 19095 acres.
Is Lake Audubon safe to swim in?
- The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Lake Audubon?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Lake Audubon, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 102 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 19095 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Audubon?
- Lake Audubon has 10 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Audubon, Lake Sakakawea, Lake Audubon, Lake Audubon, among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Audubon 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
North Dakota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More North Dakota Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in North Dakota
Eutrophic Lakes in North Dakota
Where this data comes from
22 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_WQX22 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
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