Lake Darling is a 9,655-acre mesotrophic lake in Renville County, North Dakota with a maximum depth of 29 feet (12-foot average). Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Northern Pike, Walleye, and Yellow Perch. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Renville County, Lake Darling ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, North Dakota DNR, last sampled 2023-07-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Lake Darling water quality
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.8 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 6.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.8 ft | C |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.5 µg/L | B |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 28.7 ft |
| Average Depth | 12 ft |
| Surface Area | 9,655 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 73.1 mi |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Lake Darling
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake Darling
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -9.29 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -21 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.19 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Lake Darling averages about 59°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 64°F) and coldest in May (about 49°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 12 field readings (2021–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 3 lakes in Renville County
Nearby Lakes in Renville County
Explore Lake Darling across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across North Dakota
Fish species and best lakes in Renville 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
Compare Lake Darling With Nearby Lakes
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Darling is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Darling Dam (completed 1937), built primarily for fish and wildlife pond on the SOURIS RIVER; earth-type dam, 39 ft tall and 4,064 ft long.
- Surface area
- 9,655 ac
- Normal storage
- 108,894 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 200,583 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 9,160 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
All listed purposes: Fish and Wildlife Pond;Recreation;Flood Risk Reduction.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND00332 · Operator website
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
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: 2023-07-16
Monitoring stations: 2