Lake Darling
Renville County, North DakotaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
↓ down from B at the last regrade
- Mesotrophic
- #2 of 2 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Lake Darling in Renville County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 9.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 402 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.9 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 9.8 ft
- Typical in September
- 40°F
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 402 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 6.9 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Lake Darling’s letter
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Lake Darling is a mesotrophic lake in Renville County, North Dakota. Water quality is graded C based on 3 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Renville County, Lake Darling ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NDDEQ, last sampled 2023-10-12. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lake Darling is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water9.8 ft of visibility
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Water 70°F now
The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.8 ft. Phosphorus 402 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 6.9 µg/L. TSI 61. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 402 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.9 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Current Conditions
USGS snapshot Sep 7, 2026, 3:00 PM from gauge 05115500 (LAKE DARLING NEAR FOXHOLM, ND). Station page ↗ — a live reading replaces this snapshot when the gauge responds. Missing live data is not an all-clear.
→ Lake Darling water level: the live USGS gauge reading
Water Temperature
Lake Darling typically sits around 40°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 45°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 47°F) and coldest in Sep (about 40°F). These are typical values by month — see Current Conditions above for the latest gauge reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 104 field readings (2015–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Darling water temperature breakdown →
Recreation & Access
- Lake DarlingPublic
- Lake DarlingPublic
- Lake DarlingPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Lake Darling
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +5.25 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +1.19 µg/L/yr | 4 |
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Renville County
Nearby Lakes in Renville County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Darling
Where is Lake Darling?
- Lake Darling is a lake in Renville 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 Darling?
- Lake Darling in Renville County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 9.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 402 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.9 µg/L.
Is Lake Darling safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Lake Darling?
- Lake Darling typically sits around 40°F at the surface in September, from 104 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2015–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading. A USGS gauge on this lake last read 70°F.
What is the water level at Lake Darling?
- The USGS snapshot on this page for Lake Darling is 1598.04 ft of water-surface elevation, recorded Sep 7, 2026, 3:00 PM at gauge 05115500. Current Conditions hydrates a live NWIS reading from that same station when the gauge responds. A missed live fetch is not an all-clear.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Darling?
- Lake Darling has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Darling, Lake Darling, Lake Darling. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Darling 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
57 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2020–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- USGS North Dakota Water Science Center
USGS-ND42 samples · 2020–2023 - North Dakota Department Of Environmental Quality
21NDHDWQ_WQX15 samples · 2021–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus, wu, microKJ ASF, H+
- Plant pigments, sonication & 445
- 447.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll a and b in phytoplankton by HPLC/UV
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory