Lake Darling
Renville County, North DakotaView mapDirections
ND DEQ publishes the water-quality measurements for Lake Darling. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- Public access
- Limited data
Lake Darling in Renville County, North Dakota has water-quality measurements published by ND DEQ, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 9.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 402 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.9 µg/L.
Lake Darling is a mesotrophic lake in Renville County, North Dakota. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
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 conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Lake Darling is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Lake Darling is safe to swim in today is a call for the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Lake Darling
These are the measurements ND DEQ publishes for Lake Darling, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.8 ft. Phosphorus 402 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 6.9 µg/L. TSI 61.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 9.8ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 402µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 6.9µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 61 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Lake Darling
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
→ Lake Darling water level: the live USGS gauge reading
Water Temperature
Lake Darling typically sits around 41°F at the surface in October. 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 — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (40°F) to its warmest (47°F).
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
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lake Darling
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Darling in Renville County, North Dakota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Darling
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Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Lake Darling → · more North Dakota lake trips
Follow Lake Darling’s readings
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Fishing Lake Darling
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 4 years of monitoring (2020–2023).
Phosphorus
Stable+5.25 µg/L/yr4 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+1.19 µg/L/yr4 years
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Darling is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit ND-09010008-001-L_00 · Official waterbody report
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. Its water-quality measurements are published by ND DEQ and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Lake Darling?
- Lake Darling in Renville County, North Dakota has water-quality measurements published by ND DEQ, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 9.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 402 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.9 µg/L.
Is Lake Darling safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Lake Darling is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Lake Darling?
- Lake Darling typically sits around 41°F at the surface in October, from 104 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2015–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
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.
Can I fish at Lake Darling?
- Lake Darling has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by North Dakota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
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 readings
North Dakota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in North Dakota
Other 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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory