Lake Darling is a 9,655-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Ward County, North Dakota with a maximum depth of 29 feet (12-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 3 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 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Ward County, Lake Darling ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, North Dakota DNR, last sampled 2023-10-12. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Lake Darling Water Quality Report Card (2026)
A printable one-page report card for Lake Darling: grade, clarity, phosphorus, algae, multi-year trend, depth, and fish — with sources.
Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Murky, only visible to about 5.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 395 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 65.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.8 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 395 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9 µg/L | B |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Darling in Ward 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.
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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
Current Conditions
Latest reading Jul 6, 2026, 5:00 AM from USGS gauge 05115500. See live data ↗ — readings update every 15–60 minutes; this page refreshes on each build.
Water Temperature
Lake Darling averages about 60°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 68°F) and coldest in Mar (about 36°F). These are typical values by month — see Current Conditions above for the latest gauge reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 654 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Darling water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 4 lakes in Ward County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Lake Darling holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BLake DarlingRenville County · 0.3 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- BLake DarlingRenville County · 15.3 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- CLake DarlingRenville County · 9.3 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
Nearby Lakes in Ward County
Explore Lake Darling across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across North Dakota
Fish species and best lakes in Ward County
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 D Lakes in North Dakota
Eutrophic 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: 2023-10-12
Monitoring stations: 1