Lake Metigoshe
Bottineau County, North Dakota1,620 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae sit in the clean band for this region.
↑ up from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- #1 of 2 in the county
- 37 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Lake Metigoshe in Bottineau County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 5.4 ft visibility. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.1 µg/L. Surface area: 1620 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.4 ft
- Typical in October
- 51°F
- Max depth
- ~37 ft est.
- Area
- 1,620 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Lake Metigoshe’s letter
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Lake Metigoshe is a 1,620-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Bottineau County, North Dakota with an estimated average depth of about 37 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2021. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Bottineau County, Lake Metigoshe ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NDDEQ, last sampled 2021-10-11. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lake Metigoshe is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Big water1,620 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 5.4 ft. Chlorophyll-a 9.1 µg/L. TSI 53. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 9.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Lake Metigoshe typically sits around 51°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 60°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 66°F) and coldest in May (about 44°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. See the full Lake Metigoshe water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~37 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~14 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 1,620 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 Metigoshe.
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 MetigoshePublic
- Lake MetigoshePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Lake Metigoshe
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Metigoshe is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Metigoshe Dam (completed 1961), built primarily for recreation on the Oak Creek; earth-type dam, 9 ft tall and 76 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,620 ac
- Normal storage
- 16,100 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 21,650 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 59 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Oak Creek WRB
All listed purposes: Recreation;Fish and Wildlife Pond.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND00024 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Bottineau County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lake Metigoshe holds Grade B. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Bottineau County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Metigoshe
Where is Lake Metigoshe?
- Lake Metigoshe is a lake in Bottineau 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 Metigoshe?
- Lake Metigoshe in Bottineau County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 5.4 ft visibility. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 9.1 µg/L. Surface area: 1620 acres.
Is Lake Metigoshe safe to swim in?
- The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Lake Metigoshe?
- Lake Metigoshe typically sits around 51°F at the surface in October, from 12 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2021–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lake Metigoshe?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Lake Metigoshe, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 37 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 1620 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Metigoshe?
- Lake Metigoshe has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Metigoshe, Lake Metigoshe. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Metigoshe 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
24 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Dakota Department Of Environmental Quality
21NDHDWQ_WQX24 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- 447.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll a and b in phytoplankton by HPLC/UV
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
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