Lake Tschida
Grant County, North Dakota10,953 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- #1 of 4 in the county
- Public access
Lake Tschida in Grant County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 33 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.3 µg/L. Surface area: 10953 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.6 ft
- Typical in September
- 69°F
- Area
- 10,953 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Lake Tschida’s letter
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Lake Tschida is a 10,953-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Grant County, North Dakota. Water quality is graded C based on 3 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Grant County, Lake Tschida ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NDDEQ, last sampled 2025-09-18. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Lake Tschida is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Big water10,953 acres
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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 C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Lake Tschida is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 4.6 ft. Phosphorus 33 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 10.3 µg/L. TSI 54. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 33 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Lake Tschida typically sits around 69°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 67°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 71°F) and coldest in Feb (about 35°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 432 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Tschida water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 10,953 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Lake Tschida, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Lake Tschida
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.141 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -7 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -4.65 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Tschida is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Heart Butte Dam (completed 1949), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the HEART RIVER; earth-type dam, 142 ft tall and 1,850 ft long.
- Surface area
- 10,953 ac
- Normal storage
- 75,785 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 451,200 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1,714.46 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Irrigation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND00149 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Tschida 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-10130202-001-L_00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 4 lakes in Grant County
Nearby Lakes in Grant County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Tschida
Where is Lake Tschida?
- Lake Tschida is a lake in Grant 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 Tschida?
- Lake Tschida in Grant County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 33 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.3 µg/L. Surface area: 10953 acres.
Is Lake Tschida safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Lake Tschida is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Lake Tschida?
- Lake Tschida typically sits around 69°F at the surface in September, from 432 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Lake Tschida across LakeQuality
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 C Lakes in North Dakota
Eutrophic Lakes in North Dakota
Where this data comes from
178 measurements from 6 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Dakota Department Of Environmental Quality
21NDHDWQ_WQX157 samples · 2021–2025 - USGS North Dakota Water Science Center
USGS-ND21 samples · 2020–2023
Analytical methods
- P, wu, WCA, persulfate CF color
- Plant pigments, sonication & 445
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 447.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll a and b in phytoplankton by HPLC/UV
- 4500 NO3 E ~ Nitrate in Water- Cadmium Reduction
Monitoring station identifiers (6)
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Depth, fish, and access data from North Dakota Game & Fish