Larimore Dam Lake is a 72-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Grand Forks County, North Dakota with a maximum depth of 28 feet (11-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, and Bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Grand Forks County, Larimore Dam Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, North Dakota DNR, last sampled 2025-10-13. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Larimore Dam Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 13.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 59.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 13.3 µg/L | C |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 28.2 ft |
| Average Depth | 11.1 ft |
| Surface Area | 72 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.6 mi |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Larimore Dam Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Larimore Dam Lake in Grand Forks 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 Larimore Dam Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Larimore Dam Lake?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Larimore Dam Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at North Dakota’s top lakes →
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Larimore Dam Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.04 m/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -11.54 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Larimore Dam Lake averages about 65°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 68°F) and coldest in Oct (about 51°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 51 field readings (2020–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Larimore Dam Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 4 lakes in Grand Forks County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Larimore Dam Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- CFordville Dam LakeGrand Forks County · 18.6 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- CNorth Golden LakeSteele County · 24.2 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- CSouth Golden LakeSteele County · 25.1 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
Nearby Lakes in Grand Forks County
Explore Larimore Dam Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across North Dakota
Fish species and best lakes in Grand Forks 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
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Larimore Dam Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Upper Turtle River Flood Ret. 9 (completed 1979), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the South Branch Turtle River; earth-type dam, 71 ft tall and 1,040 ft long.
- Surface area
- 72 ac
- Normal storage
- 823 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 10,410 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 64.9 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Grand Forks County WRB
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND00391 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Larimore Dam Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit ND-09020307-001-L_00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.06 km)
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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: 2025-10-13
Monitoring stations: 3