Mcdowell Dam Lake
Burleigh County, North Dakota60 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- #1 of 1 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Mcdowell Dam Lake in Burleigh County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 1.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 57 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.5 µg/L. Surface area: 59.5 acres.
- Clarity
- 1.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Area
- 60 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 57 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 10.5 µg/L
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Mcdowell Dam Lake
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Mcdowell Dam Lake is a 60-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Burleigh County, North Dakota. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NDDEQ, last sampled 2024-10-10. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Mcdowell Dam Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Mcdowell Dam Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 1.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 57 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 10.5 µg/L. TSI 62. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 57 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10.5 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Mcdowell Dam Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 71°F) and coldest in May (about 63°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 9 field readings (2012–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Mcdowell Dam Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 60 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Mcdowell Dam Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- McDowell DamPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Mcdowell Dam Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.402 m/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Mcdowell Dam Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Mcdowell Dam (completed 1976), built primarily for recreation on the Apple Creek-TR; earth-type dam, 59 ft tall and 1,370 ft long.
- Surface area
- 59.5 ac
- Normal storage
- 840 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,479.6 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 6.15 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Burleigh County WRB
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND00039 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Mcdowell 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-10130103-014-L_00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Burleigh County
Nearby Lakes in Burleigh County
Frequently asked questions about Mcdowell Dam Lake
Where is Mcdowell Dam Lake?
- Mcdowell Dam Lake is a lake in Burleigh County, North Dakota. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Mcdowell Dam Lake?
- Mcdowell Dam Lake in Burleigh County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 1.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 57 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10.5 µg/L. Surface area: 59.5 acres.
Is Mcdowell Dam Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Mcdowell Dam Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Mcdowell Dam Lake?
- Mcdowell Dam Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 9 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2012–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Are there boat ramps on Mcdowell Dam Lake?
- Mcdowell Dam Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include McDowell Dam. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Mcdowell Dam Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
21 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Dakota Department Of Environmental Quality
21NDHDWQ_WQX21 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- 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 (1)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory