Mcdowell Dam Lake is a 60-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Burleigh County, North Dakota with a maximum depth of 40 feet (12-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Rainbow Trout, Bluegill, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, North Dakota DNR, last sampled 2024-10-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Very murky, less than 1.6 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 10.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 62.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.6 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10.5 µg/L | C |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 39.6 ft |
| Average Depth | 12.3 ft |
| Surface Area | 60 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.2 mi |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Mcdowell Dam Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
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 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Mcdowell Dam Lake averages about 71°F at the surface in summer, 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 →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Burleigh County
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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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
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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: 2024-10-10
Monitoring stations: 1