Benson County, North Dakota · Water Quality Report Card
Mission Bay Lake
Mission Bay Lake in Benson County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Phosphorus: 31.9 µg/L.
- Mean depth
- ~27 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
Mission Bay Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Benson County, North Dakota with an estimated average depth of about 27 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Benson County, Mission Bay Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NDDEQ, last sampled 2022-08-25. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 31.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 31.9 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~27 ft est. |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. North Dakota has not published bathymetry for Mission Bay Lake.
Where to stay near Mission Bay Lake
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Fishing Mission Bay Lake
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 5 lakes in Benson County
Nearby Lakes in Benson County
Explore Mission Bay Lake across LakeGrade
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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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
More records, surveys & data sources
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.
Where this data comes from
8 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Spirit Lake Tribal EPA Programs
SPIRITLK8 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds come from the U.S. EPA National Lakes Assessment 2022 Technical Support Document (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion
Depth, fish, and access data from North Dakota Game & Fish
Most recent sample: 2022-08-25
Monitoring stations: 1