What is the water quality grade for Morrison Lake?

Morrison Lake in Ramsey County, North Dakota received a water quality grade of F (Very Poor). Water clarity: 1.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 564.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 85.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14.1 ft. Surface area: 441.4 acres.

Is Morrison Lake safe to swim in?

Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins. Morrison Lake has an overall water quality grade of F. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 85.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.

How deep is Morrison Lake?

Morrison Lake has a maximum depth of 14.1 feet and an average depth of 7.8 feet. The lake covers 441.4 acres.

What fish are in Morrison Lake?

Fish species found in Morrison Lake include Northern Pike, Yellow Perch. Morrison Lake is located in Ramsey County, North Dakota.

Ramsey County, North Dakota

Morrison Lake

Grade FVery Poor · 1.9 ft clarity

Find places to stay →

Hypereutrophic

Morrison Lake is a 441-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Ramsey County, North Dakota with a maximum depth of 14 feet (8-foot average). Water quality is graded F based on 3 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Northern Pike and Yellow Perch. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Ramsey County, Morrison Lake ranks #8 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, North Dakota DNR, last sampled 2023-10-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Watch Morrison Lake water quality

Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

PDF

Morrison Lake Water Quality Report Card (2026)

A printable one-page report card for Morrison Lake: grade, clarity, phosphorus, algae, multi-year trend, depth, and fish — with sources.

Swimming Safety

Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins

Compare the safest swimming lakes near Devils Lake →

Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor

Very murky, less than 1.9 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 564.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 85.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 79.

Metric	Value	Grade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)	1.9 ft	F
Phosphorus	564.5 µg/L	F
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)	85.9 µg/L	F
Trophic State Index (TSI)	79	Hypereutrophic

Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity

Lake Details

Characteristic	Value
Maximum Depth	14.1 ft
Average Depth	7.8 ft
Surface Area	441 acres
Shoreline Length	5.8 mi

Where to stay near Morrison Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Morrison Lake in Ramsey 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 Morrison 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 Morrison Lake?

Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Morrison 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

Northern Pike Yellow Perch

Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.

Fishing Morrison Lake

Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving

Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

Metric	Trend	Change/Year	Years
Water Clarity	↑ Improving	+2.05 m/yr	4
Phosphorus	↓ Declining	+35.8 µg/L/yr	4
Chlorophyll-a	↑ Improving	-6.57 µg/L/yr	4

See year-by-year chart →

Current Conditions

1460.57 ft

Water Elevation

Latest reading Jul 6, 2026, 4:45 AM from USGS gauge 05056222. See live data ↗ — readings update every 15–60 minutes; this page refreshes on each build.

Water Temperature

Morrison Lake averages about 70°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 74°F) and coldest in Feb (about 34°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.