Niagara Dam Lake is a 16-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Grand Forks County, North Dakota with a maximum depth of 22 feet (8-foot average). Water quality is graded F based on 1 sampling years through 2025. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Northern Pike and Black Bullhead. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Grand Forks County, Niagara Dam Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, North Dakota DNR, last sampled 2025-10-13. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 1 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 77.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 77 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 22 ft |
| Average Depth | 8 ft |
| Surface Area | 16 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.2 mi |
Where to stay near Niagara Dam Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Niagara Dam Lake
Water Temperature
Niagara Dam Lake averages about 71°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 73°F) and coldest in Oct (about 52°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 15 field readings (2015–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Niagara Dam Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 4 lakes in Grand Forks County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Niagara Dam Lake holds Grade F. 4 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Niagara Dam Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Niagra Township Dam 2 (completed 1935), built primarily for recreation on the North Branch Turtle River-TR; earth-type dam, 23 ft tall and 300 ft long.
- Surface area
- 16 ac
- Normal storage
- 120.8 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 243 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2.9 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Grand Forks County WRB
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND00406 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.18 km)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Depth, fish, and access data from North Dakota Game & Fish
Most recent sample: 2025-10-13
Monitoring stations: 1