North Lemmon Lake
Adams County, North Dakota50 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae sit in the clean band for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- #1 of 2 in the county
- 13 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
North Lemmon Lake in Adams County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 5.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.8 µg/L. Surface area: 49.8 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.7 ft
- Typical in August
- 63°F
- Max depth
- ~13 ft est.
- Area
- 50 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 22.5 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 4.8 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch North Lemmon Lake’s letter
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North Lemmon Lake is a 50-acre mesotrophic lake in Adams County, North Dakota with an estimated average depth of about 13 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Adams County, North Lemmon Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NDDEQ, last sampled 2023-10-20. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What North Lemmon 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 B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Murky, only visible to about 5.7 ft. Phosphorus 22.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4.8 µg/L. TSI 49. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 22.5 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.8 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Water Temperature
North Lemmon Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 62°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 63°F) and coldest in Oct (about 47°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 12 field readings (2023–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full North Lemmon Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~13 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~13 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 50 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. North Dakota has not published bathymetry for North Lemmon Lake.
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.
Recreation & Access
- North LemmonPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing North Lemmon Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
North Lemmon Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the North Lemmon Lake Dam (completed 1908), built primarily for fish and wildlife pond on the Cedar Creek-TR; earth-type dam, 37 ft tall and 700 ft long.
- Surface area
- 49.8 ac
- Normal storage
- 659 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 967 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 6 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- ND Game & Fish
All listed purposes: Fish and Wildlife Pond;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND00283 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 2 lakes in Adams County
Nearby Lakes in Adams County
Frequently asked questions about North Lemmon Lake
Where is North Lemmon Lake?
- North Lemmon Lake is a lake in Adams County, North Dakota. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for North Lemmon Lake?
- North Lemmon Lake in Adams County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 5.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.8 µg/L. Surface area: 49.8 acres.
Is North Lemmon Lake safe to swim in?
- The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of North Lemmon Lake?
- North Lemmon Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in August, from 12 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is North Lemmon Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers North Lemmon Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 13 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate. The lake covers 49.8 acres.
Are there boat ramps on North Lemmon Lake?
- North Lemmon Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include North Lemmon. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore North Lemmon Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Dakota's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Mesotrophic Lakes in North Dakota
Where this data comes from
20 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Dakota Department Of Environmental Quality
21NDHDWQ_WQX20 samples · 2023
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Depth, fish, and access data from North Dakota Game & Fish
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory