Pelican Lake
Ramsey County, North DakotaView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae run above the regional average.
- Eutrophic
- #6 of 8 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Pelican Lake in Ramsey County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 396 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 21.2 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3.7 ft
- Typical in August
- 64°F
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 396 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 21.2 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Stays near Pelican Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pelican 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Pelican Lake are listed below.
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Pelican Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Ramsey County, North Dakota. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Ramsey County, Pelican Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NDDEQ, last sampled 2025-10-09. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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 D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 3.7 ft. Phosphorus 396 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 21.2 µg/L. TSI 70. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 396 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 21.2 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 70 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Pelican Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 66°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 67°F) and coldest in Feb (about 33°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 125 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Pelican Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Pelican Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.147 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +56.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -4.8 µg/L/yr | 4 |
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 8 lakes in Ramsey County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Pelican Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Ramsey County
Frequently asked questions about Pelican Lake
Where is Pelican Lake?
- Pelican Lake is a lake in Ramsey County, North Dakota. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Pelican Lake?
- Pelican Lake in Ramsey County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 396 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 21.2 µg/L.
Is Pelican Lake safe to swim in?
- The D is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Pelican Lake?
- Pelican Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in August, from 125 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Explore Pelican Lake across LakeQuality
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
59 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Dakota Department Of Environmental Quality
21NDHDWQ_WQX59 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 447.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll a and b in phytoplankton by HPLC/UV
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 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.