What is the water quality grade for Pelican Lake?

Pelican Lake in Ramsey County, North Dakota received a water quality grade of D (Poor). Water clarity: 3.7 ft visibility. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 21.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29.3 ft. Surface area: 126.8 acres.

Is Pelican Lake safe to swim in?

Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk. Pelican Lake has an overall water quality grade of D. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 21.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.

How deep is Pelican Lake?

Pelican Lake has a maximum depth of 29.3 feet and an average depth of 10.7 feet. The lake covers 126.8 acres.

What fish are in Pelican Lake?

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

Ramsey County, North Dakota

Pelican Lake

Grade DPoor · 3.7 ft clarity

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Eutrophic

Pelican Lake is a 127-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Ramsey County, North Dakota with a maximum depth of 29 feet (11-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, and Black Bullhead. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Ramsey County, Pelican Lake ranks #3 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, North Dakota DNR, last sampled 2025-10-09. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

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Swimming Safety

Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk

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Water Quality Grade: D, Poor

Murky, only visible to about 3.7 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 21.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 59.

Metric	Value	Grade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)	3.7 ft	D
Phosphorus	No data
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)	21.2 µg/L	D
Trophic State Index (TSI)	59	Eutrophic

High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity

Lake Details

Characteristic	Value
Maximum Depth	29.3 ft
Average Depth	10.7 ft
Surface Area	127 acres
Shoreline Length	3.7 mi
Public Access	Yes

Where to stay near Pelican Lake

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Fish Species

Northern Pike Yellow Perch Black Bullhead

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

Fishing Pelican Lake

Water Quality Trend: → Stable

Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

Metric	Trend	Change/Year	Years
Water Clarity	↓ Declining	-0.147 m/yr	5
Chlorophyll-a	↑ Improving	-4.8 µg/L/yr	4

See year-by-year chart →

Recreation & Access

Boat Landings

Yes

Public Access

Water Temperature

Pelican Lake averages about 66°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 67°F) and coldest in Feb (about 33°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.