Pheasant Lake is a 234-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Dickey County, North Dakota with a maximum depth of 19 feet (6-foot average). Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2021. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Bluegill, Northern Pike, and Yellow Perch. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Dickey County, Pheasant Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, North Dakota DNR, last sampled 2021-10-08. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Murky, only visible to about 3.6 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 3.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.6 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.5 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 19.1 ft |
| Average Depth | 5.8 ft |
| Surface Area | 234 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 7.8 mi |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Pheasant Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Pheasant Lake
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Pheasant Lake averages about 63°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 63°F) and coldest in May (about 48°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 12 field readings (2021–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Pheasant Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Dickey County
Nearby Lakes in Dickey County
Explore Pheasant Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across North Dakota
Fish species and best lakes in Dickey County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Dakota's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
North Dakota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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Other Grade B Lakes in North Dakota
Eutrophic Lakes in North Dakota
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Pheasant Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Pheasant Lake Dam (completed 1963), built primarily for water supply on the Elm River; earth-type dam, 43 ft tall and 1,400 ft long.
- Surface area
- 234 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,503 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 4,808 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 96 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Dickey County WRB
All listed purposes: Water Supply;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND00032 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Pheasant Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit ND-10160004-005-L_00 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Depth, fish, and access data from North Dakota Game & Fish
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2021-10-08
Monitoring stations: 1