Powers Lake
Mountrail County, North DakotaView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae sit in the clean band for this region.
↑ up from C at the last regrade
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- #2 of 5 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Powers Lake in Mountrail County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 5.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 184 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.9 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 5.6 ft
- Typical in September
- 53°F
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Powers Lake’s letter
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Powers Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Mountrail County, North Dakota. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Mountrail County, Powers Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NDDEQ, last sampled 2024-05-21. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Powers Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
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. Powers Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO), sediment / turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Murky, only visible to about 5.6 ft. Phosphorus 184 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 7.9 µg/L. TSI 61. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 184 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.9 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Powers Lake typically sits around 53°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 63°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 64°F) and coldest in Nov (about 33°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 140 field readings (2012–2022) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Powers Lake water temperature breakdown →
Recreation & Access
- Powers LakePublic
- Powers LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Powers Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.735 m/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | +0.5 µg/L/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
Powers Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit ND-10110101-001-L_00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 5 lakes in Mountrail County
Nearby Lakes in Mountrail County
Frequently asked questions about Powers Lake
Where is Powers Lake?
- Powers Lake is a lake in Mountrail 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 Powers Lake?
- Powers Lake in Mountrail County, North Dakota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 5.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 184 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.9 µg/L.
Is Powers Lake safe to swim in?
- The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Powers Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), oxygen depletion (low DO), sediment / turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Powers Lake?
- Powers Lake typically sits around 53°F at the surface in September, from 140 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2012–2022). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Are there boat ramps on Powers Lake?
- Powers Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Powers Lake, Powers Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Powers Lake across LakeQuality
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
More North Dakota Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in North Dakota
Eutrophic Lakes in North Dakota
Where this data comes from
26 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Dakota Department Of Environmental Quality
21NDHDWQ_WQX26 samples · 2020–2024
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory