Sheep Creek Dam Lake is a 87-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Grant County, North Dakota with a maximum depth of 33 feet (13-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2023. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, and Rainbow Trout. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Grant County, Sheep Creek Dam Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, North Dakota DNR, last sampled 2023-10-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Very murky, less than 2.7 ft of visibility. Chlorophyll-a: 15 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 60.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.7 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 15 µg/L | C |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 60 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 33 ft |
| Average Depth | 12.6 ft |
| Surface Area | 87 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 4.2 mi |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Sheep Creek Dam Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Sheep Creek Dam Lake
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Sheep Creek Dam Lake averages about 72°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in Jan (about 37°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 45 field readings (2012–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Sheep Creek Dam Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 6 lakes in Grant County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Sheep Creek Dam Lake holds Grade D. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- BNorth Lemmon LakeAdams County · 27.3 mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- CLake TschidaGrant County · 17.5 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- CLake TschidaGrant County · 17.7 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- CLake TschidaGrant County · 18.7 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
- CLake TschidaGrant County · 18.5 mi · Higher grade (D → C)
Nearby Lakes in Grant County
Explore Sheep Creek Dam Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Other Grade D Lakes in North Dakota
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More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Sheep Creek Dam Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Sheep Creek Dam (completed 1969), built primarily for recreation on the Sheep Creek; earth-type dam, 61 ft tall and 1,050 ft long.
- Surface area
- 87 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,180 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,960 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 57.9 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Grant County WRB
All listed purposes: Recreation;Fish and Wildlife Pond.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND00004 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Sheep Creek Dam 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-10130204-001-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: 2023-10-20
Monitoring stations: 1