South Golden Lake
Steele County, North Dakota330 acresView mapDirections
Not enough samples to grade — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). No letter yet. Here is what we do have.
- 32 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
South Golden Lake in Steele County, North Dakota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.2 ft visibility. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.2 µg/L. Surface area: 330 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.2 ft
- Typical in October
- 50°F
- Max depth
- ~32 ft est.
- Area
- 330 acres
- Chlorophyll-a
- 12.2 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch South Golden Lake’s letter
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Why South Golden Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For South Golden Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity and algae (chlorophyll-a), but not phosphorus.
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by NDDEQ and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
South Golden Lake is a 330-acre lake in Steele County, North Dakota with an estimated average depth of about 32 feet. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NDDEQ, last sampled 2020-10-07. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What South Golden Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for South Golden Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 6.2 ft. Chlorophyll-a 12.2 µg/L. TSI 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 12.2 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
South Golden Lake typically sits around 50°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 65°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 68°F) and coldest in Oct (about 50°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 15 field readings (2010–2020) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full South Golden Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | ~32 ft est. |
| Average Depth | ~4 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 330 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled maximum from GLOBathy (Khazaei et al. 2022, CC0), not a measured survey. North Dakota has not published bathymetry for South Golden Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Recreation & Access
- South Golden LakePublic
- South Golden LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing South Golden Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
South Golden Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Golden Lake Dam (completed 1957), built primarily for recreation on the Beaver Creek; earth-type dam, 21 ft tall.
- Surface area
- 330 ac
- Normal storage
- 5,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 5,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 0 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- ND Game & Fish
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND00409 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.26 km)
Graded lakes near South Golden Lake
South Golden Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Steele County
Frequently asked questions about South Golden Lake
Where is South Golden Lake?
- South Golden Lake is a lake in Steele County, North Dakota. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years).
What is the water quality grade for South Golden Lake?
- South Golden Lake in Steele County, North Dakota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.2 ft visibility. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 12.2 µg/L. Surface area: 330 acres.
Is South Golden Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of South Golden Lake?
- South Golden Lake typically sits around 50°F at the surface in October, from 15 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2020). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is South Golden Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers South Golden Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 32 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate. The lake covers 330 acres.
Are there boat ramps on South Golden Lake?
- South Golden Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include South Golden Lake, South Golden Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore South Golden Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at North Dakota's top lakes, each with its grade
North Dakota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More North Dakota Lake Rankings
Other Lakes in North Dakota
Eutrophic Lakes in North Dakota
Where this data comes from
9 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Dakota Department Of Environmental Quality
21NDHDWQ_WQX9 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- 447.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll a and b in phytoplankton by HPLC/UV
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Depth, fish, and access data from North Dakota Game & Fish
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory