Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake
Ward County, North Dakota6 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.
- Public access
- Limited data
Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake in Ward County, North Dakota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13.6 ft visibility. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.4 µg/L. Surface area: 6.2 acres.
- Clarity
- 13.6 ft
- Typical in October
- 51°F
- Area
- 6 acres
- Chlorophyll-a
- 6.4 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake’s letter
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Why Velva Sportsmans Dam 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 Velva Sportsmans Dam 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.
Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake is a 6-acre lake in Ward County, North Dakota. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, NDDEQ, last sampled 2021-10-11. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water13.6 ft of visibility
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 13.6 ft. Chlorophyll-a 6.4 µg/L. TSI 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.4 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Water Temperature
Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake typically sits around 51°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 60°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 66°F) and coldest in Oct (about 51°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 15 field readings (2011–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Velva Sportsman Dam (completed 1967), built primarily for recreation on the Spring Creek-TR; earth-type dam, 37 ft tall and 400 ft long.
- Surface area
- 6.2 ac
- Normal storage
- 60.2 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 145 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1.36 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Jerry Kittelson
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND00158 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.19 km)
Graded lakes near Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake
Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Ward County
Frequently asked questions about Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake
Where is Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake?
- Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake is a lake in Ward 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 Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake?
- Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake in Ward County, North Dakota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13.6 ft visibility. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.4 µg/L. Surface area: 6.2 acres.
Is Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake?
- Velva Sportsmans Dam Lake typically sits around 51°F at the surface in October, from 15 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2021). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
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Where this data comes from
7 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- North Dakota Department Of Environmental Quality
21NDHDWQ_WQX7 samples · 2021
Analytical methods
- 447.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll a and b in phytoplankton by HPLC/UV
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
Depth, fish, and access data from North Dakota Game & Fish