Lakes and Reservoirs

Description and Key Features

Lakes differ from wetlands due to their shape and size.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), a lake is defined as a standing body of water greater than 2.5 acres and has a depth of at least 3 feet for inclusion into the National Lakes Assessment.

In North Dakota, 337 public lakes and reservoirs are recognized by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ 2023).

Of those 337 lakes, 151 are man-made reservoirs and 186 are natural lakes.

The Department currently manages over 400 fishing waters for public access and some degree of management by regional biologists.

Reservoirs, on the other hand, are typically created by damming waterbodies to fulfill a management objective such as flood control or recreation (Figure 22).

Lakes and reservoirs exhibit a wide range of sizes, shapes and depths driven by local climate, precipitation, land-use, geology, and groundwater inputs.

Lakes typically contain three major habitat types: littoral (near-shore), pelagic (openwater) and benthic (lake bottom).

Most lakes and reservoirs support warmwater fish species composition such as walleye, bass, and bluegill.

However, Lake Sakakawea contains a significant cold water habitat due to its size and depth, capable of supporting a viable salmon management program and fishery.

Other notable lakes throughout the state include Devils Lake, Lake Oahe, and several productive prairie walleye fisheries, such as Lake Alkaline.

Lakes in North Dakota are particularly vulnerable to non-point source pollution, largely due to the extensive agricultural activity in the state.