Devils Lake
- Lake name:
- Devils Lake
- Location:
- North Dakota
- HydroLAKE ID:
- 723
- Latitude:
- 48.0462688
- Longitude:
- -98.9976006
- Surface area (km2):
- 343
- Basin type:
- non-reservoir
- Primary emergent vegetation:
- wild rice
- Primary vegetation for nesting:
- wild rice
- Management agency:
- North Dakota Game and Fish Department; North Dakota Department of Water Resources
- Region associations:
- Chain Lakes; Lake Alice NWR; Devils Lake Basin; Devils Lake Wetland Management District; Devils Lake; Sweetwater Lake; Dry Lake; Lake Alice; Red River-Hudson Bay drainage
- Comments:
- A large terminal lake, Devils Lake has fluctuated between flooding over and experiencing low water levels over the years. It is one of two closed basins in North America, the other one being the Great Salt Lake in Utah. Water levels do not remain stable for long. Part of a complex of lakes referred to as the Chain Lakes, these lakes (and others not part of this inventory), were historically interconnected prior to drainage infrastructure operation in 1979.
Summary of Surveys (1)
Survey Citation:
Abbott, Gerard A., 1902. A Grebe Colony. Bird-lore 3-4, 1901-1902, page 86-87.
-
Time period
1902? -
Source
Notes -
Both Western and Clarks?
N
| Count Type | Range | Max | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Adults | >1000 | 1000-1125 | 1902? |
| Most Recent Adults | >1000 | 1000-1125 | 1902? |
| Max Nests | 1 to 100 | presence | 1902? |
| Most Recent Nests | 1 to 100 | presence | 1902? |
| Max Chicks | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Most Recent Chicks | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Comments:
Observation of the largest colony in the Devil's Lake region, described as 1500 birds, 75% of which are Western grebes, the other 500 as Eared grebes and some Pied grebes. Entered as range of 1000 to 1125 adult Western grebes with evidence of nesting, though no nest numbers. Dexcription of nest parisitism by Eared grebes and carcasses of both species found with wounds, assuming through fighting between the two species though unknown exactly how.