Shrinking lake, shrinking access: Low water on Sakakawea tough on resorts, boaters

By: Jeff Beach

Outlets: North Dakota Monitor

Published: August 3, 2026

Words: 961

Last Updated: 10 hours, 33 minutes ago

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Low water levels on Lake Sakakawea mean boat ramps that have been submerged for nearly 20 years will likely be needed to access the reservoir next year.

A lack of snowfall in the Rocky Mountains led to decreased runoff into the Missouri River basin in the spring and low water levels on Lake Sakakawea all summer, with drought conditions persisting in North Dakota and Montana.

As the lake level has gone down, some …

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