Edward Arthur Patterson Lake, also known locally as Dickinson Dam, is a Bureau of Reclamation reservoir located approximately 1.5 miles west of Dickinson, North Dakota. Created in 1950 when the Heart River was dammed, this warm water fishery covers approximately 1,191 surface acres with 22 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth of 27 feet (average depth 8.8 feet). The reservoir serves multiple purposes including providing potable water for Dickinson, irrigation for local agriculture, downstream flood protection, and recreational opportunities. Over time, the lake has experienced some sedimentation, reducing its original surface area from 819 acres to its current size and decreasing its maximum depth from 32 feet. Patterson Lake is a eutrophic body of water characterized by relatively high nutrient levels and moderate to high turbidity due to fine clayey materials carried by the Heart River.