Clifford Lagoon Wastewater Treatment Plant, Traill County, North Dakota

Clifford Lagoon is a wastewater treatment plant located in Traill County, North Dakota, serving a small rural community of 44 residents. The facility is situated in Norman Township along County Highway 9, reflecting the dispersed settlement pattern of the region. As a secondary treatment plant, it provides biological treatment to reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids before discharge. The plant's designed capacity matches its current discharge volume of 37.85 cubic meters, indicating full utilization. Under the US Clean Water Act, such facilities are regulated through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, administered by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality. The plant's effluent likely enters local drainage channels that flow into the Red River of the North basin, which ultimately drains into Lake Winnipeg in Canada. This watershed supports agricultural activities and provides habitat for migratory waterfowl and fish species. The plant's small scale and inland location minimize its environmental footprint, though proper operation is essential to protect downstream water quality.

The plant discharges into local waterways that are part of the Red River of the North basin, a flat, agriculturally intensive watershed that flows northward into Lake Winnipeg. This region is characterized by seasonal flooding and nutrient-sensitive ecosystems, where excess phosphorus and nitrogen from wastewater can contribute to algal blooms. The downstream environment supports diverse aquatic life and serves as an important corridor for migratory birds along the Central Flyway.