Is Wells Lake Safe for Swimming?
Wells Lake in Rice County, Minnesota has nutrient and algae measurements on record from state and federal monitoring. Chlorophyll-a in the monitoring record runs high enough that algae is a factor. A water-quality reading is not a swimming clearance. The state water agency and county health departments post current advisories; check them before you swim.. Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 211 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 40.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft |
| Phosphorus | 211 μg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 40.5 μg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 4 ft |
| Location | Rice County, Minnesota |
How does Wells Lake compare?
With an overall water-quality readings of —, Wells Lake runs above the Minnesota state average. It ranks #10 of 14 lakes in Rice County by water quality score.
Water clarity (Secchi depth) sits at 2 feet. That signals heavy algae or sediment, often tied to high phosphorus from runoff. Algae levels (chlorophyll-a) measure 40.5 µg/L — elevated; risk of harmful algal bloom advisories increases at this concentration.
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