Cedar Lake vs Shields Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Cedar Lake has a higher water quality grade (D, Poor) than Shields Lake (F, Very Poor). Both are in Rice County, Minnesota.
D
Cedar Lake
Rice County, Minnesota
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility.
F
Shields Lake
Rice County, Minnesota
Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Cedar Lake | Shields Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | D (Poor) | F (Very Poor) |
| Water Clarity | 2 ft | 2.5 ft |
| Phosphorus | 83 µg/L | No data |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | No data |
| Maximum Depth | 42 ft | 42 ft |
| Surface Area | 902.44 acres | 940.49 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 18 | 17 |
| Trophic State | eutrophic | eutrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
Cedar Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade D versus Shields Lake's Grade F. Water clarity: 2 ft vs 2.5 ft. For fishing diversity, Cedar Lake also leads with 18 species.