Rice County Lake Quality
Minnesota, 12 lakes, average grade F (Very Poor)
Rice County has 12 graded lakes — a thin enough sample that one or two stressed lakes can move the county average noticeably. Use the per-lake pages below for what actually matters. The county average is F — the most-stressed bracket in our rubric. Most monitored lakes here show persistent nutrient loading and algal pressure.
Most of the county's monitored lakes are shallow — under 50 feet — which means wind keeps the water column mixed all summer and sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the surface layer whenever the bottom is disturbed. Kelly Lake (B) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Rice County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Kelly Lake, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Minnesota regulations index.
DNR Reports (33)
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder resources for lakes in Rice County. Showing 12 most recent — browse all reports →
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WellsFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — UnionFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — ShieldsFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — RoberdsFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — MazaskaFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HuntFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — HorseshoeFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — FoxFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — DudleyFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CircleFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CedarFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — CedarFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
All Lakes in Rice County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kelly Lake | B | 8.2 ft | - | 29 µg/L |
| 2 | Dudley Lake | C | 9 ft | 60 ft | 47 µg/L |
| 3 | Cedar Lake | D | 2 ft | 42 ft | 83 µg/L |
| 4 | Fox Lake | D | 3 ft | 47 ft | 66 µg/L |
| 5 | Horseshoe Lake | F | 2 ft | 26 ft | - |
| 6 | Union Lake | F | 3 ft | 10 ft | 1195 µg/L |
| 7 | Roberds Lake | F | 2 ft | 43 ft | 355 µg/L |
| 8 | Circle Lake | F | 1.5 ft | 14 ft | 484.5 µg/L |
| 9 | Shields Lake | F | 2.5 ft | 42 ft | - |
| 10 | Mazaska Lake | F | 2.5 ft | 50 ft | 99 µg/L |
| 11 | Wells Lake | F | 1.5 ft | 4 ft | - |
| 12 | Hunt Lake | F | 3 ft | 27 ft | 127 µg/L |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.