Big Rice Lake
Beltrami County, Minnesota642 acresView mapDirections
Nutrients and algae sit mid-range for this region.
- Eutrophic
- zebra mussel
- #77 of 85 in the county
- 13 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Big Rice Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 13 ft. Surface area: 642.46 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.7 ft
- Typical in September
- 61°F
- Max depth
- 13 ft
- Area
- 642 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Phosphorus
- 26 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 11.4 µg/L
- Public access
- Yes
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Big Rice Lake is a 642-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 13 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 3 sampling years through 2025. The lake supports 14 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Beltrami County, Big Rice Lake ranks #77 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-15. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Big Rice Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing14 species recorded
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 5.7 ft. Phosphorus 26 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 11.4 µg/L. TSI 53. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 26 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 11.4 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Water Temperature
Big Rice Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 73°F) and coldest in Oct (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 30 field readings (2025–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Big Rice Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 13 ft |
| Surface Area | 642 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 98% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Big Rice Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
County Ranking
Ranked #77 of 85 lakes in Beltrami County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Big Rice Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Beltrami County
Frequently asked questions about Big Rice Lake
Where is Big Rice Lake?
- Big Rice Lake is a lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Big Rice Lake?
- Big Rice Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 11.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 13 ft. Surface area: 642.46 acres.
Is Big Rice Lake safe to swim in?
- The C is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Big Rice Lake?
- Big Rice Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in September, from 30 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2025–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Big Rice Lake?
- Big Rice Lake has a maximum depth of 13 feet. The lake covers 642.46 acres.
What fish are in Big Rice Lake?
- Fish species found in Big Rice Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, greater redhorse, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Big Rice Lake is located in Beltrami County, Minnesota.
Explore Big Rice Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
23 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
LEECHLAK_WQX23 samples · 2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Nitrate-Nitrite Nitrogen by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder