Big Rice Lake
St. Louis County, MinnesotaLimited DataEutrophic
Big Rice Lake comes in at a B on the grading rubric — a respectable showing for a Minnesota lake of its size and depth.
Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. A maximum depth of just 5 ft means sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the water column whenever wind stirs the bottom — a classic shallow-lake dynamic. With 1,917 acres of surface and 8.5 miles of shoreline, Big Rice Lake is a large water by Minnesota standards — recreational pressure is spread across a long shoreline. Big Rice Lake ranks 74 of 187 in St. Louis County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.
No invasive species are currently listed at Big Rice Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Big Rice Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-07-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 25 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 25 µg/L | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 5 ft |
| Surface Area | 1.9K acres |
| Shoreline Length | 8.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 96% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #74 of 187 lakes in St. Louis County
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Big Rice Lake
Other Grade B Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Big Rice Lake With Nearby Lakes
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1982-06-12 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 79.00 | 0.44 lb |
| Northern Pike | 11.50 | 1.78 lb |
| White Sucker | 5.50 | 2.36 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
From the 1982-06-12 survey
Big Rice Lake contains above average populations of northern pike, yellow perch and suckers.
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Big Rice Lake. 3 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Big RiceFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Big Rice (0275)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Big RicePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Most recent sample: 2024-07-17
Monitoring stations: 1