Big Rice Lake
Big Rice Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Phosphorus: 24 µg/L. Maximum depth: 5 ft. Surface area: 1917.26 acres.
- Max depth
- 5 ft
- Area
- 1,917 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in St. Louis County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Big Rice Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 5 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Big Rice Lake is a 1,917-acre mesotrophic lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 5 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 67 other monitored lakes in St. Louis County, Big Rice Lake ranks #41 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-07-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 24 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 24 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Big Rice Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Big Rice Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Big Rice Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 5 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,917 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 8.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 96% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Big Rice LakePublic
Fishing Big Rice Lake
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.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —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
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Big Rice Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Mdnr-Soudan Undgr Mine St PkSoudan · 4.8 mi away · NPDES MN0060151
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #41 of 68 lakes in St. Louis County
Nearby Lakes in St. Louis County
Frequently asked questions about Big Rice Lake
What is the water quality grade for Big Rice Lake?
- Big Rice Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Phosphorus: 24 µg/L. Maximum depth: 5 ft. Surface area: 1917.26 acres.
Is Big Rice Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Big Rice Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Big Rice Lake?
- Big Rice Lake has a maximum depth of 5 feet. The lake covers 1917.26 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Big Rice Lake?
- Big Rice Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Big Rice Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Big Rice Lake across LakeGrade
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
6 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA6 samples · 2023–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory