Circle Lake
Circle Lake in Rice County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 484.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 59.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 837.58 acres.
- Clarity
- 1.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 78°F
- Max depth
- 14 ft
- Area
- 838 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Mar 29
- Open water
- 247 days
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Circle Lake →
Next lake in Rice County
Free interactive depth-contour map of Circle Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 10 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Circle Lake is a 838-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Rice County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 14 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 18 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 13 other monitored lakes in Rice County, Circle Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-28. 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.
Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 1.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 484.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 59.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 79.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 484.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 59.7 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 79 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Circle Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Circle Lake in Rice 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Circle Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Circle Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Circle Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 80°F) and coldest in May (about 61°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 69 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Circle Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 14 ft |
| Surface Area | 838 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 9.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Circle LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Circle 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-06-12 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 124.08 | 0.4 lb |
| Black Crappie | 27.02 | 0.29 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 23.71 | 0.2 lb |
| Common Carp | 7.96 | 3.86 lb |
| Bluegill | 6.70 | 0.24 lb |
| Freshwater Drum | 5.18 | 0.97 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Black Bullhead
Black Crappie
Yellow Perch
Common Carp
From the 2023-06-12 survey
Circle Lake is an 838-acre lake located in Rice County northeast of Shieldsville. The lake has a maximum depth of 14 feet. There are three islands on Circle Lake, one of which is designated as an Aquatic Management Area by the MN DNR. A DNR-maintained public access is located on the northwest end of the lake. A public…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Circle Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — CircleFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — CircleFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — CirclePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.093 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (21 observations).
Estimated open water season: 247 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-03 (2024) | 2013-04-28 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 2022-11-19 (2022) | 2001-12-18 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-03-16
EPA Impairment Status
Circle Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN66-0027-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 14 lakes in Rice County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Circle Lake holds Grade F. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Rice County
Frequently asked questions about Circle Lake
What is the water quality grade for Circle Lake?
- Circle Lake in Rice County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 484.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 59.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 837.58 acres.
Is Circle Lake safe to swim in?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Circle Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 59.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Circle Lake?
- Circle Lake typically sits around 78°F at the surface in August, from 69 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Circle Lake?
- Circle Lake has a maximum depth of 14 feet. The lake covers 837.58 acres.
What fish are in Circle Lake?
- Fish species found in Circle Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), common carp, freshwater drum, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, smallmouth buffalo, walleye, white bass, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Circle Lake is located in Rice County, Minnesota.
When does Circle Lake thaw?
- Circle Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 29. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 247 days.
Are there boat ramps on Circle Lake?
- Circle Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Circle Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Circle Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Rice County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Circle Lake
Other Grade F Lakes in Minnesota
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Circle Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
117 measurements from 4 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA117 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (4)
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate