Cody Lake
Cody Lake in Rice County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 346 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 103.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 259.34 acres.
- Clarity
- 2 ft
- Max depth
- 14 ft
- Area
- 259 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Mar 30
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Cody Lake →
Next lake in Rice County
Cody Lake is a 259-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. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 13 other monitored lakes in Rice County, Cody Lake ranks #13 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-10. 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.
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 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 346 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 103.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 77.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 346 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 103.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 77 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Cody Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Cody 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 Cody Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Cody 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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 14 ft |
| Surface Area | 259 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Cody/Phelps LakePublic
- Sanborn LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Cody Lake
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (15 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-02 (2024) | 2018-04-28 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2025-11-28 (2025) | 2024-11-29 (2024) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-03-19
EPA Impairment Status
Cody 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 MN66-0061-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Cody Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Lonsdale WwtpLonsdale · 4.1 mi away · NPDES MN0031241
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 #13 of 14 lakes in Rice County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Cody Lake holds Grade F. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Rice County
Frequently asked questions about Cody Lake
What is the water quality grade for Cody Lake?
- Cody Lake in Rice County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 346 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 103.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 259.34 acres.
Is Cody 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. Cody Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 103.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Cody Lake?
- Cody Lake has a maximum depth of 14 feet. The lake covers 259.34 acres.
What fish are in Cody Lake?
- Fish species found in Cody Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, common carp, green sunfish, walleye, yellow perch. Cody Lake is located in Rice County, Minnesota.
When does Cody Lake thaw?
- Cody Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 30.
Are there boat ramps on Cody Lake?
- Cody Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Cody/Phelps Lake, Sanborn Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Cody Lake across LakeGrade
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
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State Parks Near Cody Lake
Other Grade F Lakes in Minnesota
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
20 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA20 samples · 2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- Analysis of Chlorophyll in Periphyton and Plankton
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate