Crystal Lake
Crystal Lake in Rice County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 241 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 75.8 µg/L.
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Mar 16
Next lake in Rice County
Why Crystal Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Crystal Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a), but not water clarity.
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Crystal Lake is a lake in Rice County, Minnesota. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Crystal Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 241 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 75.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 78.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 241 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 75.8 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 78 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Crystal Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Crystal 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Crystal Lake
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Fishing Crystal Lake
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (3 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-02-26 (2024) | 2022-04-08 (2022) |
Most recent ice-out: 2024-02-26
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Crystal Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Faribault WwtpFaribault · 3 mi away · NPDES MN0030121MajorRecent violation
- Faribault Foods - Faribault DivisionFaribault · 3.2 mi away · NPDES MN0050491Recent violation
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.
Graded lakes near Crystal Lake
Crystal Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Rice County
Frequently asked questions about Crystal Lake
What is the water quality grade for Crystal Lake?
- Crystal Lake in Rice County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 241 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 75.8 µg/L.
Is Crystal Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Crystal Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 75.8 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
When does Crystal Lake thaw?
- Crystal Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 16.
Explore Crystal Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
2 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
MNPCA2 samples · 2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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)
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate