Kelly Lake
Kelly Lake in Rice County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.7 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 8.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 65°F
- Mean depth
- ~12 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Mar 29
- Open water
- 248 days
Next lake in Rice County
Kelly Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Rice County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 12 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 13 other monitored lakes in Rice County, Kelly Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-08-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 29 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 7.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 29 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.7 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Kelly Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Kelly 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.
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Water Temperature
Kelly Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 61°F. Usually warmest in Sep (about 67°F) and coldest in Oct (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 85 field readings (2022–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Kelly Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~12 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for Kelly Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Recreation & Access
- Dudley-Kelly LakePublic
Fishing Kelly Lake
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Kelly Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Kelly (1387)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — KellyPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.691 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +5.1 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (22 observations).
Estimated open water season: 248 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-01 (2024) | 2018-04-29 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2022-11-20 (2022) | 2015-12-19 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-26
EPA Impairment Status
Kelly 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 MN66-0038-00 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.32 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 14 lakes in Rice County
Nearby Lakes in Rice County
Frequently asked questions about Kelly Lake
What is the water quality grade for Kelly Lake?
- Kelly Lake in Rice County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.7 µg/L.
Is Kelly Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Kelly Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 7.7 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Kelly Lake?
- Kelly Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in August, from 85 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2022–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Kelly Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Kelly Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 12 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
When does Kelly Lake thaw?
- Kelly Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 29. Ice typically forms around Dec 2. The open water season is approximately 248 days.
Are there boat ramps on Kelly Lake?
- Kelly Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Dudley-Kelly Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Kelly Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
32 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA32 samples · 2022–2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent 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
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