Little Rice Lake
Beltrami County, Minnesota123 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae sit in the clean band for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- zebra mussel
- #61 of 85 in the county
- 26 ft max depth
- Limited data
Little Rice Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 123.08 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.5 ft
- Typical in September
- 60°F
- Max depth
- 26 ft
- Area
- 123 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 21 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 7.4 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
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Watch Little Rice Lake’s letter
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Little Rice Lake is a 123-acre mesotrophic lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 26 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 3 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including black crappie, brown bullhead, and northern pike. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 84 other monitored lakes in Beltrami County, Little Rice Lake ranks #61 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-15. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Little Rice Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing7 species recorded
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.
The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft. Phosphorus 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 7.4 µg/L. TSI 49. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 21 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Water Temperature
Little Rice Lake typically sits around 60°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 65°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 68°F) and coldest in May (about 54°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 49 field readings (2025–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Little Rice Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 26 ft |
| Surface Area | 123 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 67% |
| Public Access | No |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Rice 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.
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.08 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.6 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.62 µg/L/yr | 2 |
County Ranking
Ranked #61 of 85 lakes in Beltrami County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Little Rice Lake holds Grade B. 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 Beltrami County
Frequently asked questions about Little Rice Lake
Where is Little Rice Lake?
- Little Rice Lake is a lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Little Rice Lake?
- Little Rice Lake in Beltrami County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 123.08 acres.
Is Little Rice Lake safe to swim in?
- The B is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Little Rice Lake?
- Little Rice Lake typically sits around 60°F at the surface in September, from 49 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2025–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Little Rice Lake?
- Little Rice Lake has a maximum depth of 26 feet. The lake covers 123.08 acres.
What fish are in Little Rice Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Rice Lake include black crappie, brown bullhead, northern pike, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Little Rice Lake is located in Beltrami County, Minnesota.
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Where this data comes from
24 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
LEECHLAK_WQX24 samples · 2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Nitrate-Nitrite Nitrogen by Colorimetry
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
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder