Phelps Lake
Phelps Lake in Rice County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 334.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 102.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 303.23 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.3 ft
- Max depth
- 8 ft
- Area
- 303 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Mar 27
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Phelps Lake →
Next lake in Rice County
Phelps Lake is a 303-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Rice County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 8 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 13 other monitored lakes in Rice County, Phelps Lake ranks #14 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 2.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 334.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 102.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 76.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 334.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 102.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 76 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Phelps Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Phelps 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 Phelps Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Phelps Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 8 ft |
| Surface Area | 303 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fishing Phelps Lake
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (16 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-02 (2024) | 2018-04-29 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2024-11-27 (2024) | 2025-11-28 (2025) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-26
EPA Impairment Status
Phelps 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 MN66-0062-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Phelps Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Seneca Foods Corp - MontgomeryMontgomery · 4 mi away · NPDES MN0001279
- Montgomery WwtfMontgomery · 4 mi away · NPDES MN0024210
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 #14 of 14 lakes in Rice County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Phelps 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 Phelps Lake
What is the water quality grade for Phelps Lake?
- Phelps Lake in Rice County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 334.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 102.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 303.23 acres.
Is Phelps 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. Phelps Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 102.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Phelps Lake?
- Phelps Lake has a maximum depth of 8 feet. The lake covers 303.23 acres.
When does Phelps Lake thaw?
- Phelps Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 27.
Explore Phelps Lake across LakeGrade
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Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Where this data comes from
19 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
MNPCA19 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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate