Rhine Lake
Rhine Lake in Pine County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 116.12 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 77°F
- Max depth
- 8 ft
- Area
- 116 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 11
- Open water
- 222 days
Next lake in Pine County
Why Rhine 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 Rhine Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
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.
Rhine Lake is a 116-acre lake in Pine County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 8 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 9 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-29. 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 Rhine Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 64.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 64 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Rhine Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Rhine Lake in Pine 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 Rhine Lake
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Water Temperature
Rhine Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 77°F) and coldest in May (about 65°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 8 field readings (2025–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Rhine Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 8 ft |
| Surface Area | 116 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 1.9 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | No |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Rhine Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
2 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2000-06-05 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 76.38 | 0.15 lb |
| Black Crappie | 22.31 | 0.18 lb |
| GOS | 20.54 | 0.06 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 6.92 | 0.16 lb |
| Northern Pike | 6.33 | 3.29 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 3.36 | 0.12 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Black Bullhead
Black Crappie
GOS
Yellow Perch
From the 2000-06-05 survey
Rhine Lake is a 111 acre clear, moderately soft water basin. The maximum depth is 8 feet with a mean depth of approximately 5 feet. Substrates are predominately sand, muck, and detritus with an abundance of aquatic vegetation. Rhine Lake is susceptible to periodic winter kill. Access to Rhine Lake can only be gained…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Rhine Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — RhineFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Rhine (0350)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.136 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (10 observations).
Estimated open water season: 222 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2005-04-09 (2005) | 2008-04-23 (2008) |
| Ice-In | 2004-11-05 (2004) | 2007-11-22 (2007) |
Most recent ice-out: 2008-04-23
EPA Impairment Status
Rhine 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 MN58-0136-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Rhine Lake
Rhine Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Pine County
Frequently asked questions about Rhine Lake
What is the water quality grade for Rhine Lake?
- Rhine Lake in Pine County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 116.12 acres.
Is Rhine Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Rhine Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Rhine Lake?
- Rhine Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August, from 8 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2025–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Rhine Lake?
- Rhine Lake has a maximum depth of 8 feet. The lake covers 116.12 acres.
What fish are in Rhine Lake?
- Fish species found in Rhine Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, brown bullhead, northern pike, pumpkinseed, sunfish, white sucker, yellow perch. Rhine Lake is located in Pine County, Minnesota.
When does Rhine Lake thaw?
- Rhine Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 11. Ice typically forms around Nov 19. The open water season is approximately 222 days.
Explore Rhine Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
38 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA38 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate