Rice Lake
Rice Lake in Anoka County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 125 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 18.1 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 2.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 77°F
- Mean depth
- ~7 ft est.
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Mar 30
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Rice Lake →
Next lake in Anoka County
Rice Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Anoka County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 7 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Anoka County, Rice Lake ranks #14 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-04. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 2.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 125 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 18.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 65.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 125 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 18.1 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Rice Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Rice Lake in Anoka 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 Rice Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Rice Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Rice Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 77°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 31 field readings (2019–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Rice Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Rice Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was very high (2,910,717 cells/mL) on July 19, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~7 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for Rice 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.
Fishing Rice Lake
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Rice Lake. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Public Water Access Sites — RicePublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.023 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -26.7 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -2.97 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (9 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2016-03-13 (2016) | 2018-04-30 (2018) |
Most recent ice-out: 2022-04-11
EPA Impairment Status
Rice 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 MN02-0008-00 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #14 of 23 lakes in Anoka County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Rice Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Anoka County
Frequently asked questions about Rice Lake
What is the water quality grade for Rice Lake?
- Rice Lake in Anoka County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 125 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 18.1 µg/L.
Is Rice Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Rice Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 18.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Rice Lake?
- Rice Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August, from 31 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2019–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Rice Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Rice Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 7 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 Rice Lake thaw?
- Rice Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 30.
Does Rice Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Rice Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was very high (2,910,717 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
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Where this data comes from
67 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA67 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 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
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate