Rice Lake
Rice Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 31.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 859 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Rice Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 4.1 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 19 ft
- Area
- 859 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Rice Lake is a 859-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Barron County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 19 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2026. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 5 public boat landings. Compared to the 27 other monitored lakes in Barron County, Rice Lake ranks #17 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-23. Grade methodology: LakeQuality 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)
Murky, only visible to about 4.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 31.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 31.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Rice Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Rice Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin — 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 Rice Lake
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Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Rice Lake → · more Wisconsin lake trips
Water Temperature
Rice Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in Sep (about 69°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 15 field readings (2024–2025) 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 high (524,807 cells/mL) on July 18, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Rice Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Rice Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1995. 16 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Rice Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2022Rice Lake spring shocking survey, 2022Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2022 (PDF)
- —Rice Lake muskellunge fishery assessment, 2014-2015Musky Survey · WI DNR (PDF)
- —Rice Lake muskellunge survey, 2022-2023Musky Survey · WI DNR (PDF)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 19 ft |
| Surface Area | 859 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lakeshore DrivePublic
- Stein StreetPublic
- Zabel RoadPublic
- 21 1/2 AvenuePublic
- Indian Mound ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing 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: → Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.014 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.6 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Rice Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Rice Lake (completed 1864), built primarily for hydroelectric on the Red Cedar; concrete-type dam, 18 ft tall and 192 ft long.
- Surface area
- 860 ac
- Normal storage
- 8,114 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 10,770 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 396 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Barron County
All listed purposes: Hydroelectric;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00102 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Rice Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5R).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10004576 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Rice Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Rice Lake Utilities City OfRice Lake · 1.6 mi away · NPDES WI0021865MajorRecent violation
- Four Mile Creek Dairy LlcRice Lake · 1.5 mi away · NPDES WI0063321Recent violation
- Birchwood Manufacturing CoRice Lake · 0.5 mi away · NPDES WI0042528
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 #17 of 28 lakes in Barron County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Rice Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Barron County
Frequently asked questions about Rice Lake
Where is Rice Lake?
- Rice Lake is a lake in Barron County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Rice Lake?
- Rice Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 31.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 859 acres.
Is Rice Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Rice Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Rice Lake?
- Rice Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 15 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Rice Lake?
- Rice Lake has a maximum depth of 19 feet. The lake covers 859 acres.
What fish are in Rice Lake?
- Fish species found in Rice Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Rice Lake is located in Barron County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Rice Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Rice Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Rice Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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 high (524,807 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Wisconsin's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Rice Lake?
- Rice Lake has 5 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lakeshore Drive, Stein Street, Zabel Road, 21 1/2 Avenue, among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Rice Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Barron County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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Other Grade C Lakes in Wisconsin
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Where this data comes from
157 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX157 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Turbidity in Water
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory