Rice Lake

The LakeGrade rubric puts Rice Lake at a C: clarity at 4.1 ft, 32 µg/L of phosphorus, and a TSI of 55 signal an intermediate trophic state. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.

A TSI in the eutrophic range signals a lake doing what nutrient-loaded waters do — supporting an active algal community at the cost of clear water. The lake bottoms out at 19 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. At 859 acres, Rice Lake fits the Wisconsin median for monitored lakes, with partial shoreline records. Within Barron County's 37 graded lakes, Rice Lake ranks 21 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.

Eurasian watermilfoil is established at Rice Lake, which can dampen recreational access and pressure the native plant community. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 5 documented species — a notable draw for Wisconsin anglers. A documented public access point at Rice Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.