Rice Lake
Rice Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 10 ft. Surface area: 222.52 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.7 ft
- Max depth
- 10 ft
- Area
- 223 acres
- Public access
- No
Next lake in Cook County
Why Rice 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 Rice Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity, 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.
Rice Lake is a 223-acre lake in Cook County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 10 feet. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including northern pike, pumpkinseed, and smallmouth bass. No public access — the lake is private or restricted.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-07-12. 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 Rice Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 5.7 ft. Phosphorus level: 17 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 6.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 17 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.2 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Rice Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Rice Lake in Cook 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 Rice Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 10 ft |
| Surface Area | 223 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5.2 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 Rice Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2021-07-06 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| White Sucker | 13.93 | 2.11 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 8.97 | 0.24 lb |
| Walleye | 6.84 | 1.3 lb |
| BNS | 4.95 | — |
| Smallmouth Bass | 3.24 | 0.92 lb |
| Northern Pike | 2.32 | 1.35 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.
White Sucker
Yellow Perch
Walleye
Smallmouth Bass
From the 2021-07-06 survey
Rice Lake is a shallow, heavily vegetated lake that is the lowermost of the headwater lakes in the Poplar River watershed. Despite a rough access, it reportedly sees a fair amount of angling use. The lake is currently managed for Walleye, although it also supports minor fisheries for Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike,…
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).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — RiceFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
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 MN16-0453-00 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Rice Lake
Rice Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Cook County
Frequently asked questions about Rice Lake
What is the water quality grade for Rice Lake?
- Rice Lake in Cook County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 6.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 10 ft. Surface area: 222.52 acres.
Is Rice Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Rice Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 6.2 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Rice Lake?
- Rice Lake has a maximum depth of 10 feet. The lake covers 222.52 acres.
What fish are in Rice Lake?
- Fish species found in Rice Lake include northern pike, pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Rice Lake is located in Cook County, Minnesota.
Explore Rice Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
5 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA5 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
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