Rice Lake
Rice Lake in Dane County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 1.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 217 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 117 acres.
- Clarity
- 1.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 8 ft
- Area
- 117 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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 Dane County
Rice Lake is a 117-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Dane County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 8 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Panfish. Compared to the 14 other monitored lakes in Dane County, Rice Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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 1.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 217 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 76.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 217 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 76 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Rice Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Rice Lake in Dane 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. 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
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Rice Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in Oct (about 67°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 48 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Rice Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 8 ft |
| Surface Area | 117 acres |
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
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 2016. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.026 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +15 µg/L/yr | 3 |
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 15 lakes in Dane County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Rice Lake holds Grade D. 3 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 Dane County
Frequently asked questions about Rice Lake
What is the water quality grade for Rice Lake?
- Rice Lake in Dane County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 1.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 217 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 117 acres.
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). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Rice Lake?
- Rice Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 48 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 8 feet. The lake covers 117 acres.
What fish are in Rice Lake?
- Fish species found in Rice Lake include Panfish. Rice Lake is located in Dane County, Wisconsin.
Explore Rice Lake across LakeGrade
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Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Where this data comes from
51 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX51 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes