Rice Lake
Rice Lake in Grant County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 66.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 5 ft. Surface area: 73 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 5 ft
- Area
- 73 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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 Grant County
Rice Lake is a 73-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Grant County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 5 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Grant County, Rice Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2024-10-28. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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)
Murky, only visible to about 4.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 66.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 60.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 66.6 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 60 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Rice Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Rice Lake in Grant 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 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 77°F) and coldest in Oct (about 53°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 18 field readings (2024–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Rice Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 5 ft |
| Surface Area | 73 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Rice Lake
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2024).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.175 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -38.45 µg/L/yr | 3 |
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 3 lakes in Grant 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.
Nearby Lakes in Grant County
Frequently asked questions about Rice Lake
What is the water quality grade for Rice Lake?
- Rice Lake in Grant County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 66.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 5 ft. Surface area: 73 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 74°F at the surface in August, from 18 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Rice Lake?
- Rice Lake has a maximum depth of 5 feet. The lake covers 73 acres.
What fish are in Rice Lake?
- Fish species found in Rice Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Rice Lake is located in Grant County, Wisconsin.
Explore Rice Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
12 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX12 samples · 2024
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
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes