Rice Lake
Rice Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 333.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 117.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 11.5 ft. Surface area: 365.48 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 11.5 ft
- Area
- 365 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- No
- Ice-out
- Apr 2
- Open water
- 243 days
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Rice Lake →
Next lake in Hennepin County
Rice Lake is a 365-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 12 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 3 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 80 other monitored lakes in Hennepin County, Rice Lake ranks #62 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-21. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 2.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 333.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 117.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 77.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 333.8 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 117.9 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 77 | 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 Hennepin 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. 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
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Rice Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in Mar (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 125 field readings (2010–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
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 (619,441 cells/mL) on July 6, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 11.5 ft |
| Surface Area | 365 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 9.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 97% |
| 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
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
3 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 1994-07-11 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 103.96 | 0.33 lb |
| Yellow Perch | 25.36 | 0.2 lb |
| Bluegill | 18.03 | 0.24 lb |
| Black Crappie | 13.45 | 0.21 lb |
| Hybrid Sunfish | 5.57 | 0.3 lb |
| GOS | 5.33 | 0.13 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.
Black Bullhead
Yellow Perch
Bluegill
Black Crappie
From the 1994-07-11 survey
Both bluegills and black crappies were found in above average numbers. Each species had an average weight of approximately 1/4 of a pound. The northern pike population is also high. The average weight and length are 2.6 pounds and 21.6 inches. Twenty five percent of the northern pike sampled were longer than twenty…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Rice Lake. 2 reports 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
- —Fish Stocking History — RiceFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.059 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -116.06 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -28.93 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (32 observations).
Estimated open water season: 243 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-04 (2024) | 2018-04-30 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 2022-11-20 (2022) | 2015-12-19 (2015) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-29
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Rice Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Rice Lake (completed 1967), built primarily for other on the Elm Creek; rockfill-type dam, 15 ft tall and 210 ft long.
- Surface area
- 314 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,490 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,490 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 28.8 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- City of Maple Grove
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00366 · 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 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN27-0116-01 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.44 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #62 of 81 lakes in Hennepin County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Rice Lake holds Grade F. 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 Hennepin County
Frequently asked questions about Rice Lake
What is the water quality grade for Rice Lake?
- Rice Lake in Hennepin County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 333.8 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 117.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 11.5 ft. Surface area: 365.48 acres.
Is Rice Lake safe to swim in?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Rice Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 117.9 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Rice Lake?
- Rice Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 125 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2010–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Rice Lake?
- Rice Lake has a maximum depth of 11.5 feet. The lake covers 365.48 acres.
What fish are in Rice Lake?
- Fish species found in Rice Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, orangespotted sunfish, pumpkinseed, white crappie, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Rice Lake is located in Hennepin County, Minnesota.
When does Rice Lake thaw?
- Rice Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 2. Ice typically forms around Dec 1. The open water season is approximately 243 days.
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 (619,441 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Explore Rice Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Hennepin County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
492 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA492 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 4500 N C ~ Persufate Method for Total Nitrogen
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate