Rice Lake

Rice Lake grades an F: every scored parameter (clarity) rates poorly, placing it among the most stressed lakes monitored in Minnesota.

At a TSI of 63, Rice Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake's surface area is not consistently recorded across state datasets — physical context remains partial. Rice Lake ranks 85 of 95 in Hennepin County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

Rice Lake has no invasive species recorded in Minnesota state databases as of 2024, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Rice Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. No formal public access is documented at Rice Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. 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.