Rice Lake
Rice Lake in Iron County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 114 acres.
- Clarity
- 5 ft
- Max depth
- 21 ft
- Area
- 114 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
Next lake in Iron County
Rice Lake is a 114-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Iron County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 21 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Compared to the 15 other monitored lakes in Iron County, Rice Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-08-26. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Murky, only visible to about 5 ft. Phosphorus level: 22.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 22.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Rice Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Rice Lake in Iron 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.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 21 ft |
| Surface Area | 114 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 2009. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.4 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.2 µg/L/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 16 lakes in Iron County
Nearby Lakes in Iron County
Frequently asked questions about Rice Lake
What is the water quality grade for Rice Lake?
- Rice Lake in Iron County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 114 acres.
Is Rice Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Rice Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Rice Lake?
- Rice Lake has a maximum depth of 21 feet. The lake covers 114 acres.
What fish are in Rice Lake?
- Fish species found in Rice Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Rice Lake is located in Iron County, Wisconsin.
Explore Rice Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
26 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX26 samples · 2020–2025
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