Rice Lake

On the LakeGrade scale Rice Lake grades a B, with clarity at 13.8 ft and phosphorus readings still being added placing it above the Minnesota median.

Trophically, Rice Lake reads as oligotrophic — nutrient-poor, clear, and ecologically more sensitive to disturbance than richer lakes. Rice Lake is unusually deep for Minnesota at 68 ft, which buffers the lake against summer warming and helps the deep water stay oxygenated. The lake's 863 acres and 12.5 miles of shoreline put it in the mid-range bucket — large enough for varied use, small enough that watershed inputs reach the whole basin. Rice Lake ranks 64 of 141 in Itasca County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.

No invasive species are currently listed at Rice Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. Walleye are documented at Rice Lake, one of 14 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Rice Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The lake has a partial ice record — 12 observed ice-outs, centered near Apr 22. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.