Rice Lake
Rice Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 39.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 7 ft. Surface area: 79 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 7 ft
- Area
- 79 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Vilas County
Rice Lake is a 79-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 7 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available. Compared to the 102 other monitored lakes in Vilas County, Rice Lake ranks #87 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-21. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Rice Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 3.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 39.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 39.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Rice Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Rice Lake in Vilas 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Rice Lake
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Water Temperature
Rice Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 77°F) and coldest in Apr (about 55°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 33 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Rice Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 7 ft |
| Surface Area | 79 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
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
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 2016. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Rice Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2025Scattering Rice Lake spring summary report, 2025Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2025 (PDF)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.143 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.7 µg/L/yr | 7 |
EPA Impairment Status
Rice Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10026161 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #87 of 103 lakes in Vilas County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Rice Lake holds Grade C. 2 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 Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Rice Lake
What is the water quality grade for Rice Lake?
- Rice Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 39.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 7 ft. Surface area: 79 acres.
Is Rice Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Rice Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Rice Lake?
- Rice Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 33 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Rice Lake?
- Rice Lake has a maximum depth of 7 feet. The lake covers 79 acres.
What fish are in Rice Lake?
- Fish species found in Rice Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Rice Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
Explore Rice Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
74 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX74 samples · 2020–2026
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes