Rush Lake
Chisago County, Minnesota1,494 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Rush Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Impaired biota (cause unknown)
- Eurasian watermilfoil
- 24 ft max depth
- Public access
Rush Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 55.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 31.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 24 ft. Surface area: 1493.93 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on April 9, 2024 caught 5.12 walleye per trap net at Rush Lake. DNR survey details →
Rush Lake is a 1,494-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Chisago County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 24 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 16 documented fish species including black crappie, bluegill, and bowfin (dogfish). Public access is available. Compared to the 29 other monitored lakes in Chisago County, Rush Lake ranks #26 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-30. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Rush Lake covers about 1,500 acres in Chisago County. The median ice-out date is April 8, which is when the open-water season begins. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Rush Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Rush Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing16 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 8
- Big water1,494 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Rush Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for impaired biota (cause unknown), mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Rush Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Rush Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Rush Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 55.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 31.4 µg/L. TSI 63.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 3ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 55.5µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 31.4µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 63 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Rush Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Rush Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 80°F) and coldest in May (about 65°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (65°F) to its warmest (80°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 39 field readings (2017–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Rush Lake water temperature breakdown →
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on April 9, 2024 caught 5.12 walleye per trap net at Rush Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Rush Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
15 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-04-09 (Targeted Survey).
15 surveys on file · most recent 2024-04-09 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 20.49 | 4–11 in 2023-08-21 | 0.16 lb |
| White Crappie | 15.03 | 0.28 lb | |
| Black Crappie | 13.16 | 2–11 in 2024-04-09 | 0.27 lb |
| Bluegill | 9.81 | 2–9 in 2023-08-21 | 0.19 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Yellow Perch
Black Crappie
Bluegill
From the 2024-04-09 survey
East Rush Lake is a 1,481-acre lake in northern Chisago County located four miles west of Rush City, MN, and is within the Lower St. Croix River Watershed. The lake has a maximum depth of 24 feet, an average depth of 8 feet, and 70% of the lake is 15 feet or less (1,033 acres). East Rush has four inlets, three small…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Rush Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — East RushFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — East RushFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — East RushPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
24 ft
Surface area
1,494 acres
Shoreline
11 mi
Littoral zone
69%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
60 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
896 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Rush Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Rush Lake in Chisago 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Rush Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Rush Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Rush 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.
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-2.9 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-5.89 µg/L/yr6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 8
Earliest Mar 28, 2025 · Latest Apr 13, 2007
Most recent ice-out
Mar 28
2025
5 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
EPA Impairment Status
Rush Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Fish consumption, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN13-0069-01 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Rush Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Shorewood Park Sanitary DistrRush City · 1.8 mi away · NPDES MN0051390
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Nearby Lakes in Chisago County
Frequently asked questions about Rush Lake
Where is Rush Lake?
- Rush Lake is a lake in Chisago County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Rush Lake?
- Rush Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 55.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 31.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 24 ft. Surface area: 1493.93 acres.
Is Rush Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Rush Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for impaired biota (cause unknown), mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Rush Lake?
- Rush Lake typically sits around 66°F at the surface in September, from 39 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2017–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Rush Lake?
- Rush Lake has a maximum depth of 24 feet. The lake covers 1493.93 acres.
What fish are in Rush Lake?
- Fish species found in Rush Lake include black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, freshwater drum, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, muskellunge, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Rush Lake is located in Chisago County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Rush Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on April 9, 2024 caught 5.12 walleye per trap net at Rush Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Rush Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Rush Lake thaw?
- Rush Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 8.
Can I fish at Rush Lake?
- Public access to Rush Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Rush Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Chisago County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the St. Croix Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Minnesota
State Parks Near Rush Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Rush Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
190 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
MNPCA190 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate