Rush Lake
Rush Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). 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.
- Clarity
- 3 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 24 ft
- Area
- 1,494 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 8
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Rush Lake →
Next lake in Chisago County
Rush Lake is a 1,494-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Chisago County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 24 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2025. 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 with 2 public boat landings. 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyAlgae risk
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.
Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 55.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 31.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 63.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 55.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 31.4 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 63 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Rush Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Rush Lake
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 →
Water Temperature
Rush Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 24 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,494 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 11 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 69% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- West Rush LakePublic
- East Rush LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
15 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2024-04-09 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 20.49 | 0.16 lb |
| CNM | 19.74 | — |
| White Crappie | 15.03 | 0.28 lb |
| Black Crappie | 13.16 | 0.27 lb |
| Bluegill | 9.81 | 0.19 lb |
| BKF | 8.29 | — |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
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
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.059 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.9 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -5.89 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (5 observations).
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2025-03-28 (2025) | 2007-04-13 (2007) |
| Ice-In | 2006-12-01 (2006) | 2004-12-02 (2004) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-03-28
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
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN13-0069-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.66 km)
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #26 of 30 lakes in Chisago County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Rush Lake holds Grade F. 3 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 Chisago County
Frequently asked questions about Rush Lake
What is the water quality grade for Rush Lake?
- Rush Lake in Chisago County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). 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?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Rush Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 31.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Rush Lake?
- Rush Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, 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.
When does Rush Lake thaw?
- Rush Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 8.
Are there boat ramps on Rush Lake?
- Rush Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include West Rush Lake, East Rush Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Rush Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded 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 grade
Lakes in the St. Croix Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Rush Lake
Other Grade F 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)
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate