Wells Lake
Wells Lake in Rice County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 211 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 40.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 4 ft. Surface area: 677.46 acres.
- Clarity
- 2 ft
- Max depth
- 4 ft
- Area
- 677 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Mar 29
- Open water
- 245 days
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Wells Lake →
Next lake in Rice County
Wells Lake is a 677-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Rice County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 4 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 15 documented fish species including bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, and black crappie. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 13 other monitored lakes in Rice County, Wells Lake ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-09-09. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 211 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 40.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 72.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 211 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 40.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 72 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Wells Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Wells Lake in Rice 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 Wells Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Wells 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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 4 ft |
| Surface Area | 677 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 12.5 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- South Alexander ParkPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Wells 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
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2020-07-27 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 12.85 | 0.3 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 12.13 | 0.71 lb |
| White Bass | 10.09 | 0.72 lb |
| Common Carp | 9.24 | 4.66 lb |
| Walleye | 6.68 | 1.25 lb |
| Freshwater Drum | 4.77 | 0.83 lb |
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 Bullhead
White Bass
Common Carp
From the 2020-07-27 survey
Wells Lake is a 634-acre lake located in Rice County west of the city of Faribault. The lake is accessible by boat from Cannon Lake. Wells Lake is a very shallow, eutrophic lake with a maximum depth of 4 feet. Wells Lake is managed primarily for Walleye. Although no stocking takes place, Walleye and other game fish…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Wells Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — WellsFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — WellsFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.135 m/yr | 2 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (48 observations).
Estimated open water season: 245 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-02-28 (2024) | 2018-04-27 (2018) |
| Ice-In | 1995-11-08 (1995) | 2001-12-21 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2026-03-22
EPA Impairment Status
Wells Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN66-0010-00 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Wells Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Genova-Minnesota IncFaribault · 3.1 mi away · NPDES MN0046957
- Jennie-O Turkey StoreFaribault · 3.2 mi away · NPDES MN0002500
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 #10 of 14 lakes in Rice County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Wells Lake holds Grade F. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Rice County
Frequently asked questions about Wells Lake
What is the water quality grade for Wells Lake?
- Wells Lake in Rice County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 211 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 40.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 4 ft. Surface area: 677.46 acres.
Is Wells 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. Wells Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 40.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Wells Lake?
- Wells Lake has a maximum depth of 4 feet. The lake covers 677.46 acres.
What fish are in Wells Lake?
- Fish species found in Wells Lake include bigmouth buffalo, black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), channel catfish, common carp, freshwater drum, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, white bass, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Wells Lake is located in Rice County, Minnesota.
When does Wells Lake thaw?
- Wells Lake typically has ice-out around Mar 29. Ice typically forms around Nov 29. The open water season is approximately 245 days.
Are there boat ramps on Wells Lake?
- Wells Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include South Alexander Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Wells 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 Rice County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Wells Lake
Other Grade F Lakes in Minnesota
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Wells Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
18 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA18 samples · 2021–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
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
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