Wells Lake
Rice County, Minnesota677 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Wells Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- flowering rush
- 4 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Wells Lake in Rice County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 27, 2020 caught 11.44 walleye per gill net at Wells Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 13–27 inches. DNR survey details →
Wells Lake is a 677-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Rice County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 4 feet. 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. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Wells Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing15 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Mar 29
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. Wells Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Wells 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 Wells Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Wells 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 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 211 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 40.5 µg/L. TSI 72.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 211µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 40.5µg/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. | 72 | Hypereutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Ask about Wells Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 27, 2020 caught 11.44 walleye per gill net at Wells Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 13–27 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Wells Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
7 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2020-07-27 (Targeted Survey).
7 surveys on file · most recent 2020-07-27 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 12.85 | 2–11 in 2020-07-27 | 0.3 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 12.13 | 4–15 in 2020-07-27 | 0.71 lb |
| White Bass | 10.09 | 4–16 in 2020-07-27 | 0.72 lb |
| Common Carp | 9.24 | 4–33 in 2020-07-27 | 4.66 lb |
| Walleye | 6.68 | 13–27 in 2020-07-27 | 1.25 lb |
| Freshwater Drum | 4.77 | 4–21 in 2020-07-27 | 0.83 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 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
Lake Details
Max depth
4 ft
Surface area
677 acres
Shoreline
12.5 mi
Littoral zone
100%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Wells Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Wells Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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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 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.
Water quality readings over time
2 seasons of samples on record (2021–2025). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Water clarity
Improving2 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Mar 29
Earliest Feb 28, 2024 · Latest Apr 27, 2018
Typical ice-in
Nov 29
Earliest Nov 8, 1995 · Latest Dec 21, 2001
Most recent ice-out
Mar 22
2026
48 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
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
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption, Recreation.
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.
Nearby Lakes in Rice County
Frequently asked questions about Wells Lake
Where is Wells Lake?
- Wells Lake is a lake in Rice County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Wells Lake?
- Wells Lake in Rice County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Wells Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Wells Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on July 27, 2020 caught 11.44 walleye per gill net at Wells Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 13–27 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Wells Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Can I fish at Wells Lake?
- Public access to Wells 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 Wells 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 Rice County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its readings
Minnesota's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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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)
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 details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate