Wild Rice Lake
Carlton County, MinnesotaMesotrophic
Wild Rice Lake comes in at a B on the grading rubric — a respectable showing for a Minnesota lake of its size and depth. The lake's weakest score is on Secchi depth — the water looks more turbid than its phosphorus number alone would predict.
Mesotrophic conditions dominate at Wild Rice Lake: enough nutrients for a healthy fishery, not so much that algal blooms become a chronic problem. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake's surface area is not consistently recorded across state datasets — physical context remains partial. Wild Rice Lake ranks 13 of 33 in Carlton County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.
No invasive species are currently listed at Wild Rice Lake — the lake remains off the Minnesota infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Wild Rice Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. Multiple sampling years from Minnesota PCA volunteers and partner agencies back the grade, so the letter should hold steady absent a major watershed shift.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-10-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Murky, only visible to about 3.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.6 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 21 µg/L | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.8 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.416 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.74 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #13 of 33 lakes in Carlton County
Nearby Lakes in Carlton County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Wild Rice Lake
Other Grade B Lakes in Minnesota
Mesotrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2024-10-17
Monitoring stations: 1