Is Big Rice Lake safe to swim?

As of August 20, 2026, Big Rice Lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota carries a swim caution. EPA's CyAN satellite showed a possible blue-green algae signal here (August 19, 2026), but the read is low-confidence and is not confirmed by a water sample. Modeled rainfall over the past week was about 0.7 in (Open-Meteo, a gridded estimate that can differ from a local gauge), which can wash bacteria and nutrients into the water.

How this read is built

Big Rice Lake is a lake in St. Louis County, Minnesota covering about 3 sq mi, the 120th-largest of the 975 lakes SwimZone monitors in Minnesota. EPA's CyAN satellite showed a possible blue-green algae signal here (August 19, 2026), but the read is low-confidence and is not confirmed by a water sample.

Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms are most common from midsummer into early fall, when the water is warm, calm, and rich in nutrients from runoff. They can produce toxins that make people sick and can be rapidly fatal to dogs, so skip water that looks green, scummy, or like spilled paint, and keep children and pets out of it.

Over 7 summers of EPA CyAN satellite imagery since 2020, Big Rice Lake has shown a satellite-estimated bloom-level signal in 4 of them, most recently in September 2024. Its highest satellite estimate was about 380,000 cells/mL in August 2020. These are satellite estimates, not water samples or posted advisories; check your state or county health department for official status.

It is currently peak season for blue-green algae, when warm, calm water lets blooms form fastest. This lake has bloomed in 4 of 7 monitored summers, historically peaking around August. Early summer, before the water fully warms, has generally been the safer window here; check the current read before you go either way.

Is it safe to swim in Big Rice Lake right now?

Big Rice Lake carries a swim caution today. EPA's CyAN satellite showed a possible blue-green algae signal here (August 19, 2026), but the read is low-confidence and is not confirmed by a water sample. Conditions can change quickly with wind, heat, and rain, so check the posted signs and look at the water before you get in.

Does Big Rice Lake have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?

Unclear. EPA's CyAN satellite showed a possible blue-green algae signal at Big Rice Lake on August 19, 2026, but the read is low-confidence and is not confirmed by a water sample. Avoid any scummy or discolored water and check your state or county health department.

Can dogs swim in Big Rice Lake?

Be careful. The satellite signal at Big Rice Lake is low-confidence and unconfirmed, but dogs are much more vulnerable to blue-green algae than people. Keep them away from any green, scummy, or discolored water and check local advisories.

How often does Big Rice Lake have blue-green algae blooms?

Over 7 summers of EPA CyAN satellite imagery since 2020, Big Rice Lake has shown a satellite-estimated bloom-level signal in 4 of them, most recently in September 2024. Its highest satellite estimate was about 380,000 cells/mL in August 2020. These are satellite estimates, not water samples or posted advisories; check your state or county health department for official status.

How many Minnesota lakes and beaches are unsafe for swimming today?

Today, 0 Minnesota waters are above a safe-contact threshold and 451 more warrant caution, out of 1178 monitored waters SwimZone tracks in the state.

How is Big Rice Lake's water quality measured?

SwimZone builds this read from EPA CyAN satellite imagery for blue-green algae, official beach and fecal-bacteria advisories where a program monitors Big Rice Lake, and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated August 20, 2026.

• Blue-green algae and dogs→
• What does blue-green algae look like?→
• When is algae season?→