Is Rice Lake safe to swim?

As of August 20, 2026, Rice Lake in Morrison County, Minnesota carries a swim caution. EPA's CyAN satellite estimated a possible blue-green algae bloom here (July 21, 2026); this is a satellite estimate, not a water sample or an official advisory. Modeled rainfall over the past week was about 3.5 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

Rice Lake is a lake in Morrison County, Minnesota covering about 1.1 sq mi, the 392nd-largest of the 975 lakes SwimZone monitors in Minnesota. EPA's CyAN satellite estimated a possible blue-green algae bloom here (July 21, 2026); this is a satellite estimate, not a water sample or an official advisory.

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 4 summers of EPA CyAN satellite imagery since 2021, Rice Lake has not shown a satellite-estimated bloom-level signal. This is an estimate, not a guarantee, and conditions can change quickly, so check the current read and official advisories before you swim.

It is currently peak season for blue-green algae, when warm, calm water lets blooms form fastest. This water has no recorded advisory-level bloom in its satellite history, which makes it a comparatively steady summer swim spot; conditions still change between samples, so check the current read before you go.

Is it safe to swim in Rice Lake right now?

Rice Lake carries a swim caution today. EPA's CyAN satellite estimated a possible blue-green algae bloom here (July 21, 2026); this is a satellite estimate, not a water sample or an official advisory. Conditions can change quickly with wind, heat, and rain, so check the posted signs and look at the water before you get in.

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

Possibly. EPA's CyAN satellite estimated a possible blue-green algae bloom at Rice Lake on July 21, 2026. This is a satellite estimate, not a water sample or an official advisory, so treat it as a reason to be careful: avoid discolored or scummy water and check your state or county health department for the official status.

Can dogs swim in Rice Lake?

Use caution. EPA's CyAN satellite estimated elevated blue-green algae at Rice Lake on July 21, 2026 (a satellite estimate, not confirmed by sampling). Dogs are far more sensitive to cyanobacteria than people, so keep them out of the water and away from surface scum, and check local advisories.

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

Over 4 summers of EPA CyAN satellite imagery since 2021, Rice Lake has not shown a satellite-estimated bloom-level signal. This is an estimate, not a guarantee, and conditions can change quickly, so check the current read and official advisories before you swim.

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 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 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?→