Adams Lake

The LakeGrade rubric puts Adams Lake at a C: clarity at 7.3 ft, phosphorus readings still being added, and a TSI of 49 signal an intermediate trophic state. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

A TSI near 49 places Adams Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. A maximum depth of 44 ft puts Adams Lake in the middle of Wisconsin's depth distribution. Adams Lake is small — 30 acres alongside partial shoreline records — which makes it sensitive to even modest changes in watershed runoff or recreational pressure. Within Portage County's 28 graded lakes, Adams Lake ranks 21 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.

Adams Lake carries an invasive watermilfoil record — boat-launch decontamination and shoreline care matter more here than at uninfested lakes. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 3, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. A documented public access point at Adams Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.