Amherst Millpond
Amherst Millpond in Portage County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 31.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 7 ft. Surface area: 38 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Amherst Millpond. DNR survey details →
- Max depth
- 7 ft
- Area
- 38 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Amherst Millpond is a 38-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Portage County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 7 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Panfish and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 13 other monitored lakes in Portage County, Amherst Millpond ranks #13 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2021-08-22. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 31.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 31.3 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Amherst Millpond
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Amherst Millpond in Portage County, Wisconsin — 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Amherst Millpond
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Amherst Millpond.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Amherst Millpond C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 4 stations on file (most recent sample 2021).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 7 ft |
| Surface Area | 38 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Amherst MillpondPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Amherst Millpond
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 Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.6 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Amherst Millpond is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Amherst (completed 1857), built primarily for recreation on the Waupaca (Tomorrow) River; gravity-type dam, 14 ft tall and 370 ft long.
- Surface area
- 48 ac
- Normal storage
- 116 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 260 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 90 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Renew Hydro Power, LLC;Village of Amherst
All listed purposes: Recreation;Hydroelectric.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00286 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.66 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Amherst Millpond under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Amherst Wastewater Treatment FacilityAmherst · 1.7 mi away · NPDES WI0023213Recent violation
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #13 of 14 lakes in Portage County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Amherst Millpond holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Portage County
Frequently asked questions about Amherst Millpond
Where is Amherst Millpond?
- Amherst Millpond is a lake in Portage County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Amherst Millpond?
- Amherst Millpond in Portage County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 31.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 7 ft. Surface area: 38 acres.
Is Amherst Millpond safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Amherst Millpond has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Amherst Millpond?
- Amherst Millpond has a maximum depth of 7 feet. The lake covers 38 acres.
What fish are in Amherst Millpond?
- Fish species found in Amherst Millpond include Panfish, Northern Pike. Amherst Millpond is located in Portage County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Amherst Millpond?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Amherst Millpond. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Amherst Millpond C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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.
Are there boat ramps on Amherst Millpond?
- Amherst Millpond has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Amherst Millpond. Public access is listed as yes.
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
6 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX6 samples · 2020–2021
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory