Forestville Millpond
Forestville Millpond in Door County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 94.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 5 ft. Surface area: 65 acres.
- Clarity
- 3 ft
- Max depth
- 5 ft
- Area
- 65 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Forestville Millpond →
Next lake in Door County
Forestville Millpond is a 65-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Door County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 5 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 4 other monitored lakes in Door County, Forestville Millpond ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2023-08-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade 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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 94.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 66.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 94.3 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 66 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Forestville Millpond
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Forestville Millpond in Door 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Forestville Millpond are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Forestville Millpond
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 5 ft |
| Surface Area | 65 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Forestville Dam ParkPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Forestville 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.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 2005. 3 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Forestville Millpond covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2024Forestville Millpond spring shocking survey, 2024Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.449 m/yr | 4 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Forestville Millpond is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Forestville (completed 1877), built primarily for recreation on the AHNAPEE RIVER; earth-type dam, 10 ft tall and 1,200 ft long.
- Surface area
- 72 ac
- Normal storage
- 170 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 300 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 31 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Door County
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00256 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.06 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Forestville Millpond under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Forestville Wastewater Treatment FacilityForestville · 0.9 mi away · NPDES WI0028894Recent 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 #5 of 5 lakes in Door County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Forestville Millpond holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Door County
Frequently asked questions about Forestville Millpond
What is the water quality grade for Forestville Millpond?
- Forestville Millpond in Door County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 94.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 5 ft. Surface area: 65 acres.
Is Forestville Millpond safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Forestville Millpond has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Forestville Millpond?
- Forestville Millpond has a maximum depth of 5 feet. The lake covers 65 acres.
What fish are in Forestville Millpond?
- Fish species found in Forestville Millpond include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike. Forestville Millpond is located in Door County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Forestville Millpond?
- Forestville Millpond has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Forestville Dam Park. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
20 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX20 samples · 2023
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