Mcdill Pond
Mcdill Pond in Portage County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 34.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 247 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Mcdill Pond. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 5 ft
- Typical in August
- 66°F
- Max depth
- 19 ft
- Area
- 247 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Portage County
Swipe left or right on this bar to open the next or previous lake.
Mcdill Pond is a 247-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Portage County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 19 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available with 4 public boat landings. Compared to the 13 other monitored lakes in Portage County, Mcdill Pond ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-02. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Mcdill Pond water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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)
Murky, only visible to about 5 ft. Phosphorus level: 34.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 34.1 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Mcdill Pond
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Mcdill Pond 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 Mcdill Pond
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Mcdill Pond typically sits around 66°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 68°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 72°F) and coldest in Apr (about 51°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 18 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Mcdill Pond water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Mcdill Pond — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (102,802 cells/mL) on March 9, 2024.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Mcdill Pond.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Mcdill Pond C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 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. Monitored by volunteers since 1992. 5 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 19 ft |
| Surface Area | 247 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Heffron StreetPublic
- McDill PondPublic
- Lower Whiting ParkPublic
- Consolidated County ParkPublic
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 Mcdill Pond
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 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.121 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.06 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Mcdill Pond is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Mcdill (completed 1855) on the PLOVER; earth-type dam, 21 ft tall and 450 ft long.
- Surface area
- 261 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,178 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,160 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 163 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Mcdill Inland Lake and Rehabilitation District
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00176 · Operator website
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Mcdill Pond under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 2 classified by the EPA as major dischargers. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Verso Minnesota Wisconsin Llc - Water Renewal CenterStevens Point · 1.1 mi away · NPDES WI0003468MajorRecent violation
- Stevens Point Wastewater Treatment FacilityStevens Point · 1.5 mi away · NPDES WI0029572MajorRecent 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 #10 of 14 lakes in Portage County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Mcdill Pond holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Portage County
Frequently asked questions about Mcdill Pond
Where is Mcdill Pond?
- Mcdill Pond 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 Mcdill Pond?
- Mcdill Pond in Portage County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 34.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 247 acres.
Is Mcdill Pond safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Mcdill Pond has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Mcdill Pond?
- Mcdill Pond typically sits around 66°F at the surface in August, from 18 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Mcdill Pond?
- Mcdill Pond has a maximum depth of 19 feet. The lake covers 247 acres.
What fish are in Mcdill Pond?
- Fish species found in Mcdill Pond include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike. Mcdill Pond is located in Portage County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Mcdill Pond?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Mcdill Pond. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Mcdill Pond C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Does Mcdill Pond have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Mcdill Pond (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (102,802 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Wisconsin's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Mcdill Pond?
- Mcdill Pond has 4 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Heffron Street, McDill Pond, Lower Whiting Park, Consolidated County Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Mcdill Pond across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Portage County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Mcdill Pond
Other Grade C Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
45 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX45 samples · 2020–2026
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