Mcdill Pond

On the LakeGrade scale Mcdill Pond grades a B, with clarity at 16.4 ft and 34 µg/L of phosphorus placing it above the Wisconsin median. High phosphorus is the leading drag on the score — likely from upland agriculture, lawn runoff, or in-lake sediment release.

A TSI near 46 places Mcdill Pond in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. Mcdill Pond reaches 19 ft at its deepest point — typical for Wisconsin mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. At 247 acres, Mcdill Pond fits the Wisconsin median for monitored lakes, with partial shoreline records. Within the 29 graded lakes of Portage County, Mcdill Pond sits at rank 23, near the bottom of the county list.

Eurasian watermilfoil is established at Mcdill Pond, which can dampen recreational access and pressure the native plant community. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 4, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. Public access is available — the lake is on the Wisconsin DNR public-access list. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.