Mcdill Pond

The LakeGrade rubric puts Mcdill Pond at a C: clarity at 5.0 ft, 34 µg/L of phosphorus, and a TSI of 55 signal an intermediate trophic state. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.

At a TSI of 55, Mcdill Pond reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. 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 28 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.