Mcdill Pond
Portage County, Wisconsin247 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Mcdill Pond. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 19 ft max depth
- Public access
Mcdill Pond in Portage County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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 →
Mcdill Pond is a 247-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Portage County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 19 feet. 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 3 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Mcdill Pond covers about 250 acres in Portage County. It has 3 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Mcdill Pond on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Mcdill Pond is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
- Fishing4 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyModerate algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Mcdill Pond is safe to swim in today is a call for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Mcdill Pond
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Mcdill Pond, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 5 ft. Phosphorus 34.1 µg/L. TSI 55.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 34.1µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 55 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Mcdill Pond
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (51°F) to its warmest (72°F).
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 water quality. LakeQuality shows Mcdill Pond’s water-quality measurements separately, 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
Max depth
19 ft
Surface area
247 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
202 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
3.8 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,063 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Heffron StreetPublic
- McDill PondPublic
- Lower Whiting ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Follow Mcdill Pond’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every 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 (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-1.06 µg/L/yr7 years
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.
Nearby Lakes in Portage County
Frequently asked questions about Mcdill Pond
Where is Mcdill Pond?
- Mcdill Pond is a lake in Portage County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Mcdill Pond?
- Mcdill Pond in Portage County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
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 water quality. LakeQuality shows Mcdill Pond’s water-quality measurements separately, 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 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Heffron Street, McDill Pond, Lower Whiting Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Mcdill Pond?
- Mcdill Pond has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Wisconsin's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Mcdill Pond across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest 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 readings
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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