Peppermill Lake
Peppermill Lake in Adams County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 12.5 ft. Surface area: 53 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.5 ft
- Max depth
- 12.5 ft
- Area
- 53 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Peppermill Lake is a 53-acre mesotrophic lake in Adams County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 13 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 17 other monitored lakes in Adams County, Peppermill Lake ranks #15 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-26. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 25.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 25.9 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Peppermill Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Peppermill Lake in Adams 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.
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DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Peppermill Lake 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).
- 2022Peppermill Lake spring shocking survey, 2022Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2022 (PDF)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 12.5 ft |
| Surface Area | 53 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Peppermill LakePublic
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 Peppermill Lake
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: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.793 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.04 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Peppermill Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Peppermill (completed 1969), built primarily for recreation on the PEPPERMILL CREEK; earth-type dam, 12 ft tall and 275 ft long.
- Surface area
- 80 ac
- Normal storage
- 200 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 500 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Adams County
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00464 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #15 of 18 lakes in Adams County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Peppermill Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Adams County
Frequently asked questions about Peppermill Lake
Where is Peppermill Lake?
- Peppermill Lake is a lake in Adams County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Peppermill Lake?
- Peppermill Lake in Adams County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 12.5 ft. Surface area: 53 acres.
Is Peppermill Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Peppermill Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Peppermill Lake?
- Peppermill Lake has a maximum depth of 12.5 feet. The lake covers 53 acres.
What fish are in Peppermill Lake?
- Fish species found in Peppermill Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Peppermill Lake is located in Adams County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Peppermill Lake?
- Peppermill Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Peppermill Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
40 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX40 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
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