Pleasant Hill Reservoir is a 2,600-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Richland County, Ohio. Water quality is graded F based on 1 sampling years through 2021. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Richland County, Pleasant Hill Reservoir ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Ohio DNR, last sampled 2021-09-01. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 2,600 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Where to stay near Pleasant Hill Reservoir
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Fishing Pleasant Hill Reservoir
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Source: USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database. Hover a chip to see scientific name, ecological context, status, and first-observed year.
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Pleasant Hill Reservoir averages about 76°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in Oct (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 388 field readings (2010–2021) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Pleasant Hill Reservoir water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Pleasant Hill Reservoir, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 35 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Ohio DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Richland County
Nearby Lakes in Richland County
Explore Pleasant Hill Reservoir across LakeGrade
More Ohio Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Ohio
Eutrophic Lakes in Ohio
More records, surveys & data sources
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Pleasant Hill Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Pleasant Hill Dam (completed 1937), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the CLEAR FORK OF MOHICAN RIVER; earth-type dam, 113 ft tall and 775 ft long.
- Surface area
- 2,600 ac
- Normal storage
- 13,500 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 87,700 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 197 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- USACE - Huntington District
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Fish and Wildlife Pond;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID OH00001 · Operator website
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
11 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Pleasant Hill Reservoir under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 8 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Wooster Outdoor Ctr Dba Pleasant Hill Outdoor CampPerrysville · 0.7 mi away · NPDES OH0130541Recent violation
- Camp NuhopPerrysville · 0.8 mi away · NPDES OH0126446Recent violation
- Malabar Farm State Park RestaurantLucas · 1.8 mi away · NPDES OH0137995Recent violation
- Vilalge Of Perrysville Wastewater Treatment PlantPerrysville · 2.1 mi away · NPDES OH0021075Recent violation
- Mansfield Plumbing Products LlcPerrysville · 2.3 mi away · NPDES OH0031208Recent violation
- Odnr - Mohican State Forest WwtpPerrysville · 3.1 mi away · NPDES OH0052558Recent 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.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2021-09-01
Monitoring stations: 2