Wells Mills Reservoir
Wells Mills Reservoir in Ocean County, New Jersey has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 4.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.6 µg/L. Surface area: 22 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.3 ft
- Area
- 22 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
Wells Mills Reservoir is a 22-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Ocean County, New Jersey. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2021. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Ocean County, Wells Mills Reservoir ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, your state environmental agency, last sampled 2021-11-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Wells Mills Reservoir water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Murky, only visible to about 4.3 ft. Phosphorus level: 11.7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 1.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11.7 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Wells Mills Reservoir
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Wells Mills Reservoir in Ocean County, New Jersey — 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 Wells Mills Reservoir
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 22 acres |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Wells Mills Reservoir, so its depth is not documented here.
Fishing Wells Mills Reservoir
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Wells Mills Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Wells Mill Reservoir Dam, built primarily for recreation on the Oyster Creek; earth-type dam, 9 ft tall and 330 ft long.
- Surface area
- 22 ac
- Normal storage
- 105 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 4.28 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- County of Ocean
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID NJ00470 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.21 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 6 lakes in Ocean County
Nearby Lakes in Ocean County
Frequently asked questions about Wells Mills Reservoir
Where is Wells Mills Reservoir?
- Wells Mills Reservoir is a lake in Ocean County, New Jersey. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Wells Mills Reservoir?
- Wells Mills Reservoir in Ocean County, New Jersey has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 4.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.7 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.6 µg/L. Surface area: 22 acres.
Is Wells Mills Reservoir safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Wells Mills Reservoir has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 1.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Explore Wells Mills Reservoir across LakeGrade
More New Jersey Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in New Jersey
Oligotrophic Lakes in New Jersey
Where this data comes from
45 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-21.
Collected and reported by
- NJDEP Bureau of Freshwater and Biological Monitoring
NJDEP_BFBM45 samples · 2020–2021
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 445.0 ~ EPA; Chlorophyll and Pheophytin in Algae by Fluorescence
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.