Birch Lake vs South Turtle Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Birch Lake and South Turtle Lake both received the same overall water quality grade of A (Excellent). Both are in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
A
Birch Lake
Vilas County, Wisconsin
Crystal clear, you can see 21.3 ft down.
A
South Turtle Lake
Vilas County, Wisconsin
Crystal clear, you can see 26.2 ft down.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Birch Lake | South Turtle Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | A (Excellent) | A (Excellent) |
| Water Clarity | 21.3 ft | 26.2 ft |
| Phosphorus | 16.6 µg/L | 17.4 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | No data |
| Maximum Depth | 45 ft | 40 ft |
| Surface Area | 506 acres | 466 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 6 | 6 |
| Trophic State | oligotrophic | oligotrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
Both lakes earn the same Grade A. The tiebreakers come down to clarity (Birch Lake: 21.3 ft, South Turtle Lake: 26.2 ft) and what you want from the lake. Birch Lake matches its peer on species count.