Big Birch Lake
Todd County, Minnesota2,107 acresView mapDirections
Minnesota PCA publishes the water-quality measurements for Big Birch Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- zebra mussel
- 81 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Big Birch Lake in Todd County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 12.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 81 ft. Surface area: 2106.54 acres.
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on May 6, 2024 caught 6.60 walleye per gill net at Big Birch Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–24 inches. DNR survey details →
Free interactive depth-contour map of Big Birch Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 80 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Minnesota DNR.
Big Birch Lake is a 2,107-acre mesotrophic lake in Todd County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 81 feet (28-foot average). The lake supports 18 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 5 public boat landings. Compared to the 7 other monitored lakes in Todd County, Big Birch Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2025-10-24. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Big Birch Lake covers about 2,100 acres in Todd County. It has 5 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. The median ice-out date is April 13, which is when the open-water season begins. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Big Birch Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Big Birch Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water12.5 ft of visibility
- Boat launch5 documented ramps
- Fishing18 species recorded
- Ice seasonIce-out around Apr 13
- Deep water81 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water2,107 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
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. Big Birch Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Big Birch Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Big Birch Lake
These are the measurements Minnesota PCA publishes for Big Birch Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 12.5 ft. Phosphorus 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 4.4 µg/L. TSI 45.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 12.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 25µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 4.4µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 45 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Big Birch Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Big Birch Lake typically sits around 59°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 73°F) and coldest in Apr (about 48°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (48°F) to its warmest (73°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 782 field readings (2011–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Big Birch Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Big Birch Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (41,305 cells/mL) on April 18, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on May 6, 2024 caught 6.60 walleye per gill net at Big Birch Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–24 inches.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Big Birch Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
29 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-19 (Targeted Survey).
29 surveys on file · most recent 2025-08-19 (Targeted Survey)
| Species | Catch rate (CPUE) | Size | Avg weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Pike | 18.08 | 17–35 in 2024-05-06 | 2.22 lb |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 16.86 | ||
| Largemouth Bass | 13.59 | 3–18 in 2024-05-06 | 0.97 lb |
| Bluegill | 13.20 | 3–9 in 2024-05-06 | 0.15 lb |
| Walleye | 12.30 | 6–24 in 2025-08-19 | 1.68 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, fish caught per net per set in a standardised survey. It measures abundance, not size, and is not a weekly bite report.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Northern Pike
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Walleye
From the 2025-08-19 survey
Big Birch Lake is a 2,107 acre lake located near Grey Eagle, Minnesota. The lake consists of an upper and lower basin, has 15.25 miles of shoreline, a maximum depth of 81 feet, and a littoral area of 642 acres. Primary management species on Big Birch Lake are Northern Pike and Walleye while secondary species include…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Big Birch Lake. 4 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — Big BirchFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Big Birch (1058)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — Big BirchFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — Big BirchPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Lake Details
Max depth
81 ft
Average depth
28 ft
Surface area
2,107 acres
Shoreline
15.3 mi
Littoral zone
30%
Share shallower than 15 ft
Public access
Yes
Listed by Minnesota PCA
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
22 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,175 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Big Birch Lake (North)Public
- Hunters BayPublic
- Big Birch Lake (Southeast)Public
- Big Birch Lake State ForestPublic
- Stundabecks BayPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Big Birch Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Big Birch Lake in Todd County, Minnesota — 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 Big Birch Lake
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Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Big Birch Lake → · more Minnesota lake trips
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Big Birch 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: Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Stable6 years
Ice season
Typical ice-out
Apr 13
Earliest Mar 15, 2024 · Latest May 11, 2013
Typical ice-in
Dec 6
Earliest Nov 13, 1996 · Latest Dec 20, 2001
Most recent ice-out
Apr 12
2025
46 observations · Minnesota PCA ice records
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Big Birch Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Big Birch Lake (completed 1992), built primarily for fish and wildlife pond on the Adley Creek; rockfill-type dam, 12 ft tall and 16 ft long.
- Surface area
- 2,112 ac
- Normal storage
- 75,005 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 81,434 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 22 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Township of Birchdale
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00001 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Big Birch Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN77-0084-02 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Big Birch Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Grey Eagle WwtpGrey Eagle · 3 mi away · NPDES MN0023566Recent 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 Todd County
Frequently asked questions about Big Birch Lake
Where is Big Birch Lake?
- Big Birch Lake is a lake in Todd County, Minnesota. Its water-quality measurements are published by Minnesota PCA and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Big Birch Lake?
- Big Birch Lake in Todd County, Minnesota has water-quality measurements published by Minnesota PCA, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 12.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 4.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 81 ft. Surface area: 2106.54 acres.
Is Big Birch Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Big Birch Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Big Birch Lake?
- Big Birch Lake typically sits around 59°F at the surface in October, from 782 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Big Birch Lake?
- Big Birch Lake has a maximum depth of 81 feet and an average depth of 28 feet. The lake covers 2106.54 acres.
What fish are in Big Birch Lake?
- Fish species found in Big Birch Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, bowfin (dogfish), brown bullhead, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, rock bass, smallmouth bass, tullibee (cisco), walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Big Birch Lake is located in Todd County, Minnesota.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Big Birch Lake?
- Minnesota DNR's Targeted Survey on May 6, 2024 caught 6.60 walleye per gill net at Big Birch Lake. Length samples in the latest survey that recorded them ran 6–24 inches. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Big Birch Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
When does Big Birch Lake thaw?
- Big Birch Lake typically has ice-out around Apr 13. Ice typically forms around Dec 6. The open water season is approximately 237 days.
Does Big Birch Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Big Birch Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (41,305 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Minnesota's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Big Birch Lake?
- Big Birch Lake has 5 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Big Birch Lake (North), Hunters Bay, Big Birch Lake (Southeast), Big Birch Lake State Forest, among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Big Birch Lake?
- Big Birch Lake has 5 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Minnesota's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Big Birch Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
1,608 measurements from 24 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA1,608 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H 2 ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination by spectrophotometer
Monitoring station identifiers (24)
- MNPCA-77-0084-02-210
- MNPCA-77-0084-01-225
- MNPCA-77-0084-02-213
- MNPCA-77-0084-01-206
- MNPCA-77-0084-01-219
- MNPCA-77-0084-02-223
- MNPCA-77-0084-02-212
- MNPCA-77-0084-02-204
- MNPCA-77-0084-02-205
- MNPCA-77-0084-02-207
- MNPCA-77-0084-02-202
- MNPCA-77-0084-01-218
- MNPCA-77-0084-02-226
- MNPCA-77-0084-01-215
- MNPCA-77-0084-02-216
- MNPCA-77-0084-01-203
- MNPCA-77-0084-02-217
- MNPCA-77-0084-02-224
- MNPCA-77-0084-02-222
- MNPCA-77-0084-01-214
- MNPCA-77-0084-02-221
- MNPCA-77-0084-02-220
- MNPCA-77-0084-02-211
- MNPCA-77-0084-01-201
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Ice data from Minnesota DNR Climate