Big Birch Lake
Big Birch Lake in Todd County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). 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.
- Clarity
- 12.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 81 ft
- Area
- 2,107 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
- Ice-out
- Apr 13
- Open water
- 237 days
Next lake in Todd County
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). Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Good clarity, visible to about 12.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 25 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 4.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 25 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay 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
Water Temperature
Big Birch Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 81 ft |
| Average Depth | 28 ft |
| Surface Area | 2,107 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 15.3 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 30% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
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
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
29 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2025-08-19 (Targeted Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Pike | 18.08 | 2.22 lb |
| IOD | 17.79 | — |
| Bluntnose Minnow | 16.86 | — |
| Largemouth Bass | 13.59 | 0.97 lb |
| Bluegill | 13.20 | 0.15 lb |
| Walleye | 12.30 | 1.68 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
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
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.031 m/yr | 6 |
Ice Season
Historical ice data from Minnesota DNR (46 observations).
Estimated open water season: 237 days
| Earliest | Latest | |
|---|---|---|
| Ice-Out | 2024-03-15 (2024) | 2013-05-11 (2013) |
| Ice-In | 1996-11-13 (1996) | 2001-12-20 (2001) |
Most recent ice-out: 2025-04-12
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
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN77-0084-02 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.75 km)
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 8 lakes in Todd County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Big Birch Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Todd County
Frequently asked questions about Big Birch Lake
What is the water quality grade for Big Birch Lake?
- Big Birch Lake in Todd County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of C (Fair). 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?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Big Birch Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 4.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Big Birch Lake?
- Big Birch Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, 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.
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.
Explore Big Birch Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Todd County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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State Parks Near Big Birch Lake
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Compare Big Birch Lake With Nearby Lakes
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
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
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