Birch Island Lake
Birch Island Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 13 ft. Surface area: 768 acres.
- Clarity
- 8 ft
- Typical in August
- 59°F
- Max depth
- 13 ft
- Area
- 768 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Burnett County
Birch Island Lake is a 768-acre mesotrophic lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 13 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 29 other monitored lakes in Burnett County, Birch Island Lake ranks #15 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-08-30. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft. Phosphorus level: 13.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 13.7 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Birch Island Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Birch Island Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin — 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.
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Water Temperature
Birch Island Lake typically sits around 59°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 81°F) and coldest in Aug (about 59°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 16 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Birch Island Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 13 ft |
| Surface Area | 768 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Birch Island LakePublic
- Bonner LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Birch Island 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.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1997. 4 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.314 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.66 µg/L/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #15 of 30 lakes in Burnett County
Nearby Lakes in Burnett County
Frequently asked questions about Birch Island Lake
What is the water quality grade for Birch Island Lake?
- Birch Island Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 13 ft. Surface area: 768 acres.
Is Birch Island Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Birch Island Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Birch Island Lake?
- Birch Island Lake typically sits around 59°F at the surface in August, from 16 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Birch Island Lake?
- Birch Island Lake has a maximum depth of 13 feet. The lake covers 768 acres.
What fish are in Birch Island Lake?
- Fish species found in Birch Island Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Birch Island Lake is located in Burnett County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Birch Island Lake?
- Birch Island Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Birch Island Lake, Bonner Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Birch Island Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Burnett County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Lakes in the St. Croix Watershed, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
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Where this data comes from
44 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX44 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory