Birch Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Antrim County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2022. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Lake herring and Ninespine stickleback. Public access is available with 4 public boat landings. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Antrim County, Birch Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-08-27. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 17 ft down. Trophic State Index: 36.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 17 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 36 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Birch Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Birch Lake
Recreation & Access
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Birch Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 50 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 6 lakes in Antrim County
Nearby Lakes in Antrim County
Explore Birch Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Antrim County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Grand Traverse County · Clarity: 15 ft
Grand Traverse County · Clarity: 13 ft
Grand Traverse County · Clarity: 12 ft
Grand Traverse County · Clarity: 15.8 ft
Grand Traverse County · Clarity: 16.8 ft
Grand Traverse County · Clarity: 17.3 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Birch Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Elk Rapids WrrfElk Rapids · 1.5 mi away · NPDES MI0059296Recent violation
- Elk Rapids WwtpElk Rapids · 1.5 mi away · NPDES MIG570208
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.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2022-08-27
Monitoring stations: 1