Birch Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Cass County, Michigan. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Lake herring and Ninespine stickleback. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Cass County, Birch Lake ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2022-09-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 13 ft. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +3.405 m/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.4 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Recreation & Access
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Birch Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 80 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Michigan DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 23 lakes in Cass County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Birch Lake holds Grade B. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Explore Birch Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Cass County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Michigan's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Other Grade B Lakes in Michigan
Van Buren County · Clarity: 11.5 ft
Kalamazoo County · Clarity: 9.5 ft
St. Joseph County · Clarity: 10.5 ft
Kalamazoo County · Clarity: 8 ft
Kalamazoo County · Clarity: 9.5 ft
Allegan County · Clarity: 14 ft
Mesotrophic 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.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
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: 2022-09-23
Monitoring stations: 1