Birch Lake
Cass County, Michigan282 acresView mapDirections
Not Rated: one monitoring station are on record, but they measured water clarity only. LakeQuality’s A–F method grades total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity; clarity is shown, not scored.
- 80 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Birch Lake in Cass County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 80 ft. Surface area: 281.7 acres.
- Clarity
- 14 ft
- Max depth
- 80 ft
- Area
- 282 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Watch Birch Lake’s letter
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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.
Why Birch Lake has no grade
Birch Lake has monitoring on record from one station, but only water clarity was measured. LakeQuality’s A–F letter uses total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll-a, and turbidity against EPA National Lakes Assessment condition classes. With none of those grading measurements on record, Birch Lake is Not Rated — not an F. Its 14-foot median from 78 readings collected 2016–2022 is still shown as clarity, but clarity alone cannot earn a letter.
Not Rated is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by EGLE and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Birch Lake is a 282-acre lake in Cass County, Michigan with a maximum depth of 80 feet. Water clarity 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.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, EGLE, last sampled 2022-09-23. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Birch Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water14 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Deep water80 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water quality measurements for Birch Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 14 ft. TSI 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 80 ft |
| Surface Area | 282 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Henry Sears ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Birch Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.276 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.13 µg/L/yr | 7 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.16 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Graded lakes near Birch Lake
Birch Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Cass County
Frequently asked questions about Birch Lake
Where is Birch Lake?
- Birch Lake is a lake in Cass County, Michigan. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity.
What is the water quality grade for Birch Lake?
- Birch Lake in Cass County, Michigan is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 14 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 80 ft. Surface area: 281.7 acres.
Is Birch Lake safe to swim in?
- The letter is not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Birch Lake?
- Birch Lake has a maximum depth of 80 feet. The lake covers 281.7 acres.
What fish are in Birch Lake?
- Fish species found in Birch Lake include Lake herring, Ninespine stickleback. Birch Lake is located in Cass County, Michigan.
Are there boat ramps on Birch Lake?
- Birch Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Henry Sears Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Birch Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
78 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2016–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-26.
Collected and reported by
- North American Lake Management Society
NALMS78 samples · 2016–2022
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory