Birch Lake
Birch Lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 7.8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 198 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Birch Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 7.8 ft
- Max depth
- 27 ft
- Area
- 198 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Why Birch Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Birch Lake, 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. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by WI DNR and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Birch Lake is a 198-acre lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 27 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-10-16. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Birch Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.8 ft. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Birch Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Birch Lake in Oneida 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Birch Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Birch Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Birch Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 27 ft |
| Surface Area | 198 acres |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing 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.
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.067 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.61 µg/L/yr | 7 |
EPA Impairment Status
Birch Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10007217 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.03 km)
Graded lakes near Birch Lake
Birch Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Oneida County
Frequently asked questions about Birch Lake
Where is Birch Lake?
- Birch Lake is a lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Birch Lake?
- Birch Lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 7.8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 198 acres.
Is Birch Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Birch Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Birch Lake?
- Birch Lake has a maximum depth of 27 feet. The lake covers 198 acres.
What fish are in Birch Lake?
- Fish species found in Birch Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Birch Lake is located in Oneida County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Birch Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Birch Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Birch Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Explore Birch Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
40 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_WQX40 samples · 2020–2025
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes