Birch Lake

Birch Lake sits at a C on the grading scale — not impaired, not pristine, with summer measurements that vary year to year. Secchi readings are the weakest of the scored parameters, suggesting suspended sediment or algal biomass dominates the optical signal.

A TSI near 50 places Birch Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake's surface area is not consistently recorded across state datasets — physical context remains partial. Within Ramsey County's 49 graded waters, Birch Lake sits at rank 12, near the top of the local distribution.

Eurasian watermilfoil is established at Birch Lake, which can dampen recreational access and pressure the native plant community. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Birch Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. No formal public access is documented at Birch Lake — most use is by shoreline residents and their guests. The lake has a partial ice record — 6 observed ice-outs, centered near Mar 31. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.