Birch Lake
Birch Lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 60.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 73 ft. Surface area: 364 acres.
- Max depth
- 73 ft
- Area
- 364 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Birch Lake →
Next lake in Sawyer County
Birch Lake is a 364-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 73 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2020. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Sawyer County, Birch Lake ranks #44 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2020-10-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 60.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 63.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 60.3 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 63 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Birch Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Birch Lake in Sawyer 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Birch Lake are listed below.
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 73 ft |
| Surface Area | 364 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
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.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.17 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Birch Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Birch Lake (completed 1878), built primarily for recreation on the BIRCH CREEK; gravity-type dam, 28 ft tall and 600 ft long.
- Surface area
- 2,288 ac
- Normal storage
- 14,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 23,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 66.3 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Washburn County
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00085 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Birch Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5R).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10006820 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #44 of 45 lakes in Sawyer County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Birch Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Sawyer County
Frequently asked questions about Birch Lake
What is the water quality grade for Birch Lake?
- Birch Lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 60.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 73 ft. Surface area: 364 acres.
Is Birch Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Birch Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Birch Lake?
- Birch Lake has a maximum depth of 73 feet. The lake covers 364 acres.
What fish are in Birch Lake?
- Fish species found in Birch Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Birch Lake is located in Sawyer County, Wisconsin.
Explore Birch Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
5 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX5 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
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