Birch Lake
Birch Lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 5.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 18 µg/L. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 159.53 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.8 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 18 ft
- Area
- 160 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- 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 Sherburne County
Birch Lake is a 160-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 18 feet (10-foot average). Water quality is graded D based on 2 sampling years through 2020. The lake supports 13 documented fish species including black bullhead, black crappie, and bluegill. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 17 other monitored lakes in Sherburne County, Birch Lake ranks #9 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2020-09-18. 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)
Murky, only visible to about 5.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 18 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 21 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 18 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Birch Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Birch Lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota — 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 Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Birch Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in May (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 50 field readings (2011–2019) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Birch Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 18 ft |
| Average Depth | 10.2 ft |
| Surface Area | 160 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 3.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 73% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Birch LakePublic
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.
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
6 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2019-06-10 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bluegill | 43.47 | 0.07 lb |
| Largemouth Bass | 19.73 | 0.62 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 19.01 | 0.24 lb |
| Black Crappie | 18.90 | 0.19 lb |
| Pumpkinseed | 10.42 | 0.06 lb |
| Yellow Bass | 6.14 | 0.4 lb |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Bluegill
Largemouth Bass
Black Bullhead
Black Crappie
From the 2019-06-10 survey
Birch Lake is a 151 acre lake located four miles northeast of the City of Big Lake in Sherburne County. It has a maximum depth of 18 feet and a small watershed. Land use in the watershed is primarily forest and wetlands. Birch has a history of winterkills, but winter aeration has been used in recent years to prevent…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Birch Lake. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BirchFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Aquatic Plant Report — Birch (1977)Aquatic Plant Report · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BirchPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Birch Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Aspen Hills WwtpElk River · 2.7 mi away · NPDES MN0066028Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #9 of 18 lakes in Sherburne County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Birch Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Sherburne County
Frequently asked questions about Birch Lake
What is the water quality grade for Birch Lake?
- Birch Lake in Sherburne County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 5.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 18 µg/L. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 159.53 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). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 18 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Birch Lake?
- Birch Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 50 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2011–2019). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Birch Lake?
- Birch Lake has a maximum depth of 18 feet and an average depth of 10.2 feet. The lake covers 159.53 acres.
What fish are in Birch Lake?
- Fish species found in Birch Lake include black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill, common carp, green sunfish, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, walleye, white sucker, yellow bullhead, yellow perch. Birch Lake is located in Sherburne County, Minnesota.
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 Birch Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Birch Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
15 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA15 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory