Birch Lake Quick Facts
Lake Size: 33 acres
Watershed Drainage Area: 1,890 acres; land cover includes wetland, forest, cropland and grassland.
Maximum Depth: 8 ft.
Outlet Elevation: 894.5 ft.
Low Water Level: N/A
High Water Level: N/A
Impairments: Not listed as impaired (does not qualify as a lake)
Invasive Species (2015): curly-leaf pondweed
Water Quality (2017)
Eutrophic, Lake Grade: C+
Summer avg total phosphorus: 72 μg/L
Summer average Secchi disc: 5.0 ft
Summer chlorophyll-a: 10.9 μg/L
Resource Goals
Short Term Goals - Year 2020
- Maintain a water quality rating of C.
- Achieve a five-year mean summer phosphorus
concentration at or below 60 μg/L ± 4%.
- Maintain a mean summer secchi depth no less than 3.3 ft.
Long Range Goals - Year 2030
- Maintain a water quality rating of C.
- Achieve a five-year mean summer phosphorus
concentration at or below 60 μg/L ± 4%.
- Maintain a mean summer secchi depth no less than 3.3 ft
Long Range Goals - Year 2040
- Maintain a water quality rating of C.
- Achieve a five-year mean summer phosphorus
concentration at or below 60 μg/L ± 4%.
- Maintain a mean summer secchi depth no less than 3.3 ft.
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Birch Lake
Birch Lake has a surface area of 32 acres and is two miles downstream of Bone Lake. Nielsen Lake's landlocked watershed discharges groundwater flow towards Birch Lake. Birch Lake is considered a shallow lake or wetland with 100% littoral area shallow enough to support emergent and submerged aquatic plants. Birch Lake is identified in name as a lake but was determined by the State to be a wetland due to its physical characteristics. Therefore it is not listed for a water quality impairment. The lake has been identified by CLFLWD to be a key factor influencing the water quality of School Lake and Little Comfort Lake. A survey in 2008 identified a diverse plant population in Birch Lake with little curly-leaf pondweed present.