Birch Island Lake
Burnett County, Wisconsin · WBIC 2453500
Size
838 acres
Max depth
13 ft
DNR lake type
Simple, Warm, clear water color
Water clarity
5.5 ft
Moderate, measured Aug 2026
A warm-water lake type: the DNR groups it with lakes that warm up through summer. This describes the lake type in general, not this lake in particular.
Outline
Numbered dots are boat landings; tap one for directions. The list below has the same numbers. Drawn from the DNR's 24K hydrography (surveyed 1982), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
5.5 ft Secchi depthModerate
Last measured Aug 27, 2026. 159 readings on record, 1997 to 2026.
Typical summer clarity (June to September): 9 ft, moderate, from 61 readings (2012 to 2026).
Secchi depth is how far down a white disk stays visible. A bigger number means clearer water. Clear means a Secchi depth of 10 feet or more, moderate 5 to 10 feet, low under 5 feet.
Wisconsin DNR water monitoring (volunteer and staff), via the Water Quality Portal; station Birch Island Lake - Deep Hole Near Center. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
70.5°F surface, measured Aug 27, 2026
Measured near the surface (0 m down). A single reading, not a daily value.
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 7 (Mar 29 to Apr 12)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout Apr 18 (Apr 8 to Apr 23)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 22 (May 12 to May 25)
- June surface74°F, usually 71 to 75°F
- July surface79°F, usually 77 to 81°F
- August surface75°F, usually 74 to 78°F
Mixes regularly through the summer instead of forming a warm top layer.
A computer model of this lake's typical weather and water, built from 14 years, 2005 to 2019. Ranges show the middle half of years. The model was calibrated against measured temperatures for this lake. It is an estimate, not a measurement.
Measured: Wisconsin DNR via the Water Quality Portal (checked Oct 23, 2026). Modeled: U.S. Geological Survey lake temperature data release (doi:10.5066/P9CA6XP8).
Today at the lake
Forecast: National Weather Service (no endorsement implied). Sunrise, sunset and moon phase are calculated. The moon phase can be a day off.
Fish recorded near this lake
- Black Bullhead Ameiurus melas1984; 1 record
- Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus1984 to 2003; 3 records
- Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus1965 to 2003; 6 records
- Iowa Darter Etheostoma exile2003; 1 record
- Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides1966 to 2003; 6 records
- Northern Pike Esox lucius1971 to 2003; 4 records
- Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus1965 to 2003; 5 records
- Rock Bass Ambloplites rupestris2003; 2 records
- Spottail Shiner Notropis hudsonius1979; 1 record
- Walleye Sander vitreus1966 to 1971; 2 records
- Yellow Bullhead Ameiurus natalis2003; 1 record
- Yellow Perch Perca flavescens1984 to 2003; 2 records
Recorded in open fish survey and museum records (GBIF). A record shows a fish was found near this lake in that year, not that it is there now, and says nothing about how many. Most coordinates are rounded to about 1 km, so a record is attached only when one lake is the clear match.
Open fish survey and museum records from GBIF; datasets are listed on the sources page. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Boat landings
- 1Birch Island Lake AccessBoat ramp · Concrete surface · Township
Directions
Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
More lakes in Burnett County
- Oak Lake1.4 miles away
- Boner Lake1.5 miles away
- Cadotte Lake1.7 miles away
- Hanscom Lake1.8 miles away
- Fish Lake2.0 miles away
- Shoal Lake2.0 miles away
Where this comes from
- Size, depth and lake typeWisconsin DNR lake classifications, checked Oct 23, 2026
- OutlineWisconsin DNR 24K hydrography, checked Oct 23, 2026
- Regulations linkWisconsin DNR fishing regulations (linked, not restated), checked Oct 23, 2026
- Boat landingsWisconsin DNR public boat access sites, checked Oct 23, 2026
- Water clarityWisconsin DNR water monitoring, via the Water Quality Portal, checked Oct 23, 2026
- Measured temperatureWisconsin DNR water monitoring, via the Water Quality Portal, checked Oct 23, 2026
- Typical-year temperatureU.S. Geological Survey lake temperature model (modeled estimate), checked Oct 23, 2026
- Fish recordedOpen fish survey and museum records, via GBIF, checked Oct 23, 2026
- VHS statusWisconsin DNR VHS status by watershed, checked Oct 24, 2026
- Depth map linkWisconsin DNR lake maps list, checked Oct 24, 2026
See data sources for what each source covers, and about for how the numbers are matched to lakes.
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