Cass County · Michigan

Birch Lake

Soundings in feet · 282 acres · deepest 80 ft

Where it is

4 miles southeast of Vandalia

Cass County, Michigan · 41.8778° N, 85.8564° W

Show on Google Maps

The Michigan DNR lists no public access site on Birch Lake; much of the shore may be private.

Today on the lake

Updated 10 Oct 2026, 1:17 am EDT. Get alerts for Birch Lake

WEATHEROvernight: partly cloudy, 57°F, wind SE 10 mph. Saturday: partly sunny, 77°F, wind SE 5 to 10 mph.

WARNINGSNo weather or fire warnings in effect.

FIRENo wildfires or prescribed burns reported within 25 miles.

BURNINGCampfires and debris burning: check today's status with Michigan DNR.

ALGAENo cyanobacteria detected by satellite on 5 Oct 2026, the latest clear-sky image.

National Weather Service; National Interagency Fire Center; U.S. EPA CyAN satellite; Michigan DHHS; Michigan DNR. Weather, warnings, fires and satellite refresh when you open the page (checked at most hourly).

Depth map

10 contours, 5 to 80 ft

05102030405060657080feet

Michigan DNR survey, fetched 7 Oct 2026. Not for navigation.

Size and depth

282 acres · deepest 80 ft (measured) · shoreline about 2.9 mi · clarity about 12 ft

Birch Lake is the 8th largest of the 98 named lakes of 10 acres or more in Cass County. By Michigan DNR survey it is the deepest of the 31 with a measured depth. Its water is clearer than 63 of the other 76 lakes in the county with satellite clarity readings. Its shoreline measures about 2.9 miles along the state outline. About 54% of its area is deeper than 40 ft.

Ranks against Cass County lakes in Michigan hydrography, Michigan DNR lake surveys and Michigan EGLE satellite clarity; shoreline measured from the state outline. How we measure

Fishing

Michigan DNR has stocked Birch Lake 46 times since 1979. The most recent stocking was 3,100 rainbow trout on 31 March 2026. Species stocked: rainbow trout.

46 stockings, 1979 to 2026, log scale

Latest: 31 Mar 2026: 3,100 rainbow trout.

31 Mar 2026STOCKED3,100 rainbow trout

7 Apr 2025STOCKED3,100 rainbow trout

1 Apr 2024STOCKED3,249 rainbow trout

4 Apr 2023STOCKED2,800 rainbow trout

11 Apr 2022STOCKED2,950 rainbow trout

8 Apr 2021STOCKED2,950 rainbow trout

Source: Michigan DNR Fisheries, fetched 7 Oct 2026. How we measure

Where the deep water is

Show water deeper than

Measured from Michigan DNR contours. How we measure

Historically recorded species, from records through 1990: lake herring. Historic records, not a current survey.

Michigan Fish Atlas.

Water quality

Average water clarity is about 12 ft (Secchi depth 3.8 m, satellite readings 2018–23).

Clarity 12.4 ft of 80 ft

Michigan EGLE satellite clarity, fetched 7 Oct 2026.

Email me about Birch LakeWhen it is stockedMichigan DNR has stocked Birch Lake 46 times since 1979, most recently 3,100 rainbow trout on 31 March 2026. 1 stocking so far in 2026.When algae is reported or testedMichigan DHHS has no records for this lake yet. We email when the first one is posted.When satellite sees a bloom startEPA satellite, checked daily, June to October. We email when a bloom first shows on two clear days, not every day it stays. It has not happened in 2026.Any lake in Cass CountyStockings and algae records on every lake in the county. In 2026 so far: 6 emails.

In 2026 so far, these alerts would have sent you 1 email about Birch Lake: 31 Mar.

Email address

At most one email a week per lake. We email you a link to confirm before any alert is sent; every email has a one-click unsubscribe.

The area around Birch Lake

34 other lakes of 10+ acres within about 6 miles of Birch Lake, 5 with a page here (darker blue). Sources: Michigan DNR, US Census Bureau.

Nearby lakes with measured depth

Birch Lake Mill Pond9 ft deep · 0.6 mi · Cass County

Chain Lake42 ft deep · 2.2 mi · Cass County

Shavehead Lake70 ft deep · 2.3 mi · Cass County

Donnell Lake60 ft deep · 2.7 mi · Cass County

Bair Lake7 ft deep · 2.9 mi · Cass County

Paradise Lake50 ft deep · 2.9 mi · Cass County

Michigan DNR survey; straight-line miles.

Common questions

How deep is Birch Lake?

Birch Lake is 80 feet at its deepest point, measured by Michigan DNR survey. It covers 282 acres.

Is Birch Lake stocked with fish?

Yes. Michigan DNR has stocked it 46 times since 1979, most recently 3,100 rainbow trout on 31 March 2026.

How much of Birch Lake is deeper than 10 feet?

About 77% of the lake's area is deeper than 10 feet, measured from Michigan DNR depth contours.