Birch Lake dam
Birch Lake
Birch Lake, located in Minnesota, is a picturesque reservoir formed by a rockfill dam completed in 1922 on the Kawishiwi River. With a surface area of 7,624 acres and a maximum storage capacity of 39,680 acre-feet, this dam primarily serves recreational purposes for water and climate enthusiasts. The controlled spillway with a width of 162 feet ensures efficient water management and flood risk reduction in the area.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Birch Lake has a low hazard potential and a very high risk assessment rating. Despite not having a detailed condition assessment available, the dam undergoes regular inspections every three years. Its emergency action plan was last revised in December 2019, demonstrating a commitment to ensuring the safety and integrity of this vital water resource. For those interested in fish and wildlife preservation, flood risk management, and recreational activities, Birch Lake offers a serene and well-maintained environment to explore and enjoy.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Birch Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Kawishiwi R Abv White Iron Lake Nr Ely | 1,280 cfs | → |
| South Kawishiwi River Near Ely | 739 cfs | → |
| Kawishiwi River Near Ely | 418 cfs | → |
| Basswood River Near Winton | 3,340 cfs | → |
| Vermilion River Nr Crane Lake | 756 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Birch Lake .
Boat launches
- Fr 183 Lake County
- Shagawa Road West Ely
- Fernberg Road Lake County
- Country Club Road 8699, Saint Louis County
- Saint Louis County
- Lake County
Campgrounds
- South Kawishiwi River Campground
- South Kawishiwi River
- Birch Lake
- Birch Lake Campground & Backcountry Sites
- Bear Island Lake
- August Lake
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Wolf Bay Of Lake Vermilion To Section 26, T65n, R17w
- Bwcaw Boundary To Confluence With Plouff Creek
- Section 26, T65n, R17w To Section 31, T66n, R17w
- North Temperance Lake In T63n, R4w To Bwcaw Boundary In T62n, R4w
- Confluence With Plouff Creek To Lake Superior In T59n, R4w
- Section 31, T66n, R17w To Crane Lake
Track Birch Lake in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Birch Lake
Where does the data for Birch Lake come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Birch Lake .