Birch Island Lake - Nine Mile Creek Watershed District

Eden Prairie

ABOUT BIRCH ISLAND LAKE

Birch Island Lake, located just east of Purgatory Creek in Eden Prairie, is a shallow lake with vegetation that fills the lake’s bottom.

street map view of the Birch Island Lake area — Birch Island Lake, Eden Prairie

Water Quality

graph showing average phosphorus levels ranging from years 1989-2021 — Phosphorus levels in Birch Island Lake have historically been lower than today’s measurements which are worse the the state standard.

Water quality of Birch Island Lake is poor, with average nutrient levels higher than state standards for shallow lakes. Birch Island Lake does have a diverse range of aquatic plants present in the lake. There are a total of 12 different plant species. Typically the plant community in the western two thirds of the lake is primarily comprised of cattails and other wetland vegetation. However, heavy rainfall during June of 2014 raised the water level in the lake by 6 feet, causing cattails to die off. In 2015, the invasive species purple loosestrife was recorded in aquatic plant cataloging.

Printable Birch Island Lake Fact Sheet

showing average chorophyll-a levels ranging from years 1989-2021 — Most recent chlorophyll-a measurements have been worse than state standards.

graph showing average water clarity levels ranging from years 1989-2021 — Most recent water clarity measurements have been worse than state standards.

Current Studies

The District is currently conducting a lake water quality study to identify potential projects to help improve the overall health of the lake.

Learn more about the water quality study

Past Projects

In 2008, the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District installed a pipe to direct water from the area north of 62 into Birch Island Lake to help ease water levels that had been declining since the mid-1980s. The District also cleaned out and improved two existing stormwater basins and constructed a new stormwater pond to treat stormwater runoff prior to reaching Birch Island Lake to improve water quality. These projects were part of the larger Eden Prairie Lakes Water Quality Improvement Project.

For information about other past District projects, click here

Recreation

Nearby Birch Island Park has a hiking trail, picnic area, and playground. Birch Island Lake has canoe access.

Birch Island District Information and Walking Tour (PDF)

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources may have additional information on the lake (including fishing regulations; location; water access sites; lake maps; lake reports on stocking, ice in/out and water quality; fish consumption; and aquatic plant surveys) if so, that information can be found here:

www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/index.html

Downloadable water quality data can be found here: