Overview
Birch Lake is a 1,137-acre reservoir on Birch Creek in Osage County, about 1.5 miles south of Barnsdall and roughly 20 miles southwest of Bartlesville. It was completed for flood-control operation in 1977 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as part of the Verdigris River basin plan. Authorized purposes include flood control, water supply, water quality, recreation, and fish and wildlife.
The lake has about 31 miles of shoreline and a maximum depth near 53 feet, with an average depth of roughly 17 feet. Rolling Osage hills, timbered coves, and the old creek channel create a compact but varied basin that fishes larger than its acreage suggests.
Birch is known locally for hybrid striped bass stockings as well as largemouth bass, crappie, and catfish, with fisheries managed by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Corps recreation areas and public boat ramps provide access near Barnsdall.
Water levels are managed by the Corps around a conservation pool of 750.5 feet above mean sea level (NGVD29), with the flood-control pool extending to 774 feet. Levels respond to Birch Creek runoff and downstream Verdigris system needs, so checking current elevations helps with boating, fishing, and ramp use.
Current Conditions
Birch Lake is currently 1.29 feet below full pool and has fallen slightly over the past week.
- 7-day trendFallingLatest movement can differ from the seven-day trend.
- 7-day changeDown 0.30 ft
- 30-day changeDown 1.37 ft
- Drought conditionsSevere Drought
About This Lake
Learn how this lake is managed, what affects its water level, and where Lake Insights gets its data.
Birch Lake is a 1,137-acre reservoir on the Birch Creek managed by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.