Birch Lake offers several excellent outdoor recreational opportunities for year-round enjoyment of the project.

Cradled in valleys surrounded by Osage County's rolling, forested hills, Birch Lake is a perfect setting for nature lovers and other outdoor enthusiasts. The general character of the small lake's shoreline ranges from gentle to steep slopes with numerous sandstone outcrops. The hilltops and upper slopes are generously forested with small hardwood trees, primarily post oak, blackjack oak, hickory, hackberry, and elm. In the damsite area, the terrain is semirugged, with the maximum relief being about 100 feet.

The area's plant life represents a transition zone of the cross timbers forest, oak-hickory forest, tallgrass prairie, and bottom-land plants and shrub. Several species of grasses and numerous colorful flowering species are particularly beautiful in spring and fall.

Fishing - Fish species available for the angler include largemouth bass, walleye, spotted bass, smallmouth bass, hybrid striped bass, black and white crappie, channel and flathead catfish, and varies species of sunfish.

Hunting - Principal game species for hunting enthusiasts include bobwhite quail, mourning dove, fox squirrel, gray squirrel, cottontail rabbit, and whitetail deer.

Picnic and Recreation - Three park areas located around the lake offer the public many opportunities for outdoor family fun and relaxation. These park areas have campsites, picnic areas, drinking water, restrooms, charcoal grills and boat launching ramps.

Boating - Boating on the lake is in accordance with state boating laws and Corps of Engineers regulations. Regulations governing operational requirements of boats may be obtained from the Skiatook Lake Office or from the Tulsa District Office.