Higgins Lake
Encyclopedia
Higgins Lake is a large recreational and fishing
lake
in Roscommon County
, in the U.S. state
of Michigan
. The 9,900 acre (40 km²) lake is known for its deep, clear waters and is the 10th largest in Michigan with a shoreline of 21 miles (33.8 km). It is named after Sylvester Higgins, Michigan's first chief of the topographical department of the Michigan Geological Survey. It has a maximum width of 4 miles (6.4 km) and a length of 7 miles (11.3 km) with a maximum depth of 135 feet (41.1 m). The mean depth is 44 feet (13.4 m) and the lake contains almost 20 billion cubic feet (570 million m³) of water. Its retention time is about 12.5 years. The lake's watershed cover 19,000 acres (77 km²). The twin-lobed lake receives half of its water from submerged spring
s, 6% from incoming streams and the remainder from direct rainfall and runoff. It drains into Marl Lake by the Cut River which runs into Houghton Lake
and eventually to Lake Michigan
. A mere mile north of the lake, water flows into the Lake Huron
watershed. Sportsfish in the lake include yellow perch
, trout
, smelt and pike
and are taken both in open water and by ice fishing
. Higgins Lake is considered a morphometrically oligotroph
ic lake, meaning that its large size causes it to appear and function as a nutrient-poor lake although it does receive a fair amount of nutrients.
Higgins Lake
is also the name of the post office for the area, with ZIP code
48627. This ZIP code includes several other small communities and locales along the shores of the lake, including (moving counter-clockwise around the lake) Hillcrest, Lyon Manor, Detroit Park, Cook Corner, Sharps Corner, Almeda Beach, Oak Grove, Ritz Corner, Pine Bluffs, Daytona-on-the-Lake and Cottage Grove. Since all have Higgins Lake as a postal address, they are often all considered as part of the Higgins Lake community. The lake is situated on the boundary between Lyon Township
on the west and Gerrish Township
on the east.
There are two state parks, South Higgins Lake State Park
, with a mile of shoreline, and North Higgins Lake State Park
, located, as might be expected from the names, on opposite ends of the lake. Both provide public boat launches and camping
, and are very popular in the summer months. The south park is older, larger, and more developed. The north park is located on what was once the world's largest seedling nursery, a part of the CCC
of the 1930s.
Centuries before European settlers came to North America, the Chippewa called the lake Majinabeesh, which means "sparkling water".
In recent years, the lake has become increasingly popular which has resulted in the introduction of foreign species and rapid lakefront build up which has resulted in some environmental changes. The most obvious change has been the introduction of zebra mussels. Zebra mussels have decimated the clam population and resulted in more vegetation growing on the bottom of the lake. Combined with an increased amount of phosphorus in the water due to the use of fertilizers from homeowners who have chosen to replace the native ground cover with sod and grass seed, residents have reported a changing ecology.
Residents at Higgins Lake have become more proactive in trying to protect the lake's ecology by lobbying for laws to enforce cleaning of boats before they can be put into the lake as well as programs to try to combat other foreign pests and intruders to preserve the natural ecology.
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in Roscommon County
Roscommon County, Michigan
-Local attractions and activities:The community is centered in the area of two very large lakes, in the middle of large state forests. Wildlife are nearby, including bear, deer, eagles, Kirtland's Warblers, and turkeys. Local attractions and activities include:...
, in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. The 9,900 acre (40 km²) lake is known for its deep, clear waters and is the 10th largest in Michigan with a shoreline of 21 miles (33.8 km). It is named after Sylvester Higgins, Michigan's first chief of the topographical department of the Michigan Geological Survey. It has a maximum width of 4 miles (6.4 km) and a length of 7 miles (11.3 km) with a maximum depth of 135 feet (41.1 m). The mean depth is 44 feet (13.4 m) and the lake contains almost 20 billion cubic feet (570 million m³) of water. Its retention time is about 12.5 years. The lake's watershed cover 19,000 acres (77 km²). The twin-lobed lake receives half of its water from submerged spring
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
s, 6% from incoming streams and the remainder from direct rainfall and runoff. It drains into Marl Lake by the Cut River which runs into Houghton Lake
Houghton Lake (Michigan)
Houghton Lake is a large lake in Roscommon County. The unincorporated community of Prudenville is at the southeastern end of the lake, while the unincorporated communities of Houghton Lake and Houghton Lake Heights are on the southwest and west shores...
and eventually to Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
. A mere mile north of the lake, water flows into the Lake Huron
Lake Huron
Lake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the larger portion of Lake Michigan-Huron. It is bounded on the east by the Canadian province of Ontario and on the west by the state of Michigan in the United States...
watershed. Sportsfish in the lake include yellow perch
Yellow perch
The yellow perch is a species of perch found in the United States and Canada, where it is often referred to by the shortform perch. Yellow perch look similar to the European perch, but are paler and more yellowish, with less red in the fins. They have six to eight dark, vertical bars on their sides...
, trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
, smelt and pike
Northern Pike
The northern pike , is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox...
and are taken both in open water and by ice fishing
Ice fishing
Ice fishing is the practice of catching fish with lines and fish hooks or spears through an opening in the ice on a frozen body of water. Ice anglers may sit on the stool in the open on a frozen lake, or in a heated cabin on the ice, some with bunks and amenities.-Locations:It is a popular pastime...
. Higgins Lake is considered a morphometrically oligotroph
Oligotroph
An oligotroph is an organism that can live in an environment that offers very low levels of nutrients. They may be contrasted with copiotrophs, which prefer nutritionally rich environments...
ic lake, meaning that its large size causes it to appear and function as a nutrient-poor lake although it does receive a fair amount of nutrients.
Higgins Lake
Higgins Lake, Michigan
Higgins Lake is a small unincorporated community along the southern and western shores of Higgins Lake, a recreational and fishing lake in Roscommon County, in the U.S. state of Michigan. Higgins Lake is the name of the post office for the area, with ZIP code 48627...
is also the name of the post office for the area, with ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
48627. This ZIP code includes several other small communities and locales along the shores of the lake, including (moving counter-clockwise around the lake) Hillcrest, Lyon Manor, Detroit Park, Cook Corner, Sharps Corner, Almeda Beach, Oak Grove, Ritz Corner, Pine Bluffs, Daytona-on-the-Lake and Cottage Grove. Since all have Higgins Lake as a postal address, they are often all considered as part of the Higgins Lake community. The lake is situated on the boundary between Lyon Township
Lyon Township, Roscommon County, Michigan
Lyon Township is a civil township of Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,462 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
on the west and Gerrish Township
Gerrish Township, Michigan
Gerrish Township is a civil township of Roscommon County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,072 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
on the east.
There are two state parks, South Higgins Lake State Park
South Higgins Lake State Park
South Higgins Lake State Park is a state park in Roscommon County, Michigan. It is situated between Higgins Lake and Marl Lake.-Facilities:* Beach House* Boat Launch* Boat Rental* Campground - 400 Sites* Picnic Area...
, with a mile of shoreline, and North Higgins Lake State Park
North Higgins Lake State Park
North Higgins Lake State Park is a state park located in Beaver Creek Township, Crawford County, just northwest of Roscommon, Michigan. It is located on the north shore of Higgins Lake and on what was once the world's largest seedling nursery....
, located, as might be expected from the names, on opposite ends of the lake. Both provide public boat launches and camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
, and are very popular in the summer months. The south park is older, larger, and more developed. The north park is located on what was once the world's largest seedling nursery, a part of the CCC
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
of the 1930s.
Centuries before European settlers came to North America, the Chippewa called the lake Majinabeesh, which means "sparkling water".
Environmental concerns
According to local legend, Higgins Lake was once rated by National Geographic as the 6th most beautiful lake in the world although National Geographic denies ever publishing such a ranking. Similar legends persist among property owners and locals around other nearby lakes, most notably Glen Lake in Leelanau County which claims to have been ranked first and Torch Lake in Antrim County, which claims to have been ranked third.In recent years, the lake has become increasingly popular which has resulted in the introduction of foreign species and rapid lakefront build up which has resulted in some environmental changes. The most obvious change has been the introduction of zebra mussels. Zebra mussels have decimated the clam population and resulted in more vegetation growing on the bottom of the lake. Combined with an increased amount of phosphorus in the water due to the use of fertilizers from homeowners who have chosen to replace the native ground cover with sod and grass seed, residents have reported a changing ecology.
Residents at Higgins Lake have become more proactive in trying to protect the lake's ecology by lobbying for laws to enforce cleaning of boats before they can be put into the lake as well as programs to try to combat other foreign pests and intruders to preserve the natural ecology.