Roscommon County Lake Quality
Michigan, 6 lakes, average grade B (Good)
Only 6 lakes in Roscommon County carry an active grade. The county-level summary is therefore representative of those specific lakes, not necessarily of every water body in the county. With an average grade of B, Roscommon County sits comfortably above the Michigan median.
Most of the county's monitored lakes are shallow — under 50 feet — which means wind keeps the water column mixed all summer and sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the surface layer whenever the bottom is disturbed. Higgins Lake (A) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Roscommon County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Higgins Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or check the official Michigan fishing regulations.
Fishing in Roscommon County
All Lakes in Roscommon County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Higgins Lake | A | 34 ft | - |
| 2 | Higgins Lake East Basin | A | 35 ft | - |
| 3 | Higgins Lake Northwest Basin | A | 34.5 ft | - |
| 4 | Houghton Lake | B | 5 ft | - |
| 5 | Lake James | C | 6.8 ft | - |
| 6 | North Bay Houghton Lake | D | 4 ft | - |
Other Counties in Michigan
See how Roscommon County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 15 states.
Where to stay near Roscommon County
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.