Higgins Lake East Basin is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Roscommon County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 11 documented fish species including Creek chub, Johnny darter, and Northern pike. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Roscommon County, Higgins Lake East Basin ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-05. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Higgins Lake East Basin water quality
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 35 ft down. Chlorophyll-a: 1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 28.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 35 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 28 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Higgins Lake East Basin
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Higgins Lake East Basin
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.75 m/yr | 2 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Higgins Lake East Basin averages about 61°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 64°F) and coldest in May (about 50°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 1,540 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Higgins Lake East Basin water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 6 lakes in Roscommon County
Nearby Lakes in Roscommon County
Explore Higgins Lake East Basin across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Michigan
Fish species and best lakes in Roscommon County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
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More Michigan Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Crawford County · Clarity: 19 ft
Crawford County · Clarity: 19 ft
Crawford County · Clarity: 16 ft
Crawford County · Clarity: 16 ft
Gladwin County · Clarity: 16.5 ft
Kalkaska County · Clarity: 36.5 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Michigan
More records, surveys & data sources
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2023-09-05
Monitoring stations: 1