Higgins Lake Northwest Basin is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Roscommon County, Michigan. Water quality is graded A based on 1 sampling years through 2023. The lake supports 12 documented fish species including Blacknose shiner, Bluntnose minnow, and Brook trout. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Roscommon County, Higgins Lake Northwest Basin ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Michigan DNR, last sampled 2023-09-05. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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 34.5 ft down. Trophic State Index: 26.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 34.5 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 26 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Higgins Lake Northwest Basin
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Higgins Lake Northwest Basin
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.5 m/yr | 2 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Higgins Lake Northwest Basin averages about 60°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Aug (about 64°F) and coldest in May (about 49°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 1,583 field readings (2010–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Higgins Lake Northwest Basin water temperature breakdown →
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 6 lakes in Roscommon County
Nearby Lakes in Roscommon County
Explore Higgins Lake Northwest 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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Other Grade A Lakes in Michigan
Crawford County · Clarity: 16 ft
Crawford County · Clarity: 16 ft
Crawford County · Clarity: 19 ft
Crawford County · Clarity: 19 ft
Kalkaska County · Clarity: 36.5 ft
Kalkaska County · Clarity: 19 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