Higgins Lake

Higgins Lake
from South State park beach
Location	Roscommon County, Michigan, United States
Coordinates	44°28′56″N 84°42′31″W / 44.48230°N 84.70871°W / 44.48230; -84.70871Coordinates: 44°28′56″N 84°42′31″W / 44.48230°N 84.70871°W / 44.48230; -84.70871
Primary inflows	Springs, precipitation, streams, Big Creek
Primary outflows	Cut River/Lake Marl
Catchment area	19,000 acres (7,700 ha)
Basin countries	United States
Max. length	7 mi (11 km)
Max. width	4 mi (6.4 km)
Surface area	9,900 acres (4,000 ha)
Average depth	44 ft (13 m)
Max. depth	135 ft (41 m)
Residence time	12.5 years
Surface elevation	1,155 feet (352 m)

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 (34 km). It is named after Sylvester Higgins, the 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 km) with a maximum depth of 135 feet (41 m). The mean depth is 44 feet (13 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 covers 19,000 acres (77 km²). The twin-lobed lake receives half of its water from submerged springs, six percent 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 mile north of the lake, water flows into the Lake Huron watershed.

Sportfish in the lake include yellow perch, trout, smelt and pike. Fish are taken both in open water and by ice fishing. Higgins Lake is considered a morphometrically oligotrophic lake, meaning that its large size causes it to appear and function as a nutrient-poor lake although it receives 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.