Higgins Lake Evaluation Project

Location: Roscommon County

Project Status: Current

Project Goals:

  • Involve stakeholders in discussions to determine concerns with removing the Higgins Lake dam.
  • Determine the extent to which the Cut River’s flow capacity is restricted by road crossings, culverts, or other structures.
  • Estimate the original bottom elevation of Higgins Lake at the discharge into the Cut River (currently rock fill covers the area).
  • Estimate Cut River flows and Higgins Lake surface water levels and annual fluctuations under normal, dry, and wet conditions.
  • Estimate how changes in Cut River flows will affect downstream areas.
  • Evaluate potential shoreline habitat (wetlands, vegetation types, gravel bottom, etc) gains or losses in Higgins Lake under variable surface water level conditions.
  • Evaluate shoreline erosion potential in Higgins Lake under variable surface water level conditions.
  • Evaluate navigation and boat dockage changes under variable surface water level conditions, including boat ramps and marinas and potential needs for dredging and dock extensions.
  • Evaluate expected changes in groundwater levels under the proposed new variable surface water level conditions.
  • Evaluate likely impacts of the dam removal on lake and river fishery resources.

New project timeline:
Review Data – Spring 2012/Summer 2012
Field Work – Summer 2012 & 2013
Stakeholder Survey – (didn’t get online until spring 2013)
Annual Report – April 2013 (see link below)
Hydrologic Computer Model – projected to be completed in spring 2014
Habitat Computer Model – projected to be completed in summer 2014
Final report – June 2015
Scientific manuscripts/presentations – Summer 2015

***This project has been extended through June 2015. The final report will be published on this page as soon as it have been reviewed by the DNR.***