Huron Pines > Higgins Lake Watershed Management

The Higgins Lake Watershed is well known Picture 1 (220 x 270)

for camping, fishing, hiking, hunting, skiing, swimming, boating, SCUBA diving, and various other water activities and has been identified as one of the fastest growing areas in Michigan. Due to the extensive demands on the resources of the watershed it is vital that protective land and water management policies are in place to ensure the quality of the environment with the watershed is maintained.

The stakeholders in the Higgins Lake Watershed recognize the need of sound watershed management practices in order to maintain the integrity of this high quality resource. The following goals were established to address this need as well as respond to the concerns about threats to water quality.

Watershed Goals:

Reduce the amount of nutrients and contaminants from sources within the critical areas of the watershed.
Institute responsible land use practices within the watershed.
Protect habitat diversity within the watershed by monitoring and reducing aquatic nuisance species.
Protect shoreline habitats by reducing erosion.
Work to ensure the availability of high-quality recreational activities within the watershed and that these activities are conducted in such a way so as to not degrade the integrity of the watershed.
Facilitate continued efforts by the Higgins Lake Watershed Partnership to ensure implementation of the plan and coordinate funding proposals.

Example pollutant sources for the Higgins Lake Watershed include such things as:

Septic Systems
Road Runoff
Shoreline Erosion
Fertilizer Use
Lakeshore Development
Invasive Exotic Species