HLPOA hosts the MDNR report by Mark Tonello assessing fish habitat, temperature stratification, and dissolved oxygen levels in Higgins Lake.

In his evaluation, Tonello found that Higgins Lake continues to support cold-water fish species such as lake trout, with dissolved oxygen levels in deep water generally sufficient to sustain the fishery. However, the study also noted that during summer stratification the band of water that is both cold and oxygen-rich can narrow, reducing the amount of optimal habitat available to deep-water fish. While suitable habitat remains present, this “habitat compression” highlights the importance of continued monitoring to ensure that dissolved oxygen levels do not decline further over time.

This nuance is important: the lake remains a high-quality cold-water system, but even subtle reductions in deep-water oxygen can limit habitat and place stress on sensitive species during peak summer conditions.