Higgins Lake Property Owners Association

06/17/2026

06/12/2026

Higgins Lake Foundation will be at the Roscommon Farmer's Market handing out free well water testing kits on Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm.

06/12/2026

HIGGINS LAKE FOUNDATION:
Get Ready to BE WELL WISE this summer!
Starting today, June 10th-Sept. 30th, the Higgins Lake Foundation will be handing out FREE water testing kits to our neighbors in Beaver Creek, Lyon, and Gerrish Townships!
Why are we?
Bacteria and nitrates can hitch unwanted rides into groundwater, so the HLF's making it easier than ever to make sure your drinking water is perfectly safe for your family, pets, and guests.
How Can I Get a Test, Please?
-Pick up a free test kit at our Roscommon office
-Take a quick sample from your tap before filtering
-Return the sample, within 30 hrs., to Raven Labs for your personal water quality report
Protecting our health and preserving the Higgins Lake Watershed starts right at the tap!
Visit the Higgins Lake Foundation website for all the details:
https://www.higginslake-foundation.org/

05/16/2026

Higgins Lake is waking up from a long, cold, snowy winter, and it's ready to welcome everyone back — wherever you spent your winter months.

This beautiful sunrise on May 15, 2026, is a reminder that summer is on its way!

05/07/2026

Updates on the work being accomplished through the Health of Higgins Lake initiative are included in this latest edition of Committee Reflections. Because the March Steering Committee meeting was canceled due to the Northern Michigan ice storm, this newsletter includes updates covering both March and April. Please feel free to share these committee updates with others who may be interested in the ongoing efforts to protect and preserve Higgins Lake.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Health of Higgins Lake at [email protected].

If you or someone you know would like to be added to the HOHL email distribution list, please email [email protected].

05/07/2026

May 7, 2026, is Private Residential Well Awareness Day.

Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) declared Drinking Water Week May 3-9, 2026. Today, Thursday, May 7, is Private Residential Well Awareness Day. It is the responsibility of well owners to maintain and test their wells. Routine maintenance, inspections, and testing are your responsibility. For a Michigan Well Maintenance Checklist, go to: https://www.michigan.gov/egle/-/media/Project/Websites/mdhhs/Safety-and-Injury-Prevention/Environmental-Health/Care-for-MiWell/Documents/Care-for-MiWell-Maintenance-FINAL-2-26-25.pdf?rev=007f6f052c9d4255a952a149a70bbcbd&hash=CF4B037E83951D2EED24652C5C9F50DC

Have your drinking water checked once a year by a certified laboratory. Here are a couple of resources.

Raven Lab http://www.ravenwaterlab.com/ located in Roscommon, does well water evaluation and has fast sample turnaround.

State of Michigan, well water testing information can be found here: https://www.michigan.gov/egle/about/organization/drinking-water-and-environmental-health/water-well-construction/private-well-testing

For information about private residential well owners, lead in drinking water, PFAS in drinking water in Michigan, go to: https://www.michigan.gov/egle/about/organization/clean-water-public-advocate/drinking-water-week

Your HLPOA Board

Michigan recognizes national Drinking Water Week from May 5-11, 2024 . The Office of the Clean Water Public Advocate (OCWPA) collaborates with other state divisions and agencies in using this week to educate the public on where their drinking water comes from, how to find out about their water quali...

04/28/2026

The April Ripple Effect continues the conversation on Aquatic Invasive Species. As the summer boating season begins, the Science Subcommittee urges all boaters to Clean, Drain, and Dry their boats before and after every launch. Read and share Ripple Effect Part III.

04/22/2026

The Higgins Lake Property Owners Association Board and volunteers have been busy throughout the winter months. Take a look at the Spring 2026 HLPOA Newsletter for the latest updates on all HLPOA has been working on.

04/16/2026

HLPOA Challenge to Higgins Lake Special Assessment District

The Higgins Lake Property Owners Association (HLPOA) is continuing its two-track challenge to the Higgins Lake Special Assessment District (SAD). On Tuesday, March 31, 2026, attorney Phil Ellison, representing the HLPOA and approximately 600 like-minded Higgins Lake residents, filed an appellate brief in Roscommon Circuit Court opposing the SAD.

This brief raises the same issues that were previously presented to the appellate court on August 6, 2025. At that time, the court determined for the first time, under Michigan law, that such a challenge was too early and should instead be brought after the assessments against Higgins Lake residents were issued. Our attorney disagrees, and that Court of Appeals' decision is before the Michigan Supreme Court. The Counties, nevertheless, still decided to go forward with imposing the special assessment. Those assessments were included in the winter 2025 tax bills for residents of Gerrish and Lyon Townships. Based on the intermediate appellate court’s guidance (despite still being challenged at the Supreme Court), this is now an appropriate time for these arguments to finally be heard and decided.

Anyone interested is encouraged to review the brief, which clearly outlines the arguments being made about how the Counties are violating the law of special assessments.

To view the brief filed on March 31, 2026, please use the following link:
http://olcplc.com/s/dIHYe

To read the related press release, visit the Outside Legal Counsel website at:
http://olcplc.com/s/dB9SN

Roscommon County has until the end of April to file their arguments in response. While it is not yet known when the case will be heard by the Roscommon Circuit Court, the HLPOA will share updates as soon as that information becomes available.

To review the brief filed with the Michigan Supreme Court on January 25th, please use the following link:
http://olcplc.com/s/cWHnR

03/15/2026

Welcome to The March 2026 Ripple Effect Part 1. This newsletter provides information on invasive species found in Higgins Lake. Learn to identify the invasive species impacting our beautiful lake.