[4] With the cooperation of the Huron Mountain Club, specimens were first collected by Carl Leavitt Hubbs and Walter Koelz in 1924 and 1927.

Koelz claimed that the Ives Lake cisco was easily distinguishable from Coregonus artedi due to the long gill rakers of C. hubbsi.

[4] There has been scientific disagreement on whether or not the Ives Lake cisco is a distinct species from the widespread C. artedi; hence there is no consensus on the conservation status.

[3] A 2005 report from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources recommended that the Ives Lake cisco be removed from the list of "special-concern" species.

[3] However, a 2013 report from the same publisher gave the Ives Lake cisco a "critically imperiled" G-rank and S-rank for conservation status, and listed the fish as "extremely vulnerable" to climate change.