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Inland Lakes Monitoring Strategy

Inland Lakes Monitoring Strategy

Contact: Sarah Holden 517-342-4083

Inland Lakes Monitoring Strategy

As more and more people use Michigan lakes and surrounding watersheds, the potential for pollution problems and use impairment increases. Reliable information, including water quality data, levels of use, and use impairment, are essential for current and future management of these resources. 

Specific objectives for inland lake monitoring are:

  1. Assess the status of trophic conditions, water quality, and habitat of inland lakes.
  2. Determine whether inland lake trophic conditions, water quality, and habitat are changing with time.
  3. Support watershed, lake management, and regulatory programs and determine their effectiveness.
  4. Identify high quality inland lakes.
  5. Identify inland lakes that are not meeting WQS, including those affected by nuisance or harmful algal blooms.
  6. Identify emerging problems in inland lakes, including the presence and impacts of AIS.

The Inland Lakes Monitoring Strategy details many current and historic programs used to meet these objectives.  Ongoing activities include:

Maps of Michigan's five-year rotating watershed system, as described by Michigan's Water Quality Monitoring Strategy: