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Learn about Water Quality Monitoring

WRD Biologist sampling E. coli
Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

Learn about Water Quality Monitoring

Water resources in Michigan are everywhere, and monitoring the quality of these resources is vital to ensuring a high quality of life for future generations. Water quality monitoring is fundamental to understanding the environment around us and is an essential component of the Water Resources Division (WRD) mission.  Monitoring tells us the what, where, and when of environmental issues.  Without water quality monitoring, we wouldn’t know what pollutants are in a water body, where you can eat the fish, and when the beaches are safe for swimming.

EGLE works alongside local partners to monitor the chemical, physical, and biological components of Michigan surface waters, including Great Lakes, rivers, and streams, inland lakes, and wetlands. Understanding the status of our waterways helps EGLE determine where and how to best protect and restore them.

Learn more about Water Quality Standards in Michigan.

Monitoring programs

Sandy beach shoreline with lake and forest

Beach monitoring

Local officials regularly monitor public beaches to make sure the water is safe to swim and play in.

An EGLE staff person sitting on a boat on a lake with sampling equipment

Fish monitoring

Since the 1980's, Michigan's fish have been monitored for many different potential contaminants. This data is used to determine if fish from lakes and streams are safe to eat.

Inland Lake in Michigan

Inland lakes monitoring

Michigan's inland lakes are monitored by EGLE as well as many local organizations, local and state agencies, and federal agencies. This generates a lot of water quality data that helps the state manage these resources. 

Rendering of River Park after the daylighting of the Rouge River in Northville.

Rivers and streams monitoring

Monitoring to assess Michigan's more than 76,000 miles of rivers and streams is a major focus of EGLE's monitoring strategy. 

Get involved in water quality monitoring

The Michigan Clean Water Corps (or MiCorps) provides opportunities for volunteers to contribute to Michigan's monitoring strategy by providing grants, technical assistance, and training to collect reliable, high-quality data for lakes and streams.

Learn more about MiCorps
Volunteers learn how to identify aquatic plants at the annual CLMP training event. Courtesy of MiCorps.
long reservoirs of water under metal railings at sunset
long reservoirs of water under metal railings at sunset

Curious about your local waterway?

How’s My Waterway  was designed to provide the general public with information about the condition of their local waters based on data that states, federal, tribal, local agencies and others have provided to EPA. Water quality information is displayed on 3 scales in How’s My Waterway; community, state and national. 

Learn more about your waterway

Explore more!

EGLE displays a lot of the monitoring data we collect in interactive maps. Explore some of the data you are interested in by visiting any of the following: 

Invasive Species Zebra Mussels

Aquatic invasive species monitoring in Michigan

This story map describes how Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) monitors and manages aquatic invasive species (AIS) throughout the state. 

Rapid biological monitoring sites sampled on the Silver River, Keweenaw County, 2021

Biological monitoring of Michigan’s rivers and streams

This story map details some of monitoring methods used to ensure our surface waters meet water quality standards, and is safe for public, and protects aquatic and wildlife communities.

E. coli monitoring from bridge

Michigan's statewide E. coli Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)

This application illustrates Michigan's watersheds for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) approved Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs).

Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB)

Harmful Algal Bloom vulnerability in Michigan

This application is sought to create a measure of population vulnerability to harmful algal blooms (HABs) in Michigan. 

Still need assistance?

  • Pollution Emergency Alerting System (PEAS)

    An environmental emergency is a sudden threat to public health or the well-being of the environment from the release or potential release of oil, radioactive materials, or hazardous chemicals into the air, land, or water.

  • Targeted monitoring request

    Do you still have concerns about a lake, river, or stream?  Consider submitting a monitoring request.