June 7, 2007

Our nation's lakes will be undergoing a check-up this summer as the United States Environmental Protection Agency initiates a survey of the condition of lakes across the country. The goal of the survey is to determine what percentages of the nation's lakes, ponds, and reservoirs are in good, fair, or poor condition. A "stress test" will also be performed to examine the relative importance of nutrients, non-native species, lakeshore development, pathogens, and other stressors on lake conditions. Michigan will join with the EPA to assist in this effort.

A total of 909 lakes, representing 5 size classes and distributed across the lower 48 states are included in the survey. Michigan has 29 target lakes in the survey and will enhance the project by including 21 additional randomly selected lakes for a Michigan-specific perspective. Several of the lakes already have ongoing monitoring through the Department of Environmental Quality's statewide Lake Water Quality Assessment monitoring program and the DEQ's volunteer Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program, which is part of Governor Jennifer M. Granholm's Michigan Clean Water Corps citizen's water quality monitoring network.

The data collected in these efforts will be used to supplement the national lakes survey and provide background data for interpretation. Side-by-side sampling will be conducted on the survey lakes that have CLMP volunteer monitors on them to compare methods and results as well as to provide education and awareness about the survey and the need to protect lake quality.

The DEQ is planning to use the national lakes survey effort to complement and enhance its own lake monitoring and assessment efforts and to build capacity for continued inland lakes monitoring in Michigan.

Results of the national lakes survey will be analyzed and compiled during 2008, with a final report issued in 2009. The EPA has established a Web site for the national lakes survey at: http://www.epa.gov/owow/lakes/lakessurvey. A list of the lakes being surveyed in Michigan can be found at www.michigan.gov/deqwb, and then click on "Assessment of Michigan Waters."

Editor's note: DEQ news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

 "Protecting Michigan's Environment, Ensuring Michigan's Future"

Revised June 7, 2007 by Pat Watson