Current Drought Conditions

• Waterwatch Drought (USGS) - United States and Michigan
• U.S. Drought Monitor (NOAA) - United States and Michigan

Predicting Water Clarity Overview

Lake Water-Clarity Assessment for Michigan Inland Lakes

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), has been monitoring the quality of inland lakes in Michigan through the Lake Water Quality Assessment monitoring program. This program is funded through the Michigan Clean Michigan Initiative, and the USGS Cooperative Program. However, only a portion of Michigan's inland lakes can be conventionally sampled each year. A technique was developed by USGS, modeled after Olmanson and others (2001), to predict water clarity and corresponding trophic state index (TSI) values based on the Carlson's Trophic State Index (TSI) in inland lakes greater than 20 acres using satellite remote sensing data.