Before remote sensing can be used reliably for measuring lake water quality, studies must be conducted to develop techniques appropriate for the types of lakes found in a given region. The New England Lakes & Ponds (NELP) project provided a unique opportunity to develop the use of remote sensing technology to monitor water bodies in the region through collaborations among EPA, state agencies, and academia. Remote sensing technology has the potential to combine current monitoring efforts with satellite and aerial imagery to provide a more comprehensive lake monitoring program than is possible through traditional lake sampling. If properly developed and implemented, remote sensing methods can make accurate water quality measurements, even in the absence of matching lake sampling data on a given day, greatly expanding the number of lakes that can be monitored and increasing the frequency of monitoring.
