1098: Integrating satellite data analysis into a water quality
monitoring program
Abstract
Water quality monitoring is an integral tool in the management of
freshwater resources. It identifies trends in water quality and tracks
the effects of anthropogenic influences such as shoreline development
and eutrophication and the successes of restoration actions. Remote
sensing presents a cost efficient complementary approach for a more
comprehensive assessment of our freshwater resources. The open access to
Earth observation data limits the costs to software maintenance and data
processing costs and makes the integration of remote sensing into water
quality monitoring programs more attractive for natural resources
management agencies. The operational annual satellite retrieval of the
water clarity for thousands of lakes across Wisconsin from Landsat 7
ETM+ and Landsat 8 OLI-TIRS data assists the Wisconsin DNR in trophic
state assessments for the State of Wisconsin. The results are shared
within the Wisconsin DNR for the Wisconsin Water Quality Reports to
Congress in compliance with Section 305(b) of the Clean Water Act and
with state and local water quality managers, lake organizations, and the
public. Summer water clarity maps are shared through the Wisconsin Lakes
& Aquatic Invasive Species Mapping Tool and GIS data portal. Current
remote sensing activities at the Wisconsin DNR include the transition of
image processing efforts from a desktop to cloud environment, the
collection of field and satellite match-up data for waterbodies across
Wisconsin to support algorithm development and validation efforts by
external partners, and the development of strategies for the integration
of satellite data products into our water quality monitoring program.
This poster provides insights in the different components of the
successful integration of satellite data analysis into our water quality
monitoring program and can serve as a roadmap for natural resources
management agencies.