National Lakes Assessment

Purpose/Objectives

The Environmental Institute of Houston conducted the National Lakes Assessment for Texas in the summer of 2017. The project was a national assessment coordinated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and was a statistical survey of the condition of the nation's lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. It is designed to provide information on the extent of lakes that support healthy biological condition and recreation, estimate how widespread major stressors are that impact lake quality, and provide insight into the condition of lakes nationwide over time.

Study Area

Texas

Project Period

2017

Description

The NLA is designed to provide statistically valid national and regional estimates of the condition of lakes. It uses a probability-based sampling design to represent the condition of all lakes across the coterminous United States. 

The NLA is designed to answer the following questions about lakes across the United States.

• What is the current biological, chemical, physical and recreational condition of lakes?
• What is the extent of degradation among lakes?
• Is degradation widespread (e.g., national) or localized (e.g., regional)?
• Is the condition of lakes getting better, worse, or staying the same over time?
• Which environmental stressors are most associated with degraded biological condition in lakes?

Project Sponsors

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Related links

EPA: National Lakes Assessment

National Lakes Assessment 2017 Results