Water chemistry and aquatic vegetation data from Les Cheneaux Islands, Northern Lake Huron, Michigan, USA, 2016-2018

Remote sensing approaches that could identify species of submerged
aquatic vegetation (SAV) and measure their extent in lake littoral
zones would greatly enhance their study and management, especially
if they can provide faster or more accurate results than traditional
field methods. Remote sensing with multispectral sensors can provide
this capability, but SAV identification with this technology must
address the challenges of light extinction in aquatic environments
where chlorophyll, dissolved organic carbon, and suspended minerals
can affect water clarity and the strength of the sensed light
signal. Here, we present environmental data collected to support a
study using an unmanned aerial system (UAS)-enabled methodology to
identify the extent of the invasive SAV species Myriophyllum spicatum (Eurasian watermilfoil,
or EWM) in the Les Cheneaux Islands area of northwestern Lake Huron,
Michigan, USA. Data collected includes water chemistry (nitrogen,
phosphorus, carbon, suspended solids, chlorophyll a), light
profiles, and submerged aquatic vegetation characteristics including
cover, species dominance using aquatic vegetation survey methods
(AVAS), and biomass.