The Lake Pulse Foundational Database (LPFD) is a single, standardized national database covering nearly 500,000 lakes across all fifty states, including nearly *all ponds/lakes over 2 acres, and roughly 75,000 'larger' lakes larger than 20 acres. (*Lakes in Alaska and Hawaii categorized differently) It contains over 14 million data points from diverse sources, organized into three complementary data components: Lake Vital Signs (dynamic, time-series measurements like water level, temperature, and nutrients), Lake Profile (stable structural attributes such as depth, area, and watershed characteristics), and Field Observations (episodic, qualitative data like algal blooms, shoreline erosion, and invasive species sightings). Together, these components provide Lake Pulse subscribers with a comprehensive foundation to monitor, manage, and protect the health and safety of the lakes they care about. The 3 categories are:
- Lake Vital Signs – “Track the lake’s heartbeat” These are the dynamic, time-sensitive measurements that show a lake’s current condition and risk, like heart rate or blood pressure in medicine. Examples include water level, temperature profiles, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, nutrients (TP, TN, chlorophyll-a), and inflow/outflow rates. Tracking these over time helps managers detect changes early, forecast trends, and make operational decisions.
- Lake Profile – “Know the lake’s DNA” These are the stable structural and physical characteristics that define how a lake behaves, similar to age or genetics in humans. Examples include lake area, depth, volume, bathymetry, watershed size, shoreline length, dam structures, and elevation or climate zone. Understanding these baselines provides context for interpreting Vital Signs and designing effective interventions.
- Field Observations – “Spot what numbers can’t” These are qualitative, episodic, or visual data—like clinical observations or reported symptoms—that provide context and identify issues beyond routine measurements. Examples include photos of shoreline erosion, algal blooms, invasive species sightings, field notes, incident reports, and drone imagery. They complement both Vital Signs and the Lake Profile to guide diagnosis and response.
Managing Core Lake Data
Accurate measurements, reliable decisions
The quality and accuracy of Lake Vital Signs (time-series measurements) and Lake Profile (lake characteristics) data in the LPFD are of the highest priority. All data comes from trusted, high-quality sources—including local lake administrators—and undergoes a rigorous set of quality control steps before being validated for inclusion. This QC process is guided by business rules developed by experienced lake management experts, ensuring that only verified, reliable data enters the database. Subscribers who wish to update their lake’s file work through the Lake Pulse Boathouse, which reviews alerts for missing or incorrect data and validates updates before they go live. This structured process maintains data integrity for these two core categories, while Field Observations remain outside Lake Pulse’s control and are managed locally by each lake’s administrator to oversee stakeholder contributions.
A Single Lake File
Transparency, trust, and collaboration for every stakeholder
Having a centralized, standardized data file for your lake provides a single source of truth that increases transparency, builds trust, and encourages collaboration among all stakeholders, including local managers, community members, and state agencies. By bringing together validated Vital Signs, Lake Profile attributes, and even Field Observations (when contributed locally), the LPFD allows everyone to see the full picture of a lake’s health and status. At the same time, a central database highlights where information may be missing or incomplete, helping lake administrators identify data gaps and prioritize monitoring or updates. This makes decision-making more informed, coordinated, and effective across the entire lake community.