The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are collecting samples from more than a dozen lakes and ponds in Maine this month as part of a water quality study.

The EPA’s New England Regional Laboratory is collecting data on water and sediment chemistry, habitat characteristics, chlorophyll, zooplankton and aquatic plants.

The data will be used as part of a multi-year study on water quality and ecological conditions in lakes, ponds and reservoirs throughout New England.

On Wednesday, scientists collected samples from Lake Wood in Bar Harbor and Sebastacook Lake in Newport. On Thursday, crews were working on South Mud Pond in Wells and Trues Pond in Montville.

The following other ponds will also be sampled:

. Otter Pond in Wells and Howard Pond in Hanover on Aug. 3.

. Middle Chain Lake in Hancock County and Spring Lake in Eustis on Aug. 7.

. Peaked Mountain Pond in Centerville and Fourth Machias Lake in Washington County on Aug. 8.

. Goose Pond in Lucerne and Pleasant Lake in Topsfield on Aug. 9.

. Halfmile Pond in Amherst and Duck Lake in the Down East region on Aug. 10.