Suspended sediment concentration (SSC) is one of important indicators for describing water quality, and obtaining its spatial and temporal distribution information is necessary for understanding, managing and protecting lake ecosystems. This study aimed to developed the Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) image-based SSC retrieval model for Lake Poyang, used the model to predict the SSC of Lake Poyang during the flood period from 2000 to 2007, analyzed its spatial and temporal change characteristics and further discussed the causes to induce these changes. The results revealed that: the red band of MODIS Terra was significantly related to the SSC (R2= 0.92, s.e.=12.02mg/L, F=154.30, P<0.001), and it may be applied to retrieve the SSC of Lake Poyang during the flood period. The SSC of Lake Poyang showed clear spatial and temporal distribution characteristics from 2000 to 2007, while the SSC had no clear change in the south, increased in the north and fluctuated largely in the centre of the lake. The dredging activities in the northern Lake Poyang was the main cause inducing the increased SSC in this region, and mixed with water backflow from the Yangtze River to Lake Poyang which resulted in the fluctuation of SSC in the centre. Non-significant changeof sediments from Rivers Fuhe, Xinjiang and Raohe caused the non-significant change of SSC in the south lake