Based on 86 satellite-ground synchronous samples taken from four measurement campaigns in Lake Hongze in 2014~2015, a single band (671 nm) model was developed to estimate the suspended particulate matter (SPM). The model performed well (R2=0.74, RMSE=8.58 mg/L), with validation (R2=0.72, RMSE=11.98 mg/L). Then, 464 VIIRS images (2012~2015) were used to estimate SPM concentrations. The results show that the concentrations of SPM increase in the autumn and winter and decrease in the spring and summer. While it is higher in the east and central area of the lake than in the north and west sections of the lake. Inter-annual comparisons show a decrease of suspended particulate matter(SPM) over the short four year period. The visible/infrared imager radiometer suite(VIIRS) performs well in estimating SPM in Lake Hongze, allowing for an extension of MODIS analysis approaches and improving the remote sensing of inland lakes in the future.