Water＇s　Inherent　Optical　Properties　(IOPs),　including　the　absorption　and　scattering　coefficients　of　the　water　components,　are　essential　parameters　for　a　bio-optical　model.　It　is　also　important　for　the　retrieval　of　water　quality　using　the　semi-analytical　method.　Nevertheless,　the　application　of　bio-optical　models　in　river　water　studies　is　still　very　rare.　Therefore,　taking　the　lower　Jin　River　of　Fujian,　SE　China　as　an　example,　we　measured　and　computed　the　bio-optical　properties　and　the　suspended　solids　concentrations　of　the　river　water　based　on　in　situ　water　samples　collected　from　the　river　on　March　5,　2008.　This　revealed　that　R(0-)TM2　was　most　strongly　correlated　with　suspended　solids　concentrations.　Accordingly,　a　retrieval　model　for　estimating　SS　was　developed　using　R　(0-)TM2.　Application　of　this　bio-optical　model　to　the　Landsat　TM　image　dated　on　Feb.　28,　2008　yielded　a　SS　model　for　the　TM　data　of　the　Jin　River.　The　Relative　Error　(RE)　of　the　model　is　11.93%.　This　result　indicates　that　the　model　can　effectively　retrieve　the　SS　of　the　Jin　River.