These data have been collected as part of a cooperative project in between the U.S. Geological Survey Colorado Water Science Center, Colorado Springs Utility, and Colorado Springs Engineering. This project began in 2005 and has collected macroinvertebrate samples from Fountain Creek and its tributaries to monitor the biological condition of this watershed. Provided in this data release are Multimetric Index (MMI) values of aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblages using four different sampling methods. There are two subsets of these data included: (1) MMI values of macroinvertebrate data collected from 2010 to 2012 at 15 sites as part of an invertebrate sample method comparison Scientific Investigations Report (SIR) titled “Comparability among Four Invertebrate Sampling Methods and the Recalibrated Multimetric Index Values, Fountain Creek Basin, Colorado, 2010 – 2012”, and (2) all the MMI values from macroinvertebrate data collected at 34 sites from 2005 to 2016. This USGS data release contains all the data and files to reproduce results of the SIR. Data preparation of these data files is fully described in the SIR.

Invertebrate, fish, and habitat data were collected as part of a cooperative project that began in 2002 between the U.S. Geological Survey, Colorado Springs Utilities, and Colorado Springs Engineering. Other entities have contributed to the project through the years including Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Invertebrate samples were collected and analyzed at 34 sites – 32 sites in the Fountain Creek Basin as well as two sites on the Arkansas River, El Paso and Pueblo Counties, Colorado. The number of sites sampled each year as well as the number of annual visits during which data were collected, and sampling methods used during each visit vary. The invertebrate data were collected between 2005 and 2024 and is intended to be updated annually as new data are collected and available. Users of these data are advised to read all metadata and associated documentation thoroughly to understand appropriate use and data limitations. NOTE: Although previous versions are available from the author, all the records in previous versions can be found in version 5.0. First posted - January 7, 2022 (available from author) Revised - May, 2022 (version 2.0) Revised - March, 2023 (version 3.0) Revised - March, 2024 (version 4.0) Revised - May, 2025 (version 5.0)

These benthic macroinvertebrate data and associated site characteristics were compiled for the purpose of exploring any relationships between large dams in the Colorado River Basin, their flow management and geographical context, and their associated downstream benthic macroinvertebrate communities. The goal of the analyses based upon these data was to understand how dam conditions, specifically hydropower fluctuations for hydropower generation ("hydropeaking") might influence the structure of benthic macroinvertebrate communities, and how this community structure may change with distance downstream from each dam. These benthic macroinvertebrate samples were collected in spring 2015 by scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey's Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center and collaborators at Oregon State University, and samples were subsequently processed in the research laboratories of these entities. Samples were collected from the tailwaters downstream of seven large dams in the Colorado River Basin: Fontenelle and Flaming Gorge Dams on the Green River, Navajo Dam on the San Juan River, and Glen Canyon, Hoover, Davis, and Parker Dams on the Colorado River. Samples were collected using a variety of methods depending on the available habitat, including Surber net, ponar dredge, rock scrubbing, Hess sampler, and vacuum suction device methods.

These benthic macroinvertebrate data and associated site characteristics were compiled for the purpose of exploring any relationships between large dams in the Colorado River Basin, their flow management and geographical context, and their associated downstream benthic macroinvertebrate communities. The goal of the analyses based upon these data was to understand how dam conditions, specifically hydropower fluctuations for hydropower generation ("hydropeaking") might influence the structure of benthic macroinvertebrate communities, and how this community structure may change with distance downstream from each dam. These benthic macroinvertebrate samples were collected in spring 2015 by scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey's Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center and collaborators at Oregon State University, and samples were subsequently processed in the research laboratories of these entities. Samples were collected from the tailwaters downstream of seven large dams in the Colorado River Basin: Fontenelle and Flaming Gorge Dams on the Green River, Navajo Dam on the San Juan River, and Glen Canyon, Hoover, Davis, and Parker Dams on the Colorado River. Samples were collected using a variety of methods depending on the available habitat, including Surber net, ponar dredge, rock scrubbing, Hess sampler, and vacuum suction device methods.

Invertebrate, fish, and habitat data were collected as part of a cooperative project that began in 2002 between the U.S. Geological Survey, Colorado Springs Utilities, and Colorado Springs Engineering. Other entities have contributed to the project through the years including Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Fish samples were collected and analyzed at 12 sites in the Fountain Creek Basin, El Paso and Pueblo Counties, Colorado. The number of sites sampled each year as well as the number of annual visits during which data were collected, and sampling methods used during each visit vary. The fish data were collected between 2003 and 2024 and is intended to be updated annually as new data are collected and available. Users of these data are advised to read all metadata and associated documentation thoroughly to understand appropriate use and data limitations. NOTE: Although previous versions are available from the author, all the records in previous versions can be found in version 5.0. First posted - January 7, 2022 (available from author) Revised - May, 2022 (version 2.0) Revised - March, 2023 (version 3.0) Revised - March, 2024 (version 4.0) Revised - May, 2025 (version 5.0)

Invertebrate, fish, and habitat data were collected as part of a cooperative project that began in 2002 between the U.S. Geological Survey, Colorado Springs Utilities, and Colorado Springs Engineering. Other entities have contributed to the project over the years including Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Fish samples were collected and analyzed at 12 sites in the Fountain Creek Basin, El Paso and Pueblo Counties, Colorado. The number of sites sampled each year as well as the number of annual visits during which data were collected, and sampling methods used during each visit vary. The fish data were collected between 2003 and 2023 and is intended to be updated annually as new data are collected and available. Users of these data are advised to read all metadata and associated documentation thoroughly to understand appropriate use and data limitations. NOTE: Although previous versions are available from the author, all the records in previous versions can be found in version 4.0. First posted - January 7, 2022 (available from author); Revised - May, 2022 (version 2.0); Revised - March, 2023 (version 3.0); Revised - March, 2024 (version 4.0).

These data were used for an analysis as part of a long-term project monitoring the biological communities, habitat, and water quality of the Fountain Creek Basin. Biology, habitat, and water quality data have been collected at 10 sites starting in 2003. These data include annual samples of aquatic invertebrate communities, fish communities, water quality, and quantitative riverine habitat collected from 2003-2016. These data will provide insight into trends in biological communities from 2003-2016 and relationships between biological communities and abiotic variables (antecedent streamflow, physical habitat, and water quality). This USGS data release contains all the input and output data and files necessary to reproduce results of the report describing an analysis of ecological trends from 2003-2016 in the Fountain Creek Basin, Colorado, USA (https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20175162). Data preparation of these data files is fully described in the report mentioned previously. These data are outputs from the two-step trend analysis and provide the statistical measures of trend significance, potential drivers of trends, and the change in each biological metric over this trend period (2003-2016).

These data were used for an analysis as part of a long-term project monitoring the biological communities, habitat, and water quality of the Fountain Creek Basin. Biology, habitat, and water quality data have been collected at 10 sites starting in 2003. These data include annual samples of aquatic invertebrate communities, fish communities, water quality, and quantitative riverine habitat collected from 2003-2016. These data will provide insight into trends in biological communities from 2003-2016 and relationships between biological communities and abiotic variables (antecedent streamflow, physical habitat, and water quality). This USGS data release contains all the input and output data and files necessary to reproduce results of the report describing an analysis of ecological trends from 2003-2016 in the Fountain Creek Basin, Colorado, USA (https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20175162). Data preparation of these data files is fully described in the report mentioned previously. These data are outputs from the two-step trend analysis and provide the statistical measures of trend significance, potential drivers of trends, and the change in each biological metric over this trend period (2003-2016).

Invertebrate, fish, and habitat data were collected as part of a cooperative project that began in 2002 between the U.S. Geological Survey, Colorado Springs Utilities, and Colorado Springs Enterprise. Other entities have contributed to the project through the years including Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Data were primarily collected from up to 35 sites – 33 sites within the Fountain Creek Basin but also from two sites on the Arkansas River. The number of sites sampled each year as well as the number of annual visits during which data were collected, and sampling methods used during each visit vary. Data were collected between 2002 and 2024 and is intended to be updated annually as new data are collected and available. Users of these data are advised to read all metadata and associated documentation thoroughly to understand appropriate use and data limitations. NOTE: Although previous versions are available from the author, all the records in previous versions can be found in version 5.0. First posted - January 7, 2022 (available from author) Revised - May, 2022 (version 2.0) Revised - March, 2023 (version 3.0) Revised - March, 2024 (version 4.0) Revised - May, 2025 (version 5.0)

Invertebrate, fish, and habitat data were collected as part of a cooperative project that began in 2002 between the U.S. Geological Survey, Colorado Springs Utilities, and Colorado Springs Engineering. Other entities have contributed to the project over the years including Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Data were primarily collected from up to 35 sites – 33 sites within the Fountain Creek Basin but also from two sites on the Arkansas River. The number of sites sampled each year as well as the number of annual visits during which data were collected, and sampling methods used during each visit vary. Data were collected between 2002 and 2023 and is intended to be updated annually as new data are collected and available. Users of these data are advised to read all metadata and associated documentation thoroughly to understand appropriate use and data limitations. NOTE: Although previous versions are available from the author, all the records in previous versions can be found in version 4.0. First posted - January 7, 2022 (available from author) Revised - May, 2022 (version 2.0) Revised - March, 2023 (version 3.0) Revised - March, 2024 (version 4.0)