The data associated with the following data release were collected between 2016 and 2017 at three locations on Lake Michigan: Racine, WI; Chicago, IL; and East Chicago, IN. Individual water samples were collected one day a week for ten weeks between June and August. Samples were collected from eight specific sites made up of two river and six shoreline type environments. Sampling was completed at sites where various morphology (embayment, sand and sediment characteristics, size and shape) and hydrologic conditions (currents and waves) were present. Then samples were analyzed using microbial communities (metagenomic analysis), markers of contamination (microbial source tracking), and fecal indicator bacteria (E. coli).

The data associated with the following data release were collected between 2016 and 2017 at three locations on Lake Michigan: Racine, WI; Chicago, IL; and East Chicago, IN. Individual water samples were collected one day a week for ten weeks between June and August. Samples were collected from eight specific sites made up of two river and six shoreline type environments. Sampling was completed at sites where various morphology (embayment, sand and sediment characteristics, size and shape) and hydrologic conditions (currents and waves) were present. Then samples were analyzed using microbial communities (metagenomic analysis), markers of contamination (microbial source tracking), and fecal indicator bacteria (E. coli).

Data are from water samples collected from tributaries of the Great Lakes at three different drainage basin scales, including 1). watershed scale: 8 tributaries of the Great Lakes, 2). subwatershed scale: 5 locations from the greater Milwaukee, Wisconsin area, and 3). small scale: 213 storm sewers and open channel locations in three subwatersheds within the Great Lakes Basin including the Middle Branch of the Clinton River in Macomb County, Michigan (65 sample locations), Red Creek in Monroe County, New York (88 sample locations), and the Kinnickinnic River in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin (60 sample locations). At the watershed- and subwatershed-scale locations, water samples were collected over a 24-hour duration for low-flow periods, and throughout the duration of increased streamflow for runoff-event periods. An individual sample included multiple subsamples that were composited using automatic samplers. At the small-scale locations, discrete grab samples were collected by direct bottle submersion or by peristaltic pump. Water samples were analyzed for absorbance spectra and fluorescence excitation-emission matrices (EEMs), which are presented in this data release. Samples were also analyzed for human-specific viruses, at the watershed- and subwatershed-scale locations only, human- and fecal- indicator bacteria, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC), which are archived in the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System (NWIS). These data were used to develop regression models for describing variability of human-associated and fecal indicator bacteria, and an archive of these models is provided. Sample collection, laboratory analyses methods, and a detailed description of the modeling process are described in the associated journal publication: Corsi, S.R., De Cicco, L.A., Hansen, A.M., Lenaker, P.L., Bergamaschi, B.A., Pellerin, B.A., Dila, D.K., Bootsma, M.J., Spencer, S.K., Borchardt, M.A., and McLellan, S.L., 2021, Optical properties of water for prediction of wastewater contamination, human-associated bacteria, and fecal indicator bacteria in surface water at three watershed scales: Environmental Science and Technology, 55, 20, 13770–13782, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c02644.

The data released are associated with an examination of eDNA from round goby fish (Neogobius melanostomus) in a series of field sample collections (lake nearshore and stream transport) and in vitro laboratory experiments. The round goby was used as a model for our source of eDNA in the field collections and mesocosm experiments. The field samples for lake nearshore (water and sediment) were collected from two Lake Michigan shoreline locations (Portage Lakefront, Portage, Indiana and Washington Park, Michigan City, Indiana) to examine the detectability of eDNA, the influence of sediment on eDNA estimates, and eDNA spatial and temporal resolution. The field samples for stream transport (water) were collected from Brown Ditch, a Lake Michigan stream, and were used to model and test eDNA transport. Rates for eDNA shedding and decay in water and sediment were developed using in vitro laboratory experiments and provided a comparison of eDNA behavior (persistence and degradation) and detection in water and sediment.

The data released are associated with an examination of eDNA from round goby fish (Neogobius melanostomus) in a series of field sample collections (lake nearshore and stream transport) and in vitro laboratory experiments. The round goby was used as a model for our source of eDNA in the field collections and mesocosm experiments. The field samples for lake nearshore (water and sediment) were collected from two Lake Michigan shoreline locations (Portage Lakefront, Portage, Indiana and Washington Park, Michigan City, Indiana) to examine the detectability of eDNA, the influence of sediment on eDNA estimates, and eDNA spatial and temporal resolution. The field samples for stream transport (water) were collected from Brown Ditch, a Lake Michigan stream, and were used to model and test eDNA transport. Rates for eDNA shedding and decay in water and sediment were developed using in vitro laboratory experiments and provided a comparison of eDNA behavior (persistence and degradation) and detection in water and sediment.

Data were collected in August and September 2015 for analysis of bacteria communities of the Grand Calumet River and associated shorelines. Water samples were collected on three occasions corresponding to one rain-related (wet) events and two non-rain (dry) events. Water samples were collected in the Grand Calumet River, at the mouth of the river, at offshore locations around the peninsular impoundment and at shoreline locations: Jeorse Park (East Chicago, Indiana), Whihala (Whiting, Indiana), and 63rd Street (Chicago, Illinois) beaches. Samples were collected in triplicate, and water was filtered at the USGS Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station. After DNA extraction, samples were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing using Illumina sequencing. Taxonomic identification was assigned for communities in each sample, at multiple taxonomic levels (Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus). Water was also analyzed for E. coli bacteria and turbidity, at the USGS laboratory. Hydrological conditions corresponding to the days of sample collection were obtained from publicly available USGS information (NWIS-National Water Information System). The coordinate file includes information regarding sampling locations and their corresponding latitude and longitudes. The Data file include E. coli densities, laboratory turbidity measurements, and NWIS hydrological data. The raw metagenomic data can be accessed at the NCBI repository under the biproject accession PRJNA541325: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sra/PRJNA541325

Data were collected in August and September 2015 for analysis of bacteria communities of the Grand Calumet River and associated shorelines. Water samples were collected on three occasions corresponding to one rain-related (wet) events and two non-rain (dry) events. Water samples were collected in the Grand Calumet River, at the mouth of the river, at offshore locations around the peninsular impoundment and at shoreline locations: Jeorse Park (East Chicago, Indiana), Whihala (Whiting, Indiana), and 63rd Street (Chicago, Illinois) beaches. Samples were collected in triplicate, and water was filtered at the USGS Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station. After DNA extraction, samples were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing using Illumina sequencing. Taxonomic identification was assigned for communities in each sample, at multiple taxonomic levels (Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus). Water was also analyzed for E. coli bacteria and turbidity, at the USGS laboratory. Hydrological conditions corresponding to the days of sample collection were obtained from publicly available USGS information (NWIS-National Water Information System). The coordinate file includes information regarding sampling locations and their corresponding latitude and longitudes. The Data file include E. coli densities, laboratory turbidity measurements, and NWIS hydrological data. The raw metagenomic data can be accessed at the NCBI repository under the biproject accession PRJNA541325: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sra/PRJNA541325