Stream water chemistry and benthic macroinvertebrate data collected in the North Fork of Clear Creek and Clear Creek, CO, USA before and after the diversion and treatment of acid mine drainage by a high-density sludge lime process water treatment plant. Stream water chemistry and benthic macroinvertebrate samples were collected from November 2011 through October 2019 at 6 sites located above and below the North Clear Creek Water Treatment Plant (NCCWTP). The NCCWTP became fully operational in September 2017. Measured water chemistry included pH, conductivity, alkalinity, ferrous iron, total and dissolved concentrations of metals and major geochemical cations, and dissolved organic carbon. Replicate (n=5) benthic macroinvertebrate samples were collected using a 0.1 square meter Hess sampler at targeted riffle habitats among sites. Benthic samples were processed from detrital material in the laboratory using a subsampling technique to reach 300+ invertebrates, and identified to the lowest taxonomic resolution possible, typically to genus (except for chironomids that were identified to subfamily).

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.

In 2012, a program was initiated using in-stream and aerial (whole-watershed) liming to improve water quality and Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) recruitment in three acidified tributaries of a high-elevation Adirondack lake in New York State. Concurrently, macroinvertebrates were sampled annually between 2013 and 2016 at 3 treated and 3 untreated reference sites to assess the effects of each liming technique on this community. Macroinvertebrate communities were monitored at 6 study sites: T16, T8A (50 m upstream of lime application point), T8 (50 m downstream of lime application point), T6 (1230 m downstream of the lime application point), and at two unlimed reference streams, T24 and T20. T24 is of similar orientation, drainage area, discharge, and water chemistry as T16 and was selected as a reference site to assess the impacts of the watershed liming. T20 is a relatively well-buffered tributary that was monitored as a reference site for the in-stream liming effort. This dataset includes macroinvertebrate community data from 4-years (2013-2016) of macroinvertebrate sampling using artificial substrate basket samplers at six sites on tributaries to Honnedaga Lake, NY. Baskets were deployed in pairs at five stations (replicates) distributed longitudinally within each site (10 total baskets per site) and were placed on the bottom in pools where they were unlikely to become desiccated during water level fluctuations. Baskets were deployed between May 12 and May 16 and retrieved between July 10 and July 17 during each year, resulting in a colonization period of approximately two months. At the end of the colonization period, macroinvertebrates were extracted from each basket through a shaking and rinsing process. The contents from each pair of baskets were preserved together in 95-percent ethanol, resulting in 5 replicate samples collected from each site. A 200-organism subsample, or an exhaustive pick when less than 200 organisms were present, was sorted from each replicate using a gridded tray and identified to the lowest possible taxonomic resolution (usually genus or species). These identifications were then used to generate metrics of macroinvertebrate community condition for subsequent analyses. Data are provided in CSV and XLSX (MS Office 2013) format, a sample site location map is also provided (latitude/longitude datum and projection: NAD 1983 UTM Zone 18N).

In 2012, a program was initiated using in-stream and aerial (whole-watershed) liming to improve water quality and Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) recruitment in three acidified tributaries of a high-elevation Adirondack lake in New York State. Concurrently, macroinvertebrates were sampled annually between 2013 and 2016 at 3 treated and 3 untreated reference sites to assess the effects of each liming technique on this community. Macroinvertebrate communities were monitored at 6 study sites: T16, T8A (50 m upstream of lime application point), T8 (50 m downstream of lime application point), T6 (1230 m downstream of the lime application point), and at two unlimed reference streams, T24 and T20. T24 is of similar orientation, drainage area, discharge, and water chemistry as T16 and was selected as a reference site to assess the impacts of the watershed liming. T20 is a relatively well-buffered tributary that was monitored as a reference site for the in-stream liming effort. This dataset includes macroinvertebrate community data from 4-years (2013-2016) of macroinvertebrate sampling using artificial substrate basket samplers at six sites on tributaries to Honnedaga Lake, NY. Baskets were deployed in pairs at five stations (replicates) distributed longitudinally within each site (10 total baskets per site) and were placed on the bottom in pools where they were unlikely to become desiccated during water level fluctuations. Baskets were deployed between May 12 and May 16 and retrieved between July 10 and July 17 during each year, resulting in a colonization period of approximately two months. At the end of the colonization period, macroinvertebrates were extracted from each basket through a shaking and rinsing process. The contents from each pair of baskets were preserved together in 95-percent ethanol, resulting in 5 replicate samples collected from each site. A 200-organism subsample, or an exhaustive pick when less than 200 organisms were present, was sorted from each replicate using a gridded tray and identified to the lowest possible taxonomic resolution (usually genus or species). These identifications were then used to generate metrics of macroinvertebrate community condition for subsequent analyses. Data are provided in CSV and XLSX (MS Office 2013) format, a sample site location map is also provided (latitude/longitude datum and projection: NAD 1983 UTM Zone 18N).

Montgomery County, Maryland Department of Environmental Protection has collected datasets to assess the health of streams since the early 1990s. Datasets include geomorphic stream cross-sectional surveys, fish and benthic macroinvertebrate counts and taxa abundance, and water chemistry data collected at the time of benthic and fish sampling (dissolved oxygen, pH, specific conductance, air temperature, and water temperature). Data span years 1992 to 2020 at five watersheds within the Clarksburg study area. Watersheds include a forested reference site (Soper), an urban site with centralized stormwater management (Crystal Rock), and three treatment watersheds (TR104, TR109, and Cabin Branch) within the Clarksburg Special Protection Area that transitioned from agriculture to suburban development with distributed stormwater management. These data were used to assess the impacts of distributed stormwater management on stream ecosystem function. All datasets were collected by Montgomery County, Maryland Department of Environmental Protection.

Montgomery County, Maryland Department of Environmental Protection has collected datasets to assess the health of streams since the early 1990s. Datasets include geomorphic stream cross-sectional surveys, fish and benthic macroinvertebrate counts and taxa abundance, and water chemistry data collected at the time of benthic and fish sampling (dissolved oxygen, pH, specific conductance, air temperature, and water temperature). Data span years 1992 to 2020 at five watersheds within the Clarksburg study area. Watersheds include a forested reference site (Soper), an urban site with centralized stormwater management (Crystal Rock), and three treatment watersheds (TR104, TR109, and Cabin Branch) within the Clarksburg Special Protection Area that transitioned from agriculture to suburban development with distributed stormwater management. These data were used to assess the impacts of distributed stormwater management on stream ecosystem function. All datasets were collected by Montgomery County, Maryland Department of Environmental Protection.

The United States Geological Survey Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center (USGS VA-WV-WSC) and Fairfax County assembled this data release in support of ongoing USGS VA-WV-WSC monitoring and evaluations of stream conditions overtime of two previously restored, urban-suburban streams in Reston, Virginia – Snakeden Branch and The Glade. The aquatic benthic macroinvertebrate, fish, and habitat sampling and surveying were conducted on the same eight, 100-meter stream reaches (four reaches in Snakeden Branch and four reaches in The Glade) by the USGS VA-WV-WSC. Aquatic benthic macroinvertebrate sampling and physical habitat surveys were conducted in both Spring and Fall of 2021 and a fish survey was conducted in the Summer 2021. Data provided are of five general types: 1. Site locations and characteristics for each of the eight sampling and surveying sites within the two monitored streams; 2. Benthic macroinvertebrate identifications and analytical laboratory results; 3. Fairfax County benthic macroinvertebrate Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores and individual metric results; 4. Fish assemblages, and; 5. Physical habitat measurements. The metadata file “Metadata_for_Reston_Ecological_Data.xml” contains important information pertaining to the attributes of each entity of data, field and laboratory methods, and caveats associated with the Fall benthic macroinvertebrate IBI and metric scores. The "README.txt" file contains a description of each file contained in this data release. This database contains the aquatic benthic macroinvertebrate taxonomic identification and abundance data derived from samples collected at each of the eight total reaches within Snakeden Branch and The Glade in Fall and Spring of calendar year 2021. Samples were collected by the USGS VA-WV-WSC using the Fairfax County standard operating procedures (FCSOP) and specimen identification and abundance calculations were performed by a third-party laboratory. Fairfax County benthic macroinvertebrate IBI scores and individual metrics were calculated by Fairfax County following FCSOP. It is important to note for this data release that the IBI scores presented for Fall samples have caveats associated with them and the ratings (e.g. Excellent, Good, Fair, etc.) for the Fall samples have been intentionally excluded. Please read the methods section of the “Metadata_for_Reston_Ecological_Data.xml” file carefully for further explanation. This data release also contains the fish assemblages data, collected during the Summer of 2021, from the eight total reaches in Snakeden Branch and The Glade. Electrofishing surveys were conducted following FCSOP by the USGS VA-WV-WSC to obtain these results. Finally, this data release contains the physical habitat data surveyed in both Fall and Spring of 2021. Multiple habitat metrics were measured throughout each of the eight total reaches on Snakeden Branch and The Glade.

The United States Geological Survey Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center (USGS VA-WV-WSC) and Fairfax County assembled this data release in support of ongoing USGS VA-WV-WSC monitoring and evaluations of stream conditions overtime of two previously restored, urban-suburban streams in Reston, Virginia – Snakeden Branch and The Glade. The aquatic benthic macroinvertebrate, fish, and habitat sampling and surveying were conducted on the same eight, 100-meter stream reaches (four reaches in Snakeden Branch and four reaches in The Glade) by the USGS VA-WV-WSC. Aquatic benthic macroinvertebrate sampling and physical habitat surveys were conducted in both Spring and Fall of 2021 and a fish survey was conducted in the Summer 2021. Data provided are of five general types: 1. Site locations and characteristics for each of the eight sampling and surveying sites within the two monitored streams; 2. Benthic macroinvertebrate identifications and analytical laboratory results; 3. Fairfax County benthic macroinvertebrate Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores and individual metric results; 4. Fish assemblages, and; 5. Physical habitat measurements. The metadata file “Metadata_for_Reston_Ecological_Data.xml” contains important information pertaining to the attributes of each entity of data, field and laboratory methods, and caveats associated with the Fall benthic macroinvertebrate IBI and metric scores. The "README.txt" file contains a description of each file contained in this data release. This database contains the aquatic benthic macroinvertebrate taxonomic identification and abundance data derived from samples collected at each of the eight total reaches within Snakeden Branch and The Glade in Fall and Spring of calendar year 2021. Samples were collected by the USGS VA-WV-WSC using the Fairfax County standard operating procedures (FCSOP) and specimen identification and abundance calculations were performed by a third-party laboratory. Fairfax County benthic macroinvertebrate IBI scores and individual metrics were calculated by Fairfax County following FCSOP. It is important to note for this data release that the IBI scores presented for Fall samples have caveats associated with them and the ratings (e.g. Excellent, Good, Fair, etc.) for the Fall samples have been intentionally excluded. Please read the methods section of the “Metadata_for_Reston_Ecological_Data.xml” file carefully for further explanation. This data release also contains the fish assemblages data, collected during the Summer of 2021, from the eight total reaches in Snakeden Branch and The Glade. Electrofishing surveys were conducted following FCSOP by the USGS VA-WV-WSC to obtain these results. Finally, this data release contains the physical habitat data surveyed in both Fall and Spring of 2021. Multiple habitat metrics were measured throughout each of the eight total reaches on Snakeden Branch and The Glade.

This USGS data release evaluates the impact of historical mining sites on water quality using samples collected in late July 2021 from Big Creek tributaries Coin Creek, Smith Creek, and Monumental Creek in Valley County, Idaho. These data were collected to support a fisheries mining impact assessment in the Middle Fork Salmon River. Specific conductance, pH, and stream temperature were measured in the field. Analyses include major cations and anions, alkalinity, trace metals, total mercury, and methylmercury.