Data were collected as part of a study to identify sources of E. coli contamination at several beaches located in the Grand Calumet River Areas of Concern, located in northern Indiana on Lake Michigan, as well as in Illinois and Wisconsin on Lake Michigan. Water samples were collected at each site in Indiana three times a week for thirteen weeks and at each site in Illinois and Wisconsin. All samples were analyzed for E. coli bacteria (an indicator bacteria for fecal contamination) and species-specific molecular markers (microbial source tracking, MST), including human, gull, and dog. Presence of MST markers indicates a fecal source at that location associated with the target animal. Field conditions were recorded during each site visit (e.g., including air and water temp, wind speed and direction, rainfall, wave height, currents, observations). Water samples were analyzed in the laboratory for E. coli using defined substrate technology and for MST markers using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) methods and also turbidity. Lat_long_v2 file includes information regarding sampling locations and their corresponding latitude and longitudes. The E coli_turbidity_v2 data include E. coli densities and turbidity measurements. Data from the qpcr_v4 file includes results from quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method for detection of host-specific microbial source tracking markers. Data from SanitarySurvey includes ambient conditions measured in the field: water and air temperature, current speed and direction (eastward, westward, float method), wind direction and speed, wave height, rainfall, and cloud cover. Data from SanitarySurvey_birds included number of birds (gulls, geese, ducks, cormorants, etc.) counted on the beach and in the water. The PowerWater.pdf is the DNA extraction kits' user manual giving detailed instructions for use.

Data were collected as part of a study to identify sources of E. coli contamination at several beaches located in the Grand Calumet River Areas of Concern, located in northern Indiana on Lake Michigan. The study was funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Water samples were collected at each site (Jeorse Park 1, Jeorse Park 2, Hammond East, Hammond West, Whihala West, Whihala East, Whihala west breakwater, Hammond Marina, Whihala offshore locations, and the Grand Calumet River) one day a week or three times a week between 2015 and 2018. While the 2015 data were included in analysis, these data were previously publicly released https://doi.org/10.5066/F7H70F3D. Samples (water, sand, sediment) were analyzed for E. coli bacteria (an indicator bacterium for fecal contamination) and species-specific molecular markers (microbial source tracking, MST), including human (HF183, Mnif), gull (Gull2), and dog (DogBact). Presence of MST markers indicates a fecal source associated with the target animal at that location. Bird counts were recorded during each site visit. Water samples were analyzed in the laboratory for E. coli using defined substrate technology, for MST markers using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) methods, and turbidity, conductivity, and pH. Additionally in 2015, samples were collected during two dry and one wet event and subjected to metagenomics analysis for determining bacterial communities. The additional samples were collected at Whihala, Jeorse Park, Grand Calumet River, as well as three offshore locations associated with the Grand Calumet River: mouth to the lake at a peninsular structure and north and east of the structure. Lat_long file includes information regarding sampling locations and their corresponding latitude and longitudes. The EcoliWaterChem data include E. coli densities and water chemistry (turbidity, conductivity, pH) measurements. Data from the MST file includes results from quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method for detection of host-specific microbial source tracking markers as follows: Gulls (Gull2), Dogs (DogBact), and human (HF183, Mnif). Data from Birds included number of birds (gulls, geese, ducks, cormorants, etc.) counted on the beach and in the water. The metagenomics file includes taxonomic information and corresponding percent abundance of each organism for each sample. The metagenomics file includes taxonomic information and corresponding organisms' percent abundance for each sample. The metagenomicsKey file includes information pertinent to individual samples.

Data were collected as part of a study to identify sources of E. coli contamination at several beaches located in the Grand Calumet River Areas of Concern, located in northern Indiana on Lake Michigan. The study was funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Water samples were collected at each site (Jeorse Park 1, Jeorse Park 2, Hammond East, Hammond West, Whihala West, Whihala East, Whihala west breakwater, Hammond Marina, Whihala offshore locations, and the Grand Calumet River) one day a week or three times a week between 2015 and 2018. While the 2015 data were included in analysis, these data were previously publicly released https://doi.org/10.5066/F7H70F3D. Samples (water, sand, sediment) were analyzed for E. coli bacteria (an indicator bacterium for fecal contamination) and species-specific molecular markers (microbial source tracking, MST), including human (HF183, Mnif), gull (Gull2), and dog (DogBact). Presence of MST markers indicates a fecal source associated with the target animal at that location. Bird counts were recorded during each site visit. Water samples were analyzed in the laboratory for E. coli using defined substrate technology, for MST markers using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) methods, and turbidity, conductivity, and pH. Additionally in 2015, samples were collected during two dry and one wet event and subjected to metagenomics analysis for determining bacterial communities. The additional samples were collected at Whihala, Jeorse Park, Grand Calumet River, as well as three offshore locations associated with the Grand Calumet River: mouth to the lake at a peninsular structure and north and east of the structure. Lat_long file includes information regarding sampling locations and their corresponding latitude and longitudes. The EcoliWaterChem data include E. coli densities and water chemistry (turbidity, conductivity, pH) measurements. Data from the MST file includes results from quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method for detection of host-specific microbial source tracking markers as follows: Gulls (Gull2), Dogs (DogBact), and human (HF183, Mnif). Data from Birds included number of birds (gulls, geese, ducks, cormorants, etc.) counted on the beach and in the water. The metagenomics file includes taxonomic information and corresponding percent abundance of each organism for each sample. The metagenomics file includes taxonomic information and corresponding organisms' percent abundance for each sample. The metagenomicsKey file includes information pertinent to individual samples.

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

This dataset contains E. coli data collected at the Outfall of the Nogales International Wastewater Treatment Plant (NIWTP; SC6, 312724110580501) by U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) personnel. The IBWC collects discrete samples at the Outfall of the NIWTP daily or weekly by dipping a 100 mL sterilized IDEXX bottle in the centroid of flow. Samples are kept chilled and shipped to Turner Laboratories Inc. or Legend Technical Services Inc. Both laboratories use standard method 9223B for E. coli analysis, which uses the Colilert™-24 (Colilert) and Quanti-Tray®/2000 (Quanti-Tray) system. The holding time specified for wastewater is 30 hours. The dataset is a compilation of multiple paper records. E.coli concentrations reported as 0 most probable number (MPN) per100 mL were qualified as less than the 1 MPN/100mL specified by the Colilert test. The datasest includes E. coli concentration data for the period of June 01, 2009 to March 31, 2015.

This dataset contains E. coli data collected at the Outfall of the Nogales International Wastewater Treatment Plant (NIWTP; SC6, 312724110580501) by U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) personnel. The IBWC collects discrete samples at the Outfall of the NIWTP daily or weekly by dipping a 100 mL sterilized IDEXX bottle in the centroid of flow. Samples are kept chilled and shipped to Turner Laboratories Inc. or Legend Technical Services Inc. Both laboratories use standard method 9223B for E. coli analysis, which uses the Colilert™-24 (Colilert) and Quanti-Tray®/2000 (Quanti-Tray) system. The holding time specified for wastewater is 30 hours. The dataset is a compilation of multiple paper records. E.coli concentrations reported as 0 most probable number (MPN) per100 mL were qualified as less than the 1 MPN/100mL specified by the Colilert test. The datasest includes E. coli concentration data for the period of June 01, 2009 to March 31, 2015.