This data release includes metrics from the Regional Stream Quality Assessment (RSQA) from the Southeast Region for habitat stressors related to water-quality and habitat substrate. The goals of RSQA are to characterize multiple water-quality factors that are stressors to aquatic life ‐ contaminants, nutrients, sediment, and streamflow alteration – and to develop a better understanding of the relation of these stressors to ecological conditions in streams throughout the region. In order to characterize water-quality variables and stream-habitat measurements as an aggregation of multiple measurements over a sampling period, and in support of ecological stressor modelling, metrics (summary statistics or indices) were computed from individual results by site using consistent methods over a consistent time frame. Water-quality metrics are based on discrete samples as well as long-term deployed passive samplers.

In 2013, the first of several Regional Stream Quality Assessments (RSQA) was done in the Midwest United States. The Midwest Stream Quality Assessment (MSQA) was a collaborative study by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Assessment and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National Rivers and Streams Assessment. One of the objectives of the RSQA, and thus the MSQA, is to characterize relations between stream ecology and water-quality stressors to determine the relative effects of these stressors on aquatic biota in streams. Data required to meet this objective included fish species and abundance data and physical and chemical water-quality characteristics of the ecological reaches of the sites that were sampled. This dataset comprises 135 fish species, 39,920 fish, 10 selected water-quality stressor metrics, and six selected fish community stressor response variables for 98 sites sampled for the MSQA.

In 2013, the first of several Regional Stream Quality Assessments (RSQA) was done in the Midwest United States. The Midwest Stream Quality Assessment (MSQA) was a collaborative study by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Assessment and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National Rivers and Streams Assessment. One of the objectives of the RSQA, and thus the MSQA, is to characterize relations between stream ecology and water-quality stressors to determine the relative effects of these stressors on aquatic biota in streams. Data required to meet this objective included fish species and abundance data and physical and chemical water-quality characteristics of the ecological reaches of the sites that were sampled. This dataset comprises 135 fish species, 39,920 fish, 10 selected water-quality stressor metrics, and six selected fish community stressor response variables for 98 sites sampled for the MSQA.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), collects data pertaining to the surface-water resources of Missouri. These data are collected as part of the Missouri Ambient Water-Quality Monitoring Network (AWQMN) and are stored and maintained by the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) database. These data constitute a valuable source of reliable, impartial, and timely information for developing an improved understanding of the water resources of the State. Water-quality data collected between 1993 and 2017 were analyzed for long term trends and the network was investigated to identify data gaps or redundant data to assist MDNR on how to optimize the network in the future. This is a companion data release product to the Scientific Investigation Report: Richards, J.M., and Barr, M.N., 2021, General water-quality conditions, long-term trends, and network analysis at selected sites within the Ambient Water-Quality Monitoring Network in Missouri, water years 1993–2017: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2021–5079, 75 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20215079. The following selected tables are included in this data release in compressed (.zip) format: AWQMN_EGRET_data.xlsx -- Data retrieved from the USGS National Water Information System database that was quality assured and conditioned for network analysis of the Missouri AWQMN AWQMN_R-QWTREND_data.xlsx -- Data retrieved from the USGS National Water Information System database that was quality assured and conditioned for analysis of flow-weighted trends for selected sites in the Missouri AWQMN AWQMN_R-QWTREND_outliers.xlsx -- Data flagged as outliers during analysis of flow-weighted trends for selected sites in the Missouri AWQMN AWQMN_R-QWTREND_outliers_quarterly.xlsx -- Data flagged as outliers during analysis of flow-weighted trends using a simulated quarterly sampling frequency dataset for selected sites in the Missouri AWQMN AWQMN_descriptive_statistics_WY1993-2017.xlsx -- Descriptive statistics for selected water-quality parameters at selected sites in the Missouri AWQMN

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), collects data pertaining to the surface-water resources of Missouri. These data are collected as part of the Missouri Ambient Water-Quality Monitoring Network (AWQMN) and are stored and maintained by the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) database. These data constitute a valuable source of reliable, impartial, and timely information for developing an improved understanding of the water resources of the State. Water-quality data collected between 1993 and 2017 were analyzed for long term trends and the network was investigated to identify data gaps or redundant data to assist MDNR on how to optimize the network in the future. This is a companion data release product to the Scientific Investigation Report: Richards, J.M., and Barr, M.N., 2021, General water-quality conditions, long-term trends, and network analysis at selected sites within the Ambient Water-Quality Monitoring Network in Missouri, water years 1993–2017: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2021–5079, 75 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20215079. The following selected tables are included in this data release in compressed (.zip) format: AWQMN_EGRET_data.xlsx -- Data retrieved from the USGS National Water Information System database that was quality assured and conditioned for network analysis of the Missouri AWQMN AWQMN_R-QWTREND_data.xlsx -- Data retrieved from the USGS National Water Information System database that was quality assured and conditioned for analysis of flow-weighted trends for selected sites in the Missouri AWQMN AWQMN_R-QWTREND_outliers.xlsx -- Data flagged as outliers during analysis of flow-weighted trends for selected sites in the Missouri AWQMN AWQMN_R-QWTREND_outliers_quarterly.xlsx -- Data flagged as outliers during analysis of flow-weighted trends using a simulated quarterly sampling frequency dataset for selected sites in the Missouri AWQMN AWQMN_descriptive_statistics_WY1993-2017.xlsx -- Descriptive statistics for selected water-quality parameters at selected sites in the Missouri AWQMN

In 2015, the second of several Regional Stream Quality Assessments (RSQA) was done in the southeastern United States. The Southeast Stream Quality Assessment (SESQA) was a study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) project. One of the objectives of the RSQA, and thus the SESQA, is to characterize the relationships between water-quality stressors and stream ecology and subsequently determine the relative effects of these stressors on aquatic biota within the streams (Van Metre and Journey, 2014). To meet this objective, a framework of fundamental geospatial data was required to develop physical and anthropogenic characteristics of the study region, sampled sites and corresponding watersheds, and riparian zones. This dataset represents the 115 water-chemistry sites sampled for the SESQA, and is one of the four fundamental geospatial data layers that were developed for the Southeast study.

In 2015, the second of several Regional Stream Quality Assessments (RSQA) was done in the southeastern United States. The Southeast Stream Quality Assessment (SESQA) was a study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) project. One of the objectives of the RSQA, and thus the SESQA, is to characterize the relationships between water-quality stressors and stream ecology and subsequently determine the relative effects of these stressors on aquatic biota within the streams (Van Metre and Journey, 2014). To meet this objective, a framework of fundamental geospatial data was required to develop physical and anthropogenic characteristics of the study region, sampled sites and corresponding watersheds, and riparian zones. This dataset represents the 115 water-chemistry sites sampled for the SESQA, and is one of the four fundamental geospatial data layers that were developed for the Southeast study.

Nonstationary streamflow due to environmental and human-induced causes can affect water quality over time, yet these effects are poorly accounted for in water-quality trend models. This data release provides instream water-quality trends and estimates of two components of change, for sites across the Nation previously presented in Oelsner et al. (2017). We used previously calibrated Weighted Regressions on Time, Discharge, and Season (WRTDS) models published in De Cicco et al. (2017) to estimate instream water-quality trends and associated uncertainties with the generalized flow normalization procedure available in EGRET version 3.0 (Hirsch et al., 2018a) and EGRETci version 2.0 (Hirsch et al., 2018b). The procedure allows for nonstationarity in the flow regime, whereas previous versions of EGRET assumed streamflow stationarity. Water-quality trends of annual mean concentrations and loads (also referred to as fluxes) are provided as an annual series and the change between the start and end year for four trend periods (1972-2012, 1982-2012, 1992-2012, and 2002-2012). Information about the sites, including the collecting agency and associated streamflow gage, and information about site selection and the data screening process can be found in Oelsner et al. (2017). This data release includes results for 19 water-quality parameters including nutrients (ammonia, nitrate, filtered and unfiltered orthophosphate, total nitrogen, total phosphorus), major ions (calcium, chloride, magnesium, potassium, sodium, sulfate), salinity indicators (specific conductance, total dissolved solids), carbon (alkalinity, dissolved organic carbon, total organic carbon), and sediment (total suspended solids, suspended-sediment concentration) at over 1,200 sites. Note, the number of parameters with data varies by site with most sites having data for 1-4 parameters. Each water-quality trend was parsed into two components of change: (1) the streamflow trend component (QTC) and (2) the watershed management trend component (MTC). The QTC is an indicator of the amount of change in the water-quality trend attributed to changes in the streamflow regime, and the MTC is an indicator of the amount of change in the water-quality trend that may be attributed to human actions and changes in point and non-point sources in a watershed. Note, the MTC is referred to as the concentration-discharge trend component (CQTC) in the EGRET version 3.0 software. For our work, we chose to refer to this trend component as the MTC because it provides a more conceptual description (Murphy and Sprague, 2019). The trend results presented here expand upon the results in De Cicco et al. (2017) and Oelsner et al. (2017), which were analyzed using flow-normalization under the stationary streamflow assumption. The results presented in this data release are intended to complement these previously published results and support investigations into natural and human effects on water-quality trends across the United States. Data preparation information and WRTDS model specifications are described in Oelsner et al. (2017) and Murphy and Sprague (2019). This work was completed as part of the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) project of the National Water-Quality Program. De Cicco, L.A., Sprague, L.A., Murphy, J.C., Riskin, M.L., Falcone, J.A., Stets, E.G., Oelsner, G.P., and Johnson, H.M., 2017, Water-quality and streamflow datasets used in the Weighted Regressions on Time, Discharge, and Season (WRTDS) models to determine trends in the Nation’s rivers and streams, 1972-2012 (ver. 1.1 July 7, 2017): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/F7KW5D4H. Hirsch, R., De Cicco, L., Watkins, D., Carr, L., and Murphy, J., 2018a, EGRET: Exploration and Graphics for RivEr Trends, version 3.0, https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=EGRET. Hirsch, R., De Cicco, L., and Murphy, J., 2018b, EGRETci: Exploration and Graphics for RivEr Trends (EGRET) Confidence Intervals, version 2.0.