A data release containing information on benthic macroinvertebrate communities and sediment toxicity in the Eighteenmile Creek Area of Concern and a nearby reference area at Oak Orchard Creek. Bed sediments were collected during summer 2021 at 8 sites on Eighteenmile Creek and at 6 sites on Oak Orchard Creek using a petite Ponar dredge for macroinvertebrate identification and sediment toxicity testing. Macroinvertebrates were identified to the lowest practical taxonomic resolution and used to calculate metrics of biological integrity following standard New York State Department of Environmental Conservation procedures. 10-day sediment toxicity tests were conducted using two test species, Chironomus dilutus and Hyalella azteca, following USEPA test methods 100.2 and 100.1, respectively. In situ habitat measurements and sediment samples for determination of grain size distribution and total organic carbon concentration were also taken at the time of sample collection at all sites. The data release has four separate tables: one containing site locations and habitat information, one containing the results of sediment toxicity tests, one containing macroinvertebrate identifications, and one containing standard New York State Department of Environmental Conservation metrics of macroinvertebrate community integrity calculated from the macroinvertebrate identifications.

A data release containing information on benthic macroinvertebrate communities and sediment toxicity in the Eighteenmile Creek Area of Concern and a nearby reference area at Oak Orchard Creek. Bed sediments were collected during summer 2021 at 8 sites on Eighteenmile Creek and at 6 sites on Oak Orchard Creek using a petite Ponar dredge for macroinvertebrate identification and sediment toxicity testing. Macroinvertebrates were identified to the lowest practical taxonomic resolution and used to calculate metrics of biological integrity following standard New York State Department of Environmental Conservation procedures. 10-day sediment toxicity tests were conducted using two test species, Chironomus dilutus and Hyalella azteca, following USEPA test methods 100.2 and 100.1, respectively. In situ habitat measurements and sediment samples for determination of grain size distribution and total organic carbon concentration were also taken at the time of sample collection at all sites. The data release has four separate tables: one containing site locations and habitat information, one containing the results of sediment toxicity tests, one containing macroinvertebrate identifications, and one containing standard New York State Department of Environmental Conservation metrics of macroinvertebrate community integrity calculated from the macroinvertebrate identifications.

This dataset is from the first of four experiments which test the toxicity of several metals with aquatic insect communities that were colonized in the field and then transferred and tested in experimental streams. Here we report original data from an experiment testing the toxicity of cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn), singly and in mixtures, to natural aquatic insect communities. Trays of cleaned gravel were placed in a stream (the Cache La Poudre River, Colorado) and allowed to colonize for about 40 days before being translocated to Aquatic Experimental Stream Laboratory (AXL) which was located at the USGS Fort Collins Science Center. There the insects were exposed for 30 days to metal mixtures in ratios and concentrations similar to those occurring in ambient conditions.

This dataset is from the first of four experiments which test the toxicity of several metals with aquatic insect communities that were colonized in the field and then transferred and tested in experimental streams. Here we report original data from an experiment testing the toxicity of cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn), singly and in mixtures, to natural aquatic insect communities. Trays of cleaned gravel were placed in a stream (the Cache La Poudre River, Colorado) and allowed to colonize for about 40 days before being translocated to Aquatic Experimental Stream Laboratory (AXL) which was located at the USGS Fort Collins Science Center. There the insects were exposed for 30 days to metal mixtures in ratios and concentrations similar to those occurring in ambient conditions.

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).

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).

This dataset is from the fourth of four experiments which test the toxicity of several metals with aquatic insect communities that were colonized in the field and then transferred and tested in experimental streams. Here we report original data from testing the toxicity of cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), and nickel (Ni), singly and in mixtures, to natural benthic communities including aquatic insect and algal communities. The methods are the same as those used in Experiment 3, except for the metals combinations. Trays of cleaned gravel were placed in a stream (the Cache La Poudre River, Colorado) and allowed to colonize for about 40 days before being translocated to Aquatic Experimental Stream Laboratory (AXL) which was located at the USGS Fort Collins Science Center. There the insects were exposed for 30 days to metal mixtures in ratios and concentrations similar to those occurring in ambient conditions. Emerging adult insects were captured and collected daily throughout the experiment, and larvae were collected at the end of the experiment. Additionally, metal residues were measured in sediments, periphyton and Brachycentrus caddisflies (a common, large-bodied, robust taxa that could survive high metals accumulations). Algal biomass responses to metals were measured in situ by in-vivo fluorescence.

A data release containing information on macroinvertebrate communities and sediment toxicity in the Niagara River and adjacent areas collected during a sampling effort conducted between 2019 and 2020, and a sampling effort conducted in 2022. During the first sampling effort, bed sediments were collected at 60 sites in the Niagara River, 5 sites on lower Smoke Creek, and 6 sites on Hoyt Lake for use in sediment toxicity testing and determination of grain size distribution and total organic carbon concentration. Additionally, macroinvertebrate samples were collected from the 60 sites on the Niagara River. During the second sampling effort, bed sediments were collected at 10 sites on lower Smoke Creek (5 of which were repeated from the first sampling effort), 5 reference sites on upper Smoke Creek, and 6 sites on Hoyt Lake (all of which were repeated from the first sampling effort) for toxicity testing, macroinvertebrate community assessment, and and determination of grain size distribution and total organic carbon concentration. Additionally, sediments were collected at 10 sites in the Black Rock Canal, 5 reference sites in the upper Black Rock Canal, and 5 sites in Erie Basin Marina for macroinvertebrate community assessment. The selection of site locations and analyses was done by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation based on existing data gaps and prior sediment chemistry data. For both sampling efforts, in situ habitat measurements were taken at the time of sample collection at all sites. All sediment samples were collected using a petite Ponar dredge. Ten-day sediment toxicity tests were performed using two test species, Chironomus dilutus and Hyalella azteca, following standard USEPA test methods. Macroinvertebrates were identified to the lowest practical taxonomic resolution and used to calculate metrics of biological integrity following standard New York State Department of Environmental Conservation procedures. A morphological deformity analysis was also conducted on the mentum mouthpart of midge larvae in the genus Chironomus as an additional measure of toxicity following standard New York State Department of Environmental Conservation procedures. The data release has five separate tables: one containing site locations and habitat information, one containing the results of sediment toxicity tests, one containing macroinvertebrate identifications, one containing standard New York State Department of Environmental Conservation metrics of macroinvertebrate community integrity calculated from the macroinvertebrate identifications, and one containing the results of the morphological deformity analysis.

A data release containing information on macroinvertebrate communities and sediment toxicity in the Niagara River and adjacent areas collected during a sampling effort conducted between 2019 and 2020, and a sampling effort conducted in 2022. During the first sampling effort, bed sediments were collected at 60 sites in the Niagara River, 5 sites on lower Smoke Creek, and 6 sites on Hoyt Lake for use in sediment toxicity testing and determination of grain size distribution and total organic carbon concentration. Additionally, macroinvertebrate samples were collected from the 60 sites on the Niagara River. During the second sampling effort, bed sediments were collected at 10 sites on lower Smoke Creek (5 of which were repeated from the first sampling effort), 5 reference sites on upper Smoke Creek, and 6 sites on Hoyt Lake (all of which were repeated from the first sampling effort) for toxicity testing, macroinvertebrate community assessment, and and determination of grain size distribution and total organic carbon concentration. Additionally, sediments were collected at 10 sites in the Black Rock Canal, 5 reference sites in the upper Black Rock Canal, and 5 sites in Erie Basin Marina for macroinvertebrate community assessment. The selection of site locations and analyses was done by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation based on existing data gaps and prior sediment chemistry data. For both sampling efforts, in situ habitat measurements were taken at the time of sample collection at all sites. All sediment samples were collected using a petite Ponar dredge. Ten-day sediment toxicity tests were performed using two test species, Chironomus dilutus and Hyalella azteca, following standard USEPA test methods. Macroinvertebrates were identified to the lowest practical taxonomic resolution and used to calculate metrics of biological integrity following standard New York State Department of Environmental Conservation procedures. A morphological deformity analysis was also conducted on the mentum mouthpart of midge larvae in the genus Chironomus as an additional measure of toxicity following standard New York State Department of Environmental Conservation procedures. The data release has five separate tables: one containing site locations and habitat information, one containing the results of sediment toxicity tests, one containing macroinvertebrate identifications, one containing standard New York State Department of Environmental Conservation metrics of macroinvertebrate community integrity calculated from the macroinvertebrate identifications, and one containing the results of the morphological deformity analysis.

This dataset is from the second of four experiments which test the toxicity of several metals with aquatic insect communities that were colonized in the field and then transferred and tested in experimental streams. Here we report original data from testing the toxicity of cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) singly and in mixtures, to natural aquatic insect communities. Thus, the exposures reproduced those in experiment 1, with the addition of a third metal, Cu Trays of cleaned gravel were placed in a stream (the Cache La Poudre River, Colorado) and allowed to colonize for about 40 days before being translocated to Aquatic Experimental Stream Laboratory (AXL) which was located at the USGS Fort Collins Science Center. There the insects were exposed for 30 days to metal mixtures in ratios and concentrations similar to those occurring in ambient conditions. Emerging adult insects were captured and collected daily throughout the experiment, while larvae and metal residues in periphyton, sediment, and Brachycentrus caddisflies (a common, large-bodied, robust taxa that could survive high metals accumulations) were collected on the final day of the experiment.