As part of their Watershed Function Scientific Focus Area (SFA), Berkeley Lab and its collaborating institutions (e.g., USGS) have established a "Community Watershed" in the headwaters of the East River near Crested Butte, Colorado (USA), designed to quantify processes impacting the ability of mountainous systems to retain and release water, nutrients, carbon, and metals. The ongoing research spans a range of scales from hillslope to catchment to basin, with surface water and groundwater linking multiple geomorphic compartments. A major goal of this SFA research is to generate a transferable understanding of mountain hillslope to river dissolved nutrient, carbon, and metals transport, integrating extensive and novel field observations with fully coupled numerical models. The mountain headwater Oh-Be-Joyful Creek is part of the East River SFA located approximately 6 km northwest of the town of Crested Butte and is a key tributary of the Slate River. The creek is generally incised into bedrock (predominantly Mancos Shale) and many steeper sections have little to no bed sediment. Banks range from bedrock walls to avalanche and rock slide deposits. At an elevation of approximately 2900 m A.S.L., the regional Peeler fault intersects Oh-Be-Joyful Creek from the south creating a preferential groundwater discharge zone. This data release presents various water quality data collected along the Oh-be-joyful Creek from the main channel, groundwater discharge points, and small tributaries, including data collected during a constant rate dye injection near the Peeler fault zone.

The U.S. Geological Survey collected low-altitude airborne thermal infrared data and visual imagery via a multirotor, small unoccupied aircraft system deployed from the northern bank of Oh-be-joyful Creek and adjacent to the Peeler fault, approximately 6 kilometers northwest of the town of Crested Butte, in Gunnison National Forest, Colorado, on August 17, 2017. Thermal infrared still images were collected in jpg and radiometric tiff formats, and non-radiometric thermal infrared video was collected. The radiometric thermal infrared still images were compiled automatically into a larger stitched image (orthomosaic). Visual imagery was collected in jpg format, and the images were compiled automatically into a larger stitched image (orthomosaic). Structure from Motion techniques were applied to the visual imagery to derive a time-specific digital elevation model (DEM).

Small unoccupied aircraft systems (UAS) are now often used for collecting aerial visible image data and creating 3D digital surface models (DSM) that incorporate terrain and dense vegetation. Lightweight thermal sensors provide another sensor option for generation of sub meter resolution aerial thermal infrared orthophotos that can be used to infer hydrogeological processes. UAS-based sensors allow for the rapid and safe survey of groundwater discharge areas, often present in inaccessible, boggy, and/or dangerous terrain. Visible light and thermal infrared image data were collected March 2018 and March 2019, respectively, at Tidmarsh Farms, a former commercial cranberry bog located in coastal Massachusetts, USA (41°54'17.6"N 70°34'17.4"W), where a comprehensive stream and wetland restoration was performed. Wetland restoration actions at Tidmarsh Farms were made possible by a landowner decision to enroll in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Wetland Reserve Easement Program. The Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Ecological Restoration (MDER) later became the lead manager for the design, permitting, and implementation of stream and wetland restoration actions on the site. In 2017, after the completion of the largest freshwater wetland restoration in Massachusetts to date, the property was purchased by the Massachusetts Audubon Society who in 2018 opened the Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary to the public.

The U.S. Geological Survey collected low-altitude airborne thermal infrared data and visual imagery via a multirotor, small unoccupied aircraft system deployed from the northern bank of Oh-be-joyful Creek and adjacent to the Peeler fault, approximately 6 kilometers northwest of the town of Crested Butte, in Gunnison National Forest, Colorado, on August 17, 2017. Thermal infrared still images were collected in jpg and radiometric tiff formats, and non-radiometric thermal infrared video was collected. The radiometric thermal infrared still images were compiled automatically into a larger stitched image (orthomosaic). Visual imagery was collected in jpg format, and the images were compiled automatically into a larger stitched image (orthomosaic). Structure from Motion techniques were applied to the visual imagery to derive a time-specific digital elevation model (DEM).

Water chemistry data from: Young, H.W., Parliman, D.J. and Mariner, R.H., 1988. Chemical and hydrologic data for selected thermal-water wells and non-thermal springs in the Boise Area, southwestern Idaho: US Geological Survey Open-File Report 88-471, 35p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr88471. Water chemistry data was digitized for 29 samples. Reported attributes include: Type, Collection date, Reported location, State, County, Latitude, Longitude, Location resolution, Location error, Well depth, Temperature, pH, Boron (B), Calcium (Ca), Chloride (Cl), Fluoride (F), Alkalinity as bicarbonate (HCO3), Potassium (K), Lithium (Li), Magnesium (Mg), Total nitrogen (N total), Sodium (Na), Total phosphorus (P total), Silica (SiO2), Sulfate (SO4), Cations, Anions, Reported total dissolved solids, Salinity, Charge balance, Isotopic composition of hydrogen (Delta 2H), Isotopic composition of oxygen in water (Delta 18O H2O), Isotopic composition of carbon (Delta 13C), Author comment. Data was digitized from Table 2. The following tables were not digitized: Table 1: well records. Table 3: drillers logs.

Water chemistry data from: Young, H.W., Parliman, D.J. and Mariner, R.H., 1988. Chemical and hydrologic data for selected thermal-water wells and non-thermal springs in the Boise Area, southwestern Idaho: US Geological Survey Open-File Report 88-471, 35p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr88471. Water chemistry data was digitized for 29 samples. Reported attributes include: Type, Collection date, Reported location, State, County, Latitude, Longitude, Location resolution, Location error, Well depth, Temperature, pH, Boron (B), Calcium (Ca), Chloride (Cl), Fluoride (F), Alkalinity as bicarbonate (HCO3), Potassium (K), Lithium (Li), Magnesium (Mg), Total nitrogen (N total), Sodium (Na), Total phosphorus (P total), Silica (SiO2), Sulfate (SO4), Cations, Anions, Reported total dissolved solids, Salinity, Charge balance, Isotopic composition of hydrogen (Delta 2H), Isotopic composition of oxygen in water (Delta 18O H2O), Isotopic composition of carbon (Delta 13C), Author comment. Data was digitized from Table 2. The following tables were not digitized: Table 1: well records. Table 3: drillers logs.

Water analyses are reported for 66 samples collected from numerous thermal and non-thermal (rivers and streams) features in the southwestern areas of Yellowstone National Park (YNP) during 2009, 2017, and 2018. Water samples were collected from sources near Boundary Creek, Bechler River, Falls River, Mountain Ash Creek, Upper Snake River, Spirea Creek, and Lewis Lake. These water samples were collected and analyzed as part of research investigations on the chemistry of Yellowstone’s hydrothermal system and on the distribution of dissolved arsenic and mercury. Most samples were analyzed for major cations and anions, trace metals, redox species of arsenic, iron, nitrogen, and sulfur, and isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen. Radiogenic isotopes of strontium and tritium concentrations were also determined in selected samples. In addition, river and stream discharge data were obtained to determine the flux of chloride and other solutes from thermal areas in the southwest YNP.

Water analyses are reported for 66 samples collected from numerous thermal and non-thermal (rivers and streams) features in the southwestern areas of Yellowstone National Park (YNP) during 2009, 2017, and 2018. Water samples were collected from sources near Boundary Creek, Bechler River, Falls River, Mountain Ash Creek, Upper Snake River, Spirea Creek, and Lewis Lake. These water samples were collected and analyzed as part of research investigations on the chemistry of Yellowstone’s hydrothermal system and on the distribution of dissolved arsenic and mercury. Most samples were analyzed for major cations and anions, trace metals, redox species of arsenic, iron, nitrogen, and sulfur, and isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen. Radiogenic isotopes of strontium and tritium concentrations were also determined in selected samples. In addition, river and stream discharge data were obtained to determine the flux of chloride and other solutes from thermal areas in the southwest YNP.

The California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) initiated the Oil and Gas Regional Monitoring Program (RMP) to assess effects of oil and gas development on groundwater designated for any beneficial use. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is the technical lead in conducting the RMP through the California Oil, Gas, and Groundwater (COGG) Program, working in cooperation with the State Water Board, and in partnership with other State and local agencies. The USGS collected and analyzed groundwater, surface water, and associated quality control (QC) samples in the Elk Hills study area during June 2017–April 2018. The Elk Hills study area includes the Elk Hills and North Coles Levee Oil Fields and a five-kilometer buffer zone surrounding the administrative boundaries of the two oil fields in Kern County, California. Water samples were collected from twenty-six monitoring wells, four irrigation wells, two public supply wells, and one managed recharge pond. Samples were collected using established groundwater data-collection protocols and procedures. Samples were analyzed for water-quality indicators, major and minor ions, nutrients, trace elements, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), naturally occurring radioactive material, geochemical and age-dating tracers, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) characteristics, dissolved standard and hydrocarbon gases (methane through hexane), and dissolved noble and atmospheric gases. Over 200 constituents and water-quality indicators were measured. Quality-control samples collected as part of this study included replicates, field blanks, equipment blanks, source-solution blanks, and matrix spikes.

The California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) initiated the Oil and Gas Regional Monitoring Program (RMP) to assess effects of oil and gas development on groundwater designated for any beneficial use. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is the technical lead in conducting the RMP through the California Oil, Gas, and Groundwater (COGG) Program, working in cooperation with the State Water Board, and in partnership with other State and local agencies. The USGS collected and analyzed groundwater, surface water, and associated quality control (QC) samples in the Elk Hills study area during June 2017–April 2018. The Elk Hills study area includes the Elk Hills and North Coles Levee Oil Fields and a five-kilometer buffer zone surrounding the administrative boundaries of the two oil fields in Kern County, California. Water samples were collected from twenty-six monitoring wells, four irrigation wells, two public supply wells, and one managed recharge pond. Samples were collected using established groundwater data-collection protocols and procedures. Samples were analyzed for water-quality indicators, major and minor ions, nutrients, trace elements, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), naturally occurring radioactive material, geochemical and age-dating tracers, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) characteristics, dissolved standard and hydrocarbon gases (methane through hexane), and dissolved noble and atmospheric gases. Over 200 constituents and water-quality indicators were measured. Quality-control samples collected as part of this study included replicates, field blanks, equipment blanks, source-solution blanks, and matrix spikes.