This database contains aquatic benthic macroinvertebrate abundance data derived from samples collected from 33 75-meter stream site locations within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation area in September of 2006. The database contains two separate table files (i.e., entities) in csv format: 1) Macroinvertebrate site abundance data and 2) site location data. For macroinvertebrate data, six samples were collected within 2-3 riffle areas within each site location with Portable Invertebrate Box Samplers (0.1-m2 sample area, 350 micron mesh collecting nets). Where possible, organisms were identified to the genus taxonomic level using a stereoscope except for organisms of the family Chironomidae and class Oliogochaeta, which were mounted on slides and identified with compound microscopes. For each site, data from six samples compiled into a single site abundance value for each taxon. Site location data consists of UTM coordinates (NAD 1983, UTM zone 18N) for the 33 sample sites.

This data release links benthic macroinvertebrate sites to both the NHDPlus Version 2 and NHDPlus High Resolution Region 02 networks, hereafter referred to as V2 and HR, using the hydrolink methodology. Linked benthic macroinvertebrate sites are those included in the Chesapeake Bay Basin-wide Index of Biotic Integrity (Chessie BIBI) developed by the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) and available from the Chesapeake Bay Program (https://datahub.chesapeakebay.net/LivingResources). The data set contains a unique sample identifier created by ICPRB, survey program, coordinates of sample, linked V2 COMID and HR Permanent Identifier, and information regarding uncertainty in the attribution. We strongly caution the use of sampling points with attribution uncertainty to avoid spurious attribution of geospatial data to benthic macroinvertebrate samples.

This data release links benthic macroinvertebrate sites to both the NHDPlus Version 2 and NHDPlus High Resolution Region 02 networks, hereafter referred to as V2 and HR, using the hydrolink methodology. Linked benthic macroinvertebrate sites are those included in the Chesapeake Bay Basin-wide Index of Biotic Integrity (Chessie BIBI) developed by the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) and available from the Chesapeake Bay Program (https://datahub.chesapeakebay.net/LivingResources). The data set contains a unique sample identifier created by ICPRB, survey program, coordinates of sample, linked V2 COMID and HR Permanent Identifier, and information regarding uncertainty in the attribution. We strongly caution the use of sampling points with attribution uncertainty to avoid spurious attribution of geospatial data to benthic macroinvertebrate samples.

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.

Densities of major taxonomic groups and species (or higher taxa) of benthic macroinvertebrates sampled in lake-wide surveys of Lake Ontario conducted in 1994, 1997, 1998, and 1999. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Burlakova, L., A. Karatayev, A. Hrycik, S. Daniel, K. Mehler, L. Rudstam, J. Watkins, R. Dermott, J. Scharold, A. Elgin, and T. Nalepa. Six decades of Lake Ontario ecological history according to benthos.. JOURNAL OF GREAT LAKES RESEARCH. International Association for Great Lakes Research, Ann Arbor, MI, USA, 48(2): 274-288, (2022).

These are the data supporting the manuscript, "Benthic macroinvertebrate community response to environmental changes over seven decades in an urbanized estuary in the northeastern United States". This dataset is associated with the following publication: Pelletier, M., D. Cobb, K. Rocha, K. Ho, M. Cantwell, M. Perron, M.A. Charpentier, H.W. Buffum, S.S. Hale, and R. Burgess. Benthic macroinvertebrate community response to environmental changes over seven decades in an urbanized estuary in the northeastern United States. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, USA, 169: 105323, (2021).

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 provides analysis results for recent status of and trends in 44 fish and 99 macroinvertebrate assemblages in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. For both biological datasets a multi-metric index, metric of assemblage sensitivity, functional feeding group metric and habitat preference metric was selected for analysis. Sites used to calculate trends required a minimum of 7 years of data. Status was calculated as a three-year average by averaging metric values for the most recent three years of data at each site and trends were calculated using generalized additive models (GAM) in the R package 'mgcv' for the full window of sample years at each site. Detailed data preparation information, analytical methods, and results are presented and discussed in the associated Scientific Investigative Report (https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20255072).