The Grand Calumet River (GCR), located in northern Indiana, is contaminated due to a wide range of historical industrial activities. Short-term and long-term sediment exposure bioassays with the amphipod Hyalella azteca, the midge Chironomus dilutus, and the mussel Lampsilis siliquoidea were conducted with samples collected in 2013, 2015, and 2017, from up to 26 sites, including both remediated, non-remediated and relatively uncontaminated reference sites. The responses (survival, growth, reproduction and/or emergence) of test organisms to the exposure bioassays are presented here.

This dataset provides baseline concentrations (from 2014) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), other aromatic organic compounds, mercury (Hg), and trace metal concentrations in sediment and biota collected from two sites along an existing rail line used for coal transport in the Columbia River Gorge, Washington. For this study, aquatic surface sediments, aquatic insects, and juvenile fish were collected in 2014 from Horsethief Lake in Columbia Hills State Park and Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), both located in close proximity to the rail line and within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Samples were collected from two subsites in each area: one closer to the rail line and one farther from the rail line. Fish species collected for analysis included anadromous salmonids and resident yellow perch, sculpin, pumpkinseed, northern pikeminnow, and smallmouth bass.

This dataset provides baseline concentrations (from 2014) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), other aromatic organic compounds, mercury (Hg), and trace metal concentrations in sediment and biota collected from two sites along an existing rail line used for coal transport in the Columbia River Gorge, Washington. For this study, aquatic surface sediments, aquatic insects, and juvenile fish were collected in 2014 from Horsethief Lake in Columbia Hills State Park and Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), both located in close proximity to the rail line and within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Samples were collected from two subsites in each area: one closer to the rail line and one farther from the rail line. Fish species collected for analysis included anadromous salmonids and resident yellow perch, sculpin, pumpkinseed, northern pikeminnow, and smallmouth bass.

These data present the results of sediment toxicity tests conducted by the US Geological Survey's Columbia Environmental Research Center (CERC) in Columbia, MO, in 2014. The sediments were collected as one part of a larger study on stream quality in Southeastern USA streams during the summer of 2014. For more information on the larger study see- https://webapps.usgs.gov/rsqa. The data include results from two test species, the amphipod Hyalella azteca and the midge Chironomus dilutus (formerly known as C. tentans). Three endpoints per species tested are listed as survival, growth and biomass from 76 freshwater stream sediments collected in the study. Values listed are the average response across four test replicates per species, per sediment tested, and are listed as both absolute values per test endpoint and as values normalized to organism performance in reference sediments included within the study. Laboratory testing methods followed standard sediment toxicity test methods for these species from American Society for Testing and Materials (E1706-05(2010)) and US EPA method EPA/600/R-99/064 (2000). For more information about the study and analysis of these results, see associated journal article; 'Moran, P.W., Kemble, N.E., Waite, I.R., Mahler, B.J., Nowell, L.H., Van Metre, P.C. 2020. Legacy and current-use contaminants in sediments limit macroinvertebrate communities in Southeastern USA streams. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, in press.

These data present the results of sediment toxicity tests conducted by the US Geological Survey's Columbia Environmental Research Center (CERC) in Columbia, MO, in 2014. The sediments were collected as one part of a larger study on stream quality in Southeastern USA streams during the summer of 2014. For more information on the larger study see- https://webapps.usgs.gov/rsqa. The data include results from two test species, the amphipod Hyalella azteca and the midge Chironomus dilutus (formerly known as C. tentans). Three endpoints per species tested are listed as survival, growth and biomass from 76 freshwater stream sediments collected in the study. Values listed are the average response across four test replicates per species, per sediment tested, and are listed as both absolute values per test endpoint and as values normalized to organism performance in reference sediments included within the study. Laboratory testing methods followed standard sediment toxicity test methods for these species from American Society for Testing and Materials (E1706-05(2010)) and US EPA method EPA/600/R-99/064 (2000). For more information about the study and analysis of these results, see associated journal article; 'Moran, P.W., Kemble, N.E., Waite, I.R., Mahler, B.J., Nowell, L.H., Van Metre, P.C. 2020. Legacy and current-use contaminants in sediments limit macroinvertebrate communities in Southeastern USA streams. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, in press.

The Grand Calumet River flows through northwestern Indiana and was designated an EPA Area of Concern (AOC) in 1987. There are multiple legacy pollutants in the river including but not limited to heavy metals and PCBs. To investigate potential causes and patterns of eutrophication in the river, water samples were collected for 16S rRNA microbial and eukaryotic 18S rRNA amplicon sequencing during April - September 2021. This data release describes the resulting sequencing data.

The Grand Calumet River flows through northwestern Indiana and was designated an EPA Area of Concern (AOC) in 1987. There are multiple legacy pollutants in the river including but not limited to heavy metals and PCBs. To investigate potential causes and patterns of eutrophication in the river, water samples were collected for 16S rRNA microbial and eukaryotic 18S rRNA amplicon sequencing during April - September 2021. This data release describes the resulting sequencing data.

This data release contains bioassay data from sediment toxicity tests conducted by the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center (CERC) with 66 sediment samples collected from in and around the Upper Columbia River in the fall of 2013. Toxicity testing was conducted from fall 2013 through summer 2014 with the amphipod, Hyalella azteca, the midge Chironomus dilutus, and the mussel Lampsilis siliquoidea. Short-term toxicity endpoints (10-28 d) included survival, weight, and biomass of all test organisms. Long-term tests with amphipods (42 d) and midges (about 50 d) included reproduction endpoint. Sediments were analyzed for physical and chemical characteristics, including particle size distribution, total organic carbon, acid volatile sulfide, slag content, and concentrations of metals in total-recoverable and simultaneously-extracted fractions. Porewaters were separated by centrifugation and by peepers (diffusion samplers) and were analyzed for filterable metals, dissolved organic carbon, and major ions. These data are intended to be used to characterize concentration-response relationships between metals concentrations and toxicity endpoints and to estimate site-specific toxicity thresholds for select metals or metal mixtures. These thresholds will be used to evaluate risks or injuries to the benthic invertebrate community associated with exposure to contaminated sediments and to develop goals for remediation of sediments of the Upper Columbia River.

This data release contains bioassay data from sediment toxicity tests conducted by the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center (CERC) with 66 sediment samples collected from in and around the Upper Columbia River in the fall of 2013. Toxicity testing was conducted from fall 2013 through summer 2014 with the amphipod, Hyalella azteca, the midge Chironomus dilutus, and the mussel Lampsilis siliquoidea. Short-term toxicity endpoints (10-28 d) included survival, weight, and biomass of all test organisms. Long-term tests with amphipods (42 d) and midges (about 50 d) included reproduction endpoint. Sediments were analyzed for physical and chemical characteristics, including particle size distribution, total organic carbon, acid volatile sulfide, slag content, and concentrations of metals in total-recoverable and simultaneously-extracted fractions. Porewaters were separated by centrifugation and by peepers (diffusion samplers) and were analyzed for filterable metals, dissolved organic carbon, and major ions. These data are intended to be used to characterize concentration-response relationships between metals concentrations and toxicity endpoints and to estimate site-specific toxicity thresholds for select metals or metal mixtures. These thresholds will be used to evaluate risks or injuries to the benthic invertebrate community associated with exposure to contaminated sediments and to develop goals for remediation of sediments of the Upper Columbia River.

This dataset consists of 262 variables which describe various known and suspected point and non-point sources of contaminants and endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) throughout the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Contaminant data was summarized to the NHDPlus Version 2.1 catchment level (1:100K). Contaminant data summarized span a time range of 2001 to 2016 and include regulated facilities, pesticides, manure and biosolids application data, mercury deposition, animal feeding applications, septic systems, landfills, and land use and land cover. These data are presented in a comma separated file, which includes all variables summarized and the NHDPlus Version 2.1 FEATUREID field (also known as COMID). The FEATUREID field can be used to relate these summaries to the NHDPlus Version 2.1 data suite for mapping and other analytical purposes. Total (TOT) and Divergent (DIV) upstream summaries were generated using the NHDPlusV2 Catchment Attribute Allocation and Accumulation Tool (CA3TV2). Using this method, upstreams summaries are generated for 82,263 of the 83,637 NHDPlus catchments in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. These data will be used to investigate source-sink linkages between contaminant sources, water quality issues, and impacted receptor populations (e.g., smallmouth bass) throughout the Bay Watershed. Information gained from this work may also be used to evaluate the success of mitigation activities and help to prioritize new locations for mitigation, implementation of best management practices, or habitat conservation actions.