Stream segments, aquatic organism captures, stream surveys, and road-stream crossings described by these metadata accompany a 2012 electrofishing study of the distribution and abundance of aquatic organisms (fish, lampreys, amphibians and crayfish), conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey, and the Pacific Northwest Region Aquatic and Riparian Ecosystem Monitoring Project (AREMP) of the U.S. Forest Service, in the Siuslaw National Forest in western Oregon, USA. The purpose of the study was to quantify the effectiveness of stream-road crossing restoration (culvert replacement to the stream simulation standard) in terms of numbers of fish and length of stream gained through restoration, and to quantify the continuing effects of replaced and non-replaced crossings on the probability of passage by aquatic organisms compared to stream reaches having no road crossing. The sampling design is nested in several ways; sampled stream segments (30-m electrofishing plots) were selected in a spatially balanced random sample within stream networks (contiguous spatial collections of segments within 2 km of a study culvert or road crossing). Networks themselves were randomly sampled for study from the 79 networks in the scope of inference with probability proportional to the length of stream suitable for sampling [< 25% average gradient, < 10 km2 in drainage area, and > 0.283 l.s-1 (0.01 cubic feet per second) in mean annual discharge]. The scope of inference was defined as stream within 2 km of a study crossing (303 stream-road crossings identified as potentially important to salmon and trout based on channel slope, valley bottom morphology, and stream size). At sampled segments electrofishing was used to capture aquatic organisms for identification, counting, and at a sub-sample of sites marking for capture-recapture study. Recapture passes were conducted two days after the initial electrofishing pass.

The hydrologic regime of rivers and streams is a major determinant of habitat quality for fish and aquatic invertebrates. Long-term streamflow data were compiled and multidecadal streamflow trends and ecological flow (EFlow) statistics were calculated in support of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Chesapeake Bay Science Initiative toward understanding fish habitat and health in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (CBWS). A dataset comprising all streamgages (n = 409) reporting daily means of streamflow within the CBWS and remaining active as of September 30, 2018 (the end of Water Year [WY] 2018), independent of streamgage installation date, was retrieved from the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS). This dataset was then subset to include only those streamgages with a contiguous timeseries of streamflow data from a start date no earlier than April 1, 1939 (Climate Year [CY] 1940) and no later than October 1, 1999 (WY 2000). The R packages “EGRET” and "Eflowstats" were utilized together to determine streamflow trends and EFlow statistics from the subset (n = 243). Trends and EFlows were computed for the ranges 1940-1969 (n = 90), 1970-1999 (n = 167), and 2000-2018 (n = 243). Streamflow trends were computed for eight annual metrics (1-, 7- and 30-day minima [CY] and maxima [WY], mean and median [WYs]). These streamflow trends provide context for the 178 EFlow statistics (WY) which have been designated to characterize the magnitude, frequency, and duration of extreme high and low flows, the timing of seasonal flows, and the consistency of the historic regime. Files herein include the following Child Items: (1) a table summarizing streamflow trends for three time periods at a minimum of 90 and maximum of 243 streamgages and 500 time-series plots graphically representing those trends; (2) a table summarizing EFlow statistics and the change between each statistic for three time periods at a minimum of 90 and maximum of 243 streamgages; and (3) a GIS shapefile of the original 409 USGS streamgage locations, complete with NWIS attributes, active within the CBWS through September 30, 2018.

The hydrologic regime of rivers and streams is a major determinant of habitat quality for fish and aquatic invertebrates. Long-term streamflow data were compiled and multidecadal streamflow trends and ecological flow (EFlow) statistics were calculated in support of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Chesapeake Bay Science Initiative toward understanding fish habitat and health in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (CBWS). A dataset comprising all streamgages (n = 409) reporting daily means of streamflow within the CBWS and remaining active as of September 30, 2018 (the end of Water Year [WY] 2018), independent of streamgage installation date, was retrieved from the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS). This dataset was then subset to include only those streamgages with a contiguous timeseries of streamflow data from a start date no earlier than April 1, 1939 (Climate Year [CY] 1940) and no later than October 1, 1999 (WY 2000). The R packages “EGRET” and "Eflowstats" were utilized together to determine streamflow trends and EFlow statistics from the subset (n = 243). Trends and EFlows were computed for the ranges 1940-1969 (n = 90), 1970-1999 (n = 167), and 2000-2018 (n = 243). Streamflow trends were computed for eight annual metrics (1-, 7- and 30-day minima [CY] and maxima [WY], mean and median [WYs]). These streamflow trends provide context for the 178 EFlow statistics (WY) which have been designated to characterize the magnitude, frequency, and duration of extreme high and low flows, the timing of seasonal flows, and the consistency of the historic regime. Files herein include the following Child Items: (1) a table summarizing streamflow trends for three time periods at a minimum of 90 and maximum of 243 streamgages and 500 time-series plots graphically representing those trends; (2) a table summarizing EFlow statistics and the change between each statistic for three time periods at a minimum of 90 and maximum of 243 streamgages; and (3) a GIS shapefile of the original 409 USGS streamgage locations, complete with NWIS attributes, active within the CBWS through September 30, 2018.

Field monitoring data from 2022 work at Theodore Roosevelt NP. Monitoring along Little Missouri River is conducted by the Northern Great Plains Inventory and Monitoring Network, beginning in 2022.

This data release contains predictions of stream biological condition as defined by the Chesapeake basin-wide index of biotic integrity for stream macroinvertebrates (Chessie BIBI) using Random Forest models with landscape data for small streams (≤ 200 km2 in upstream drainage) across the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (CBW). Predictions were made at eight time periods (2001, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2016, and 2019) according to changes in landcover using the National Land Cover Database (NLCD). The Chessie BIBI data used were provided by the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin. Uncertainty was calculated using model prediction intervals. For complete data descriptions and data interpretation see associated publication (Maloney et al., 2022).

This data release contains predictions of stream biological condition as defined by the Chesapeake basin-wide index of biotic integrity for stream macroinvertebrates (Chessie BIBI) using Random Forest models with landscape data for small streams (≤ 200 km2 in upstream drainage) across the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (CBW). Predictions were made at eight time periods (2001, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2016, and 2019) according to changes in landcover using the National Land Cover Database (NLCD). The Chessie BIBI data used were provided by the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin. Uncertainty was calculated using model prediction intervals. For complete data descriptions and data interpretation see associated publication (Maloney et al., 2022).

This geospatial dataset includes one point feature class file and associated FGDC-compliant metadata representing datasets to support development of ecological limit functions for the Cumberland Plateau in northeastern Middle Tennessee and southeastern Kentucky. Knight and others (2012, 2014) developed a methodology of relating fish species richness to changes in hydrologic conditions for sites within the Tennessee River Basin; this dataset applies this methodology to 138 sites within the the Cumberland Plateau. Information contained within this dataset represents values of basin characteristics (see Table II in Knight and others, 2012), estimates of streamflow characteristics (see Table I in Knight and others, 2012), measures of individual and cumulative departure of streamflow characteristics from reference hydrologic conditions, and fish species richness for 138 sites in the study area. Characteristics describing each basin were estimated and standardized (see Table III in Knight and others, 2012) and include: percent forest, percent agriculture, percent of basin in the Interior Plateau Level 3 Ecoregion, percent of basin in Blue Ridge Level 3 Ecoregion, mean basin elevation, index of Hortonian overland flow, soil factor, geologic factor, monthly mean precipitation, January precipitation deviation, August temperature deviation, temperature range, and rock depth as well as the interaction of soil factor, geologic factor, and rock depth with monthly mean precipitation. Basin characteristics were used as independent variables to estimate streamflow characteristics, also in standardized form, following Knight and others (2012). Estimated streamflow characteristics include measures of the magnitude, duration, frequency, timing, and rate of change of the annual hydrograph (Knight and others, 2012). Departure values for individual streamflow characteristics were determined by calculating the numerical distance (difference) outside the reference range for each streamflow characteristic. Reference hydrologic conditions for the study area were determined using methods presented in Knight and others (2012; 2014). Reference ranges are included in the metadata in the entity and attribute descriptions for the fields representing individual hydrologic departure values. Cumulative hydrologic departures represent the sum of individual departure values that were identified as statistically significant (p < 0.05) in quantile regression analysis based on Knight and others (2014), stratified by fish group. Fish species richness for 11 fish groups is presented for each site and represents trophic, taxonomic, reproductive, and habitat preferences (see Table I in Knight and others, 2014) as well as fishes that are considered as rare, threatened, or endangered by Withers (2009). Knight, R.R., Gain, W.S., and Wolfe, W.J., 2012, Modelling ecological flow regime: an example from the Tennessee and Cumberland River basins: Ecohydrology, v. 5, p. 613–627, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eco.246 Knight, R.R., Murphy, J.C., Wolfe, W.J., Saylor, C.F., and Wales, A.K., 2014, Ecological limit functions relating fish community response to hydrologic departures of the ecological flow regime in the Tennessee River basin, United States: Ecohydrology, v. 7, p. 1262–1280, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eco.1460 Withers, D., 2009, Tennessee Natural Heritage Program rare animals list: Division of Natural Areas, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Nashville, TN, 61 p, last accessed November 19, 2015, at https://www.tn.gov/assets/entities/environment/attachments/na_animal-list.pdf

This geospatial dataset includes one point feature class file and associated FGDC-compliant metadata representing datasets to support development of ecological limit functions for the Cumberland Plateau in northeastern Middle Tennessee and southeastern Kentucky. Knight and others (2012, 2014) developed a methodology of relating fish species richness to changes in hydrologic conditions for sites within the Tennessee River Basin; this dataset applies this methodology to 138 sites within the the Cumberland Plateau. Information contained within this dataset represents values of basin characteristics (see Table II in Knight and others, 2012), estimates of streamflow characteristics (see Table I in Knight and others, 2012), measures of individual and cumulative departure of streamflow characteristics from reference hydrologic conditions, and fish species richness for 138 sites in the study area. Characteristics describing each basin were estimated and standardized (see Table III in Knight and others, 2012) and include: percent forest, percent agriculture, percent of basin in the Interior Plateau Level 3 Ecoregion, percent of basin in Blue Ridge Level 3 Ecoregion, mean basin elevation, index of Hortonian overland flow, soil factor, geologic factor, monthly mean precipitation, January precipitation deviation, August temperature deviation, temperature range, and rock depth as well as the interaction of soil factor, geologic factor, and rock depth with monthly mean precipitation. Basin characteristics were used as independent variables to estimate streamflow characteristics, also in standardized form, following Knight and others (2012). Estimated streamflow characteristics include measures of the magnitude, duration, frequency, timing, and rate of change of the annual hydrograph (Knight and others, 2012). Departure values for individual streamflow characteristics were determined by calculating the numerical distance (difference) outside the reference range for each streamflow characteristic. Reference hydrologic conditions for the study area were determined using methods presented in Knight and others (2012; 2014). Reference ranges are included in the metadata in the entity and attribute descriptions for the fields representing individual hydrologic departure values. Cumulative hydrologic departures represent the sum of individual departure values that were identified as statistically significant (p < 0.05) in quantile regression analysis based on Knight and others (2014), stratified by fish group. Fish species richness for 11 fish groups is presented for each site and represents trophic, taxonomic, reproductive, and habitat preferences (see Table I in Knight and others, 2014) as well as fishes that are considered as rare, threatened, or endangered by Withers (2009). Knight, R.R., Gain, W.S., and Wolfe, W.J., 2012, Modelling ecological flow regime: an example from the Tennessee and Cumberland River basins: Ecohydrology, v. 5, p. 613–627, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eco.246 Knight, R.R., Murphy, J.C., Wolfe, W.J., Saylor, C.F., and Wales, A.K., 2014, Ecological limit functions relating fish community response to hydrologic departures of the ecological flow regime in the Tennessee River basin, United States: Ecohydrology, v. 7, p. 1262–1280, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eco.1460 Withers, D., 2009, Tennessee Natural Heritage Program rare animals list: Division of Natural Areas, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Nashville, TN, 61 p, last accessed November 19, 2015, at https://www.tn.gov/assets/entities/environment/attachments/na_animal-list.pdf