These metadata contain links to the original sequences on GenBank. These data show the final OTU and metadata tables for each environmental sample collected. Additionally, we included OTU tables resulting from bioinformatic decontamination steps (using microDecon) in R.

These metadata contain links to the original sequences on GenBank. These data show the final OTU and metadata tables for each environmental sample collected. Additionally, we included OTU tables resulting from bioinformatic decontamination steps (using microDecon) in R.

Biological indicator taxa have long been used for integrative assessments of water quality, particularly benthic invertebrate groups such as arthropods. While standardized protocols have been developed to calculate 'biological index' scores based on the abundances of these taxa, such systems are challenging to implement at large scales due to the sampling effort required, taxonomic expertise needed, and the need for repeated sampling to reliably discriminate sites. Many of the same taxa detected by traditional surveys can also be detected by genetic analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA), potentially allowing for an alternative formulation of biological indexes that might be faster and more economical to produce. The current data were produced to evaluate eDNA-derived biological indexes at sites within the Potomac River watershed of the eastern United States, specifically within units of the National Park Service for which previous biological assessment data were available. This data release consists of five files: 1. sample.metadata.txt, which contains sampling metadata and identifiers linking to sample-derived sequence data that has been deposited in the Sequence Read Archive of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). This database is authoritative and comprehensive for sharing high-throughput sequence data produced with public funds. All accessions listed in the file can be searched to retrieve sample and sequence information at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2. cox1.references.fasta, which contains reference sequences of the cytochrome c oxidase 1gene of arthropods (typically abbreviated cox1 or COI), identified from regional checklists. The file is a text file in FASTA format. 3. mt16S.references.fasta, which contains reference sequences of the mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA (mt16S) gene of arthropods identified from regional checklists. The file is a text file in FASTA format. 4. first.stage.counts.txt, which is a tab-delimited table of counts of sequences that are attributed to each taxon from each sample for the first stage of the study. Whether the taxon attribution is from the mt16S or cox1 locus is also indicated. 5. second.stage.counts.txt, which is a tab-delimited table of counts of sequences that are attributed to each taxon from each sample for the second stage of the study. Whether the taxon attribution is from the mt16S or cox1 locus is also indicated.

To evaluate the ability of precipitation-based environmental DNA (eDNA) sample collection and mitochondrial 12S metabarcoding sequencing to reconstruct well-studied fish communities in lakes and rivers. Specific objectives were to 1) determine correlations between eDNA species detections and known community composition based on traditional field sampling, 2) compare efficiency of eDNA to detect fish biodiversity among systems with variable morphologies and trophic states, and 3) determine if species habitat preferences predicts eDNA detection. Fish community composition was estimated for seven lakes and two MIssissippi River navigation pools using sequence data from the mitochonrial 12S gene amplified from 10 to 50 water samples per waterbody collected in 50-mL centrifuge tubes at a single time point. Environmental DNA (eDNA) was concentrated without filtration by centrifuging samples to reduce per-sample handling time. Taxonomic detections from eDNA were compared to established community monitoring databases containing up to 40 years of sampling and a detailed habitat/substrate preference matrix to identify patterns of bias. Mitochondrial 12S gene metabarcoding detectec 15-47% of the known species at each waterbody and 30-76% of known genera. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) assessment of the community structure indicated that eDNA detected communities grouped in a similar pattern as known communities. Discriminant analysis of principal components indicated that there was a high degree of overlap in habitat/substrate preference of eDNA detected and eDNA undetected species suggesting limited habitat bias for eDNA sampling. Large numbers of small volume samples sequenced at the mitochondrial 12S gene can describe the course community structure of freshwater systems. However, additional traditional sampling and environmental DNA sampling may be necessary for a complete diversity census.

To evaluate the ability of precipitation-based environmental DNA (eDNA) sample collection and mitochondrial 12S metabarcoding sequencing to reconstruct well-studied fish communities in lakes and rivers. Specific objectives were to 1) determine correlations between eDNA species detections and known community composition based on traditional field sampling, 2) compare efficiency of eDNA to detect fish biodiversity among systems with variable morphologies and trophic states, and 3) determine if species habitat preferences predicts eDNA detection. Fish community composition was estimated for seven lakes and two MIssissippi River navigation pools using sequence data from the mitochonrial 12S gene amplified from 10 to 50 water samples per waterbody collected in 50-mL centrifuge tubes at a single time point. Environmental DNA (eDNA) was concentrated without filtration by centrifuging samples to reduce per-sample handling time. Taxonomic detections from eDNA were compared to established community monitoring databases containing up to 40 years of sampling and a detailed habitat/substrate preference matrix to identify patterns of bias. Mitochondrial 12S gene metabarcoding detectec 15-47% of the known species at each waterbody and 30-76% of known genera. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) assessment of the community structure indicated that eDNA detected communities grouped in a similar pattern as known communities. Discriminant analysis of principal components indicated that there was a high degree of overlap in habitat/substrate preference of eDNA detected and eDNA undetected species suggesting limited habitat bias for eDNA sampling. Large numbers of small volume samples sequenced at the mitochondrial 12S gene can describe the course community structure of freshwater systems. However, additional traditional sampling and environmental DNA sampling may be necessary for a complete diversity census.

This dataset represents the dam density and storage volumes within individual local and accumulated upstream catchments for NHDPlusV2 Waterbodies based on the National Anthropogenic Barrier Dataset (NABD). Catchment boundaries in LakeCat are defined in one of two ways, on-network or off-network. The on-network catchment boundaries follow the catchments provided in the NHDPlusV2 and the metrics for these lakes mirror metrics from StreamCat, but will substitute the COMID of the NHDWaterbody for that of the NHDFlowline. The off-network catchment framework uses the NHDPlusV2 flow direction rasters to define non-overlapping lake-catchment boundaries and then links them through an off-network flow table. The main objective of this project was to develop a dataset of large, anthropogenic barriers that are spatially linked to the National Hydrography Dataset Plus Version 1 (NHDPlusV1) for the conterminous U.S. to facilitate GIS analyses based on the NHDPlusV1/NHD and NID datasets. To meet this objective, Michigan State University conducted a spatial linkage of the point dataset of the 2009 National Inventory of Dams (NID) created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to the NHDPlusV1/NHD. The pool of dam data included were modified based on 1) dam removals that occurred after development of the 2009 NID and 2) the identification of duplicate dam records along state boundaries (cases where more than one state reported the same dam). The US Geological Survey (USGS) Aquatic GAP Program supported this work. The (dams/catchment) and (dam_storage/catchment) were summarized and accumulated into watersheds to produce local catchment-level and watershed-level metrics as a point data type.

This dataset represents the dam density and storage volumes within individual local and accumulated upstream catchments for NHDPlusV2 Waterbodies based on the National Anthropogenic Barrier Dataset (NABD). Catchment boundaries in LakeCat are defined in one of two ways, on-network or off-network. The on-network catchment boundaries follow the catchments provided in the NHDPlusV2 and the metrics for these lakes mirror metrics from StreamCat, but will substitute the COMID of the NHDWaterbody for that of the NHDFlowline. The off-network catchment framework uses the NHDPlusV2 flow direction rasters to define non-overlapping lake-catchment boundaries and then links them through an off-network flow table. The main objective of this project was to develop a dataset of large, anthropogenic barriers that are spatially linked to the National Hydrography Dataset Plus Version 1 (NHDPlusV1) for the conterminous U.S. to facilitate GIS analyses based on the NHDPlusV1/NHD and NID datasets. To meet this objective, Michigan State University conducted a spatial linkage of the point dataset of the 2009 National Inventory of Dams (NID) created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to the NHDPlusV1/NHD. The pool of dam data included were modified based on 1) dam removals that occurred after development of the 2009 NID and 2) the identification of duplicate dam records along state boundaries (cases where more than one state reported the same dam). The US Geological Survey (USGS) Aquatic GAP Program supported this work. The (dams/catchment) and (dam_storage/catchment) were summarized and accumulated into watersheds to produce local catchment-level and watershed-level metrics as a point data type.

This data release contains five datasets that were used in a Scientific Investigations Report to be published in 2018. These datasets are continuous temperature data, temperature profiles data, SPMD environmental concentration data in picograms per liter of water, SPMD environmental concentration data in nanograms per SPMD, and SPMD quality-control concentration data. SPMD Environmental Concentration, Continuous Temperature and Temperature Profile: Semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) and Onset Computer Corporation® TidbiT v2 temperature loggers were deployed together at 8 locations within southern Lake Powell to collect water concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and to collect continuous water temperature data. At these locations, the instruments were either deployed on a fixed dock, a buoy, or a floating dock. Listed below are the 8 locations that the SPMDs and the continuous temperature sensors were deployed. The PAH environmental concentration data are reported in both the original units, as nanograms per SPMD (ng/SPMD) and converted to a concentration in picograms per liter of water (pg/L). Temperature profile data were collected at all 8 locations. This data was collected during deployment and retrieval of the SPMDs by using a Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc., model SBE25 CTD profiler™. • Antelope Marina (USGS 365759111254700); Fixed Dock • Dangling Rope Marina (USGS 370708111045100); Fixed Dock • Lone Rock Beach (USGS 370107111320500); Buoy • Padre Bay near Dominquez Butte (USGS 370321111171700); Buoy • Rainbow Bridge National Monument (USGS 370506110581600); Fixed Dock • Stateline Marina (USGS 370031111300100); Fixed Dock • Wahweap Marina (USGS 365933111285200); Fixed Dock • Warm Creek Bay (USGS 370333111262700); Floating Dock SPMD environmental concentration data, and continuous temperature data were collected during the time periods listed below. Temperature profile data were collected at the time of deployment and the time of retrieval of the SPMDs. • June 21, 2016 (deployment date) to July 20, 2016 (retrieval date) • April 18, 2017 (deployment date) to May 16, 2017 (retrieval date) • June 29, 2017 (deployment date) to July 26, 2017 (retrieval date) SPMD Quality-control Concentrations: The following are the different types of quality-control data that were collected during the duration of this study: • Field Replicates • Field Blanks • Laboratory Blanks • Laboratory Fabrication Blanks • Laboratory Matrix Spikes • Performance Reference Compounds • Photolysis Marker

This data release contains five datasets that were used in a Scientific Investigations Report to be published in 2018. These datasets are continuous temperature data, temperature profiles data, SPMD environmental concentration data in picograms per liter of water, SPMD environmental concentration data in nanograms per SPMD, and SPMD quality-control concentration data. SPMD Environmental Concentration, Continuous Temperature and Temperature Profile: Semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) and Onset Computer Corporation® TidbiT v2 temperature loggers were deployed together at 8 locations within southern Lake Powell to collect water concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and to collect continuous water temperature data. At these locations, the instruments were either deployed on a fixed dock, a buoy, or a floating dock. Listed below are the 8 locations that the SPMDs and the continuous temperature sensors were deployed. The PAH environmental concentration data are reported in both the original units, as nanograms per SPMD (ng/SPMD) and converted to a concentration in picograms per liter of water (pg/L). Temperature profile data were collected at all 8 locations. This data was collected during deployment and retrieval of the SPMDs by using a Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc., model SBE25 CTD profiler™. • Antelope Marina (USGS 365759111254700); Fixed Dock • Dangling Rope Marina (USGS 370708111045100); Fixed Dock • Lone Rock Beach (USGS 370107111320500); Buoy • Padre Bay near Dominquez Butte (USGS 370321111171700); Buoy • Rainbow Bridge National Monument (USGS 370506110581600); Fixed Dock • Stateline Marina (USGS 370031111300100); Fixed Dock • Wahweap Marina (USGS 365933111285200); Fixed Dock • Warm Creek Bay (USGS 370333111262700); Floating Dock SPMD environmental concentration data, and continuous temperature data were collected during the time periods listed below. Temperature profile data were collected at the time of deployment and the time of retrieval of the SPMDs. • June 21, 2016 (deployment date) to July 20, 2016 (retrieval date) • April 18, 2017 (deployment date) to May 16, 2017 (retrieval date) • June 29, 2017 (deployment date) to July 26, 2017 (retrieval date) SPMD Quality-control Concentrations: The following are the different types of quality-control data that were collected during the duration of this study: • Field Replicates • Field Blanks • Laboratory Blanks • Laboratory Fabrication Blanks • Laboratory Matrix Spikes • Performance Reference Compounds • Photolysis Marker