These data describe microbiological analyses performed on groundwater samples from domestic drinking water supply collected from 42 groundwater wells in the Central Valley of California. Samples were collected between January 2014 and April 2014 for the Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment (GAMA) program priority basin assessment of the Madera, Chowchilla, and Kings (MACK) groundwater sub-basins’ shallow aquifers. A total of 75 wells were sampled for the MACK study unit between August 2013 and April 2014. Samples for this dataset were vacuum filtered and plated on MI and mEI agars prior to incubation to promote colony growth. Colonies were tallied by their species into columns for various fecal indicator bacteria (FIBs): total coliforms (TCs), Escherichia coli (E. coli), enterococci. Non-target growths were also counted and tallied. Six additional replicate samples were collected for quality assurance. Of the 579 total FIB colonies detected, 106 were selected for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis with the goal of sequencing their DNA. Selected colonies consisted of both target and non-target growths and were taken from 14 samples collected at 13 different wells. DNA sequencing was successful for 34 of the sampled colonies out of a total of 59 submitted. Results for these analyses were reported in FASTA format with the number of bases and their starting position indicated for each batch.

USGS scientists enumerated bacteria, including bacterial pathogens, from surface water and sand/sediment collected at an intertidal site (mudflat) near the outfall the Palo Alto Regional Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP). This site has been monitored for metal concentrations and benthic invertebrate community for the last 30 years. Continued efforts to document changes in pollutant concentrations, forms, and types over time is critical to assess ecosystem health. Environmental water and sand samples were analyzed at U.S. Geological Survey Michigan Bacteriological Research Laboratory for enumeration of halophilic bacteria, total coliforms, Escherichia coli, and enterococci, and the enrichment and isolation of Vibrio spp.

The U.S. Geological Survey is investigating sources of fecal bacteria in streams in the Grand Valley of western Colorado by using quantitative polymerase chain reaction microbial source tracking (MST) markers. The CowM2 MST marker was not detected in water-quality samples collected in 2022, which raised questions about the use of the marker for investigations in western Colorado. The presence or absence of bacteria associated with MST markers can be affected by geographic location, animal health, and diet. Known-source cattle fecal samples were collected in the Grand Valley to determine the presence or absence of the CowM2 marker in the feces of local cattle. A total of five samples were collected, representing herds grazing on public lands and local farms.

The U.S. Geological Survey is investigating sources of fecal bacteria in streams in the Grand Valley of western Colorado by using quantitative polymerase chain reaction microbial source tracking (MST) markers. The CowM2 MST marker was not detected in water-quality samples collected in 2022, which raised questions about the use of the marker for investigations in western Colorado. The presence or absence of bacteria associated with MST markers can be affected by geographic location, animal health, and diet. Known-source cattle fecal samples were collected in the Grand Valley to determine the presence or absence of the CowM2 marker in the feces of local cattle. A total of five samples were collected, representing herds grazing on public lands and local farms.

Nutrients, rainfall, E coli, water quality parameters. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Friedman, S., E. Cooper, A. Blackwell, M.A. Elliott, M. Weinstein, J. Cara, and Y. Wan. A multi-tiered approach to assess fecal pollution in an urban watershed: Bacterial and viral indicators and sediment microbial communities. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. Elsevier BV, AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS, 945: 174141, (2024).

A large spill of wastewater from oil and gas operations was discovered adjacent to Blacktail Creek near Williston, North Dakota in January 2015. To determine the effects of this spill on streambed microbial communities over time, bed sediment samples were taken from Blacktail Creek upstream, adjacent to, and at several locations downstream from the spill site. Blacktail Creek is a tributary of the Little Muddy River, and additional samples were taken upstream and downstream from the confluence of Blacktail Creek and the Little Muddy River. Samples were collected in February 2015, June 2015, June 2016, and June 2017. DNA was extracted from these sediments, and sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene was performed to enable analysis of the microbial community structure. Raw sequence data was processed, and taxonomy was assigned based on the Silva 132 database (Yilmaz et al, 2014) using the MOTHUR software package (Schloss et al, 2009). Raw sequence data are available from GenBank at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bioproject/PRJNA666160.

A large spill of wastewater from oil and gas operations was discovered adjacent to Blacktail Creek near Williston, North Dakota in January 2015. To determine the effects of this spill on streambed microbial communities over time, bed sediment samples were taken from Blacktail Creek upstream, adjacent to, and at several locations downstream from the spill site. Blacktail Creek is a tributary of the Little Muddy River, and additional samples were taken upstream and downstream from the confluence of Blacktail Creek and the Little Muddy River. Samples were collected in February 2015, June 2015, June 2016, and June 2017. DNA was extracted from these sediments, and sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene was performed to enable analysis of the microbial community structure. Raw sequence data was processed, and taxonomy was assigned based on the Silva 132 database (Yilmaz et al, 2014) using the MOTHUR software package (Schloss et al, 2009). Raw sequence data are available from GenBank at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bioproject/PRJNA666160.