Aquatic community and environmental data for 14 rivers and streams in the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District Planning Area, 2004-13

In 2004, 2007, 2010, and 2013, the U.S. Geological Survey sampled benthic algae and invertebrates, and fish to assess the condition of the aquatic communities and water quality in 14 wadable streams near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Additional community sampling was also done at a subset of three sites in 2011 and 2012 to assess temporal variation. Selected environmental (physical and chemical) data in the streams were collected to evaluate potential relations to the biota and the ecological health of the streams. Physical and chemical data included land-use/land cover; streamflow from USGS gages (except at two creeks that were not gaged); stream habitat; microhabitat at invertebrate collection points (depth, velocity, dominant substrate, embeddedness); water quality (except at two creeks that were not gaged); field measurements of specific conductance and light attenuation; and benthic chlorophyll a, pheophytin, and ash-free dry biomass.