Datasets of Suspended Sediment Concentration and Percent Fines (1973–2021), Sampling Information (1973–2021), and Daily Streamflow (1928–2021) for Sites in the Lower Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers to Support Analyses of Sediment Tran

Datasets of suspended sediment concentration and percent fines, sampling information, and daily streamflow data were compiled and harmonized for 16 sites to better understand sediment transport and delivery in the Lower Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers. The compiled data were harmonized by removing unnecessary columns, screening data for laboratory or sampling issues, creating consistent entries for character columns, and dropping irrelevant data, among other steps. Fourteen of the sites are in the Lower Mississippi-Atchafalaya River Basin with two additional sites on the Middle Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Suspended sediment concentration (total, all size fractions) and percent fines for multiple size fractions were retrieved from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Information System (NWIS) database. These data were matched to related sampling information, such as sampler type and sampling method, also retrieved from NWIS. Continuous daily streamflow was compiled (or estimated where missing) for all sites and these data were from NWIS and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Daily streamflow records extend as far back as possible and contain no gaps, whereas suspended sediment data and sampling information were measured and reported periodically and may contain multiyear gaps depending on the site. Note, siteIndex is used as the main sediment site identifier since sediment records from more than one USGS site are combined for at least one siteIndex. Additionally, gageIndex is used as the main streamgage identifier since streamflow records from multiple streamgages are sometimes combined for a single gageIndex and a single gageIndex may be used for more than one siteIndex. See the siteTable.csv for linkages between siteIndex, gageIndex, and USGS and USACE site/streamgage numbers.