Benthic-invertebrate, fish-community, and streambed-sediment-chemistry data for streams in the Indianapolis metropolitan area, Indiana, 2009–2012

Abstract

Aquatic-biology and sediment-chemistry data were collected at seven sites on the White River and at six tributary sites in the Indianapolis metropolitan area of Indiana during the period 2009 through 2012. Data collected included benthic-invertebrate and fish-community information and concentrations of metals, insecticides, herbicides, and semivolatile organic compounds adsorbed to streambed sediments. A total of 120 benthic-invertebrate samples were collected, of which 16 were replicate samples. A total of 26 fish-community samples were collected in 2010 and 2012. Thirty streambedsediment chemistry samples were collected in 2009 and 2011, of which four were concurrent duplicate samples.

A summary of the benthic-invertebrate and fish-community data from streams in the Indianapolis metropolitan area, Indiana, 1981–2012

“…The results of these studies were presented by Crawford and others (1992), Renn (1998), Voelker and Renn (2000), and Voelker (2004and Voelker ( , 2012and Voelker ( , 2014. Study sites remained consistent throughout the entire period with the exception of the most upstream site on the White River, which was originally sampled at Westfield Boulevard (1981-87), but was moved to the nearby Nora site for sampling during 1994-2012.…”

“…Initially, three sites were sampled by Crawford and others (1992), then 21 sites by Renn (1998), 12 sites by Voelker (2004), and lastly, 13 by Voelker (2012Voelker ( , 2014. These sites were selected in coordination with the Indianapolis DPW, which was responsible for monthly surface-water sampling at or near those sites.…”

“…Benthic invertebrates were collected once per year in late summer/early fall by Crawford and others (1992) and then twice a year during subsequent studies (Voelker and Renn, 2000;Voelker, 2004Voelker, , 2012Voelker, , 2014. Samples for the latter studies were collected during periods of relatively low-flow, steady-state streamflow conditions in the spring (May or June), and in the late summer/early fall (September and October) unless streamflow conditions resulted in sampling-schedule changes.…”

“…Benthic invertebrates were picked in the field for the study by Crawford and others (1992) and then sent to a laboratory for analysis, but the Renn (1998) and Voelker (2004Voelker ( , 2012Voelker ( , 2014 studies submitted the entire sample to a contract laboratory where they were sorted and identified to the lowest possible taxonomy-generally genus and species. The laboratory calculated the number of organisms in the sample, the number of taxa, and the HBI for each set of three samples.…”

“…During 1999-2001, a third study was conducted that included benthic invertebrates and fish communities (Voelker, 2004). During 2003-4, the USGS continued to collect benthic-invertebrate samples; during 2005-12, comparative studies remained in place to collect benthic-invertebrate and fish-community information (Voelker, 2012(Voelker, , 2014. While the biological conditions of these streams cannot be solely attributed directly to effects from CSOs, the integrity of the biological communities do reflect overall effects from all sources entering the receiving waters.…”