Biomonitoring Data Help

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Biomonitoring Reports

For help understanding the Biomonitoring Reports available through our Data and Maps page, see one of these guidance documents:

Helpful Hints

Some general things to know about Biomonitoring Data and Google Earth

All of our Sampling Sites are automatically displayed as different colored squares. New sites established over the summer sampling season will be added by the end of each calendar year.

Green squares with a W' represent our Wetland monitoring sites. At all Wetland sites we collect macroinvertebrate samples, algae samples, surface water chemistry samples and record observations about the physical characteristics of the site.

Blue squares with an A' represent our river and stream Algae monitoring sites. At all Algae sites we collect algae samples, surface water chemistry samples and record observations about the physical characteristics of the site.

Pink squares with an M' represent our river and stream Macroinvertebrate monitoring sites. At all Macroinvertebrate sites, we collect macroinvertebrate samples and record observations about the physical characteristics of the site. At some Macroinvertebrate sites we also collect surface water chemistry samples.

Some river and stream sites are both Algae sites and Macroinvertebrate sites. They have the same site name and number (e.g. S-74). Site numbers and name labels will appear once zoomed in on the map.

Use the “Find address or place” search panel in the top left to search for a site, search by site name, number, or location. 
A layer list is available on the top right that will display additional layers including Major Drainage Divides, Towns, Water Classes, Impaired Watersheds and National Wetland Inventory Wetlands.

When searching for a site that has both Algae and Macroinvertebrate samples, the search box will allow you to select the site type of interest. Zooming to the site will show both types with their applicable symbol.

Once a desired site is found, selecting “Site Details & Reports” will open a web page containing data organized by Sample IDs'. Sample IDs are unique to a specific time and place, and sometimes specific to the type of data collected. A site that has been sampled over several years will have several Sample IDs and sometimes a single visit to a site will have multiple sample IDs, representing the different kinds of data collected during that one visit.

Pay attention to the sample date to make sure you are looking at all Sample IDs from one date.
At some Wetland monitoring sites we have collected macroinvertebrate samples using two different collection methods, a stovepipe (SP) sampler and a dipnet (DN) measured sweep. The method is indicated in the Sample ID. For example, a Sample ID of "SP-2000-001" indicates that a stovepipe sampler was used in the year 2000 at station W-001.

Definitions

For definitions of more general terms, see the Biological Monitoring Glossary.