Biodata: A USGS Data Management System for Aquatic Bioassessment

In 2011 the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) implemented a web-enabled data management system (BioData) that provides USGS with a national capability for capturing, reviewing, archiving, distributing, and integrating aquatic bioassessment data collected by local, regional, and national USGS projects. Field projects use the system to capture and review the raw macroinvertebrate, algae, fish, and supporting habitat data they collect. Original taxonomic identities are preserved and reported – but are also translated into current and consistent nomenclature. Data for over 15,000 samples collected since 1993 from more than 2,000 sites across the United States are distributed through a public web site (http://aquatic.biodata.usgs.gov). Version 1 supports external data integration by reporting Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) taxonomic serial numbers (TSN) for fish and macroinvertebrates and by using the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) site location framework.

Version 1 of the system laid a solid foundation that is being extended. Near-term goals include:

(1) developing legacy data loading processes, (2) support for a broader array of sampling and laboratory methods, (3) distributing data using standards-based web services, and (4) integrations with external data sources (e.g. NWIS) .