U.S. Geological Survey - Biological Resources Division - UMESC

Water File Format Information

Last updated December 13, 2001 Water Quality Data and Sampling Information Water File Format Information - Historical Summary The detailed information in these sections provides the data users with information about file name significance and a description of the data. The file naming convention explanation section describes the type of data, field station that collected the data, year of collection and data batch number, while the data descriptions include field column positions, historical summary, and field descriptions. Data from mid-1993 or earlier is sorted by date and time, location code, and sample depth in that order. Data from mid-1993 or earlier is sorted by barcode only. The detailed data description section described below is available in downloadable ASCII form.   Data Descriptions Field Column Position The "Format" column contains the following format specifiers: a = alpha character (always UPPER case) b = a blank space blank = a missing value c = alpha character/symbol/digit c(xx) = character string where xx represents the maximum number of characters allowed 9 = any digit, 0 - 9 MM/DD/YYYY = date format HH:MI = time format, 99.99 Click on Field Name for field description Field Name Format Value Range/Default Value FIELD STATION NUMBER 9 1,2,3,4,5,6 DATE MM/DD/YYYY 05/01/1992 - Present Date TIME HH:MI 00:00 - 23:59 #SAMPLES 9 1 - 6 PROJECT CODE c-ccc - BARCODE 99999999 1 - 99999999 LOCATION CODE a999.9a - DATA BLOCK CODE a999999 - WAVE HEIGHT 999 0 - 999 WAVE HEIGHT QF c blank,0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,A,X,C,D,H WATER DEPTH 99.99 0 - 99.99 Z MAX - 0 - 99.99 Z MAX QF c blank,0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,A,X,C,D,H SECCHI 999 0 - 999 SECCHI QF c blank,0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,A,X,C,D,H WAVE CODE 9 0,1,2,3,4 Z ICE 999.9 0 - 999.9 Z ICE QF c blank,0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,A,X,C,D,H Z S ICE 999 0 - 999 Z S ICE QF c blank,0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,A,X,C,D,H % ICE 999 0 - 100 % ICE QF c blank,0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,A,X,C,D,H Z SNOW 999.9 0 - 999.9 Z SNOW QF c blank,0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,A,X,C,D,H % SNOW 999 0 - 100 % SNOW QF c blank,0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,A,X,C,D,H SITE TYPE 9 0,1,2,3 STRATUM TYPE 9 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 SUMMARY CODE 9 - SUBSTRATE CODE 9 1,2,3,4,9 COVERAGE CODE 9 0,1,2,3 VEG DENSITY 9 1,2 VEG TYPE a S,E,B METHOD 9 1,2,3,4,5 UTM ZONE 99 15,16 COORDINATES NORTH SOUTH 9999999 0 - 9999999 COORDINATES EAST WEST 9999999 0 - 9999999 GIS GRID CODE 99999.99999 0-99999 ZONE 15 NORTH SOUTH 9999999 0-9999999 ZONE 15 EAST WEST 9999999 0-9999999 FIELD DERIVED EASTING 9999999 0-9999999 FIELD DERIVED NORTHING 9999999 0-9999999 UMESC DERIVED EASTING 9999999 0-9999999 UMESC DERIVED NORTHING 9999999 0-9999999 ACCURACY 999.9 0 - 999.9 SAMPLE TYPE c blank,1 STAGE READING 999.9 0 - 999.9 INSTRUMENT CODE A - Z, 0 - 9 cccccccc CROSS LINKED BARCODE 99999999 1 - 99999999 RECORDER CODE cccc - CREW LEADER CODE cccc - SITE COMMENT c(80) - SAMPLE ROW NUMBER 9 1 - 6 Z 99.9 0 - 99.9 Z QF c blank,0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,A,X,C,D,H SAMPLE DEPTH CODE aa SF,BT,MD,OT CALCULATED SAMPLE DEPTH CODE aa SF,BT,MD,OT TEMP 99.9 0 - 99.9 TEMP QF c blank,0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,A,X,C,D,H DO 99.9 0 - 99.9 DO QF c blank,0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,A,X,C,D,H PH 99.99 0 - 99.9 PH QF c blank,0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,A,X,C,D,H TURB 9999 0 - 9999 TURB QF c blank,0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,A,X,C,D,H COND 9999 0 - 9999 COND QF c blank,0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,A,X,C,D,H COND QF c blank,0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,A,X,C,D,H VEL 9.99 0 - 9.99 INSTRUMENT READING 9999 0 - 9999 INSTRUMENT READING QF c blank,0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,A,X,C,D,H DIR 999 0 - 360 DIR QF c blank,0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,A,X,C,D,H SAMPLE BARCODE 99999999 0 - 99999999 FILTERED SNP c blank,1,4,5,6,7,8,A,H,X FILTERED NOX c blank,1,4,5,6,7,8,A,H,X FILTERED MET c blank,1,4,5,6,7,8,A,H,X FILTERED CL c blank,1,4,5,6,7,8,A,H,X FILTERED SS c blank,1,4,5,6,7,8,A,H,X FILTERED CHS c blank,1,4,5,6,7,8,A,H,X FILTERED CHF c blank,1,4,5,6,7,8,A,H,X UNFILTERED PYT c blank,1,4,5,6,7,8,A,H,X UNFILTERED TNP c blank,1,4,5,6,7,8,A,H,X REPORT CODE 9 1 - 5 SOLUBLE REACTIVE PHOSPHORUS 9999.999 0 - 9999.999 SOLUBLE REACTIVE PHOSPHORUS QF 999 - TOTAL SOLUBLE PHOSPHORUS 9999.999 0 - 9999.999 TOTAL SOLUBLE PHOSPHORUS QF 999 - TOTAL PHOSPHORUS 9999.999 0 - 9999.999 TOTAL PHOSPHORUS QF 999 - TOTAL NITROGEN 9999.999 0 - 9999.999 TOTAL NITROGEN QF 999 - TOTAL SOLUBLE N 9999.999 0 - 9999.999 TOTAL SOLUBLE N QF 999 - SUSPENDED SOLIDS 999999.99 0 - 999999.99 SUSPENDED SOLIDS QF 999 - ORGANIC MATTER 9999.9 0 - 9999.9 ORGANIC MATTER QF 999 - CHLOROPHYLL A 999999.99 0 - 999999.99 CHLOROPHYLL A QF 999 - PHAEOPHYTIN 999999.99 0 - 999999.99 PHAEOPHYTIN QF 999 - AMMONIUM N 9999.999 0 - 9999.999 AMMONIUM N QF 999 - NITRATE NITRITE 9999.999 0 - 9999.999 NITRATE NITRITE QF 999 - SILICA 9999.999 0 - 9999.999 SILICA QF 999 - DISSOLVED CALCIUM 9999.999 0 - 9999.999 DISSOLVED CALCIUM QF 999 - DISSOLVED IRON 9999.999 0 - 9999.999 DISSOLVED IRON QF 999 - DISSOLVED MANGANESE 9999.999 0 - 9999.999 DISSOLVED MANGANESE QF 999 - DISSOLVED POTASSIUM 9999.999 0 - 9999.999 DISSOLVED POTASSIUM QF 999 - CHLORIDE 99999.999 0 - 99999.999 CHLORIDE QF 999 - VOLATILE SUSPENDED SOLIDS 999999.99 0 - 999999.99 VOLATILE SUSPENDED SOLIDS QF   Not used at present time CHLOROPHYLL FL1 999999.9 0 - 999999.9 CHLOROPHYLL FL1 QF   Not used at present time CHLOROPHYLL FLI1 99999.99 0 - 99999.99 SODIUM 99999.9 0 - 99999.9 SODIUM QF   Not used at present time MAGNESIUM 99999.9 0 - 99999.9 MAGNESIUM QF   Not used at present time SULFATE 99999.9 0 - 99999.9 SULFATE QF   Not used at present time HABITAT CLASS ccccc -   Historical Summary Field Descriptions FIELD STATION NUMBER Numeric code identifying the field station number. Listed below are the valid codes and their corresponding field station. Field Station 1  (Lake City, MN) Field Station 2  (Onalaska, WI) Field Station 3  (Bellevue, IA) Field Station 4  (Brighton, IL) Field Station 5  (Jackson, MO) Field Station 6  (Havana, IL) Field Station 7  (Fayette, IA) DATE Date on which a sample collection was initiated. mm/dd/yyyy format, example April 1, 1995, is represented as 04/01/1995. TIME 2400-h (military) Central Standard Time (CST) at which a sample collection began. #SAMPLES Number of samples collected at the site location. PROJECT CODE Alphanumeric LTRMP project code. Format is A-nnn, where A is a letter describing project type and nnn is a special project number. Project types are as follows: M = RTA standardized resource monitoring BARCODE Identifying barcode for water data sheets. LOCATION CODE Alphanumeric code for LTRMP Location Code having the format annn.na or YYFTNNN. Permanent fixed sites use the annn.na format where the leading a designates the river (M = Mississippi and I = Illinois), nnn.n is the river mile (recorded to the nearest 0.1 mile), and the trailing a is an alphabetic code for the relative lateral position across the floodplain. Random sites use the YYFTNNN format. This format is described below. YY = Year the site was visited F = Field station number of site (see FIELD STATION NUMBER description) T = Time period code site was visited. Valid codes are as follows: 1 = March thru May 2 = June thru August 3 = September thru November 4 = December thru February NNN = Site number derived from a sampling map or site list. DATA BLOCK CODE Old administrative field used to help identify the location and time of a collection sample (stopped using June 1993). WAVE HEIGHT Vertical distance between the highest and lowest point on a wave form, using the Beaufort wind/sea-state scale. WAVE CODE replaced this field in mid-1993. WAVE HEIGHT QF Wave height measurement quality factor code. Valid codes are as follows: Blank = No problems 0 = Equipment inoperative 1 = Equipment questionable 2 = Reading Off-Scale Hi 3 = Reading Off-Scale Lo 4 = Sample Returned to Lab 5 = Sample Unusable or Unobtainable 6 = Sample Unrepresentative 7 = Sample Possibly Contaminated 8 = Sample Diluted A = Non-Standard Method C = Category Measurement D = Cal Off Excessive H = Hold time Exceeded X = Parameter Optional WATER DEPTH The vertical distance (to the nearest 0.1 m) between the substrate and the free water surface or, if ice exists, the vertical distance between the substrate and the lower surface of the ice. The same as ZMAX (see Below) when ice is not present. ZMAX The vertical distance (to the nearest 0.1 m) between the substrate and the free water surface. Same as Water Depth (see above) when ice is not present. Zmax is recorded as zero when the water is frozen to the substrate (no free water surface exists or cannot be reliably determined). C = Category Measurement Z MAX QF Water depth measurement quality factor code. Valid codes are as follows: Blank = No problems 0 = Equipment inoperative 1 = Equipment questionable 2 = Reading Off-Scale Hi 3 = Reading Off-Scale Lo 4 = Sample Returned to Lab 5 = Sample Unusable or Unobtainable 6 = Sample Unrepresentative 7 = Sample Possibly Contaminated 8 = Sample Diluted A = Non-Standard Method C = Category Measurement D = Cal Off Excessive H = Hold time Exceeded X = Parameter Optional   SECCHI The vertical distance below the water surface at which a secchi disk disappears from view. Recorded in centimeters. SECCHI QF Secchi measurement quality factor code. Valid codes are as follows: Blank = No problems 0 = Equipment inoperative 1 = Equipment questionable 2 = Reading Off-Scale Hi 3 = Reading Off-Scale Lo 4 = Sample Returned to Lab 5 = Sample Unusable or Unobtainable 6 = Sample Unrepresentative 7 = Sample Possibly Contaminated 8 = Sample Diluted A = Non-Standard Method C = Category Measurement D = Cal Off Excessive H = Hold time Exceeded X = Parameter Optional WAVE CODE Visual determination of wave type using the Beaufort scale. Valid codes are as follows: 0 = Glass 1 = Ripple 2 = Wavelet 3 = White caps 4 = Rough Z ICE Vertical thickness of ice. Only the portion of the frozen block that represents the water column within the ice block is measured as ice depth. Reported in centimeters. Z ICE QF Ice thickness measurement quality factor code. Valid codes are as follows: Blank = No problems 0 = Equipment inoperative 1 = Equipment questionable 2 = Reading Off-Scale Hi 3 = Reading Off-Scale Lo 4 = Sample Returned to Lab 5 = Sample Unusable or Unobtainable 6 = Sample Unrepresentative 7 = Sample Possibly Contaminated 8 = Sample Diluted A = Non-Standard Method C = Category Measurement D = Cal Off Excessive H = Hold time Exceeded X = Parameter Optional Z S ICE Submerged thickness of ice measured to the nearest centimeter. Not recorded until mid-1993. Z S ICE QF Submerged ice thickness measurement quality factor code. Valid codes are as follows: Blank = No problems 0 = Equipment inoperative 1 = Equipment questionable 2 = Reading Off-Scale Hi 3 = Reading Off-Scale Lo 4 = Sample Returned to Lab 5 = Sample Unusable or Unobtainable 6 = Sample Unrepresentative 7 = Sample Possibly Contaminated 8 = Sample Diluted A = Non-Standard Method C = Category Measurement D = Cal Off Excessive H = Hold time Exceeded X = Parameter Optional % ICE Estimate of the percentage of water surface covered by ice within a 200 meter radius of the collection site. % ICE QF Ice percentage measurement quality factor code. Valid codes are as follows: Blank = No problems 0 = Equipment inoperative 1 = Equipment questionable 2 = Reading Off-Scale Hi 3 = Reading Off-Scale Lo 4 = Sample Returned to Lab 5 = Sample Unusable or Unobtainable 6 = Sample Unrepresentative 7 = Sample Possibly Contaminated 8 = Sample Diluted A = Non-Standard Method C = Category Measurement D = Cal Off Excessive H = Hold time Exceeded X = Parameter Optional Z SNOW Vertical thickness of snow on the ice reported in centimeters. Z SNOW QF Snow thickness measurement quality factor code. Valid codes are as follows: Blank = No problems 0 = Equipment inoperative 1 = Equipment questionable 2 = Reading Off-Scale Hi 3 = Reading Off-Scale Lo 4 = Sample Returned to Lab 5 = Sample Unusable or Unobtainable 6 = Sample Unrepresentative 7 = Sample Possibly Contaminated 8 = Sample Diluted A = Non-Standard Method C = Category Measurement D = Cal Off Excessive H = Hold time Exceeded X = Parameter Optional % SNOW Estimate of the percentage of water surface covered by snow within a 200 meter radius of the collection site. % SNOW QF Snow percentage measurement quality factor code. Valid codes are as follows: Blank = No problems 0 = Equipment inoperative 1 = Equipment questionable 2 = Reading Off-Scale Hi 3 = Reading Off-Scale Lo 4 = Sample Returned to Lab 5 = Sample Unusable or Unobtainable 6 = Sample Unrepresentative 7 = Sample Possibly Contaminated 8 = Sample Diluted A = Non-Standard Method C = Category Measurement D = Cal Off Excessive H = Hold time Exceeded X = Parameter Optional SITE TYPE Identifies the physical type of collection site. Valid types are as follows: 0 = Primary 1 = Alternate 2 = Fixed 3 = Other STRATUM TYPE Aquatic area/Land use description code for the collection site. Valid codes are as follows: 1 = Main channel 2 = Side channel 3 = Backwater area contiguous to the main channel 4 = Lake Pepin or Swan Lake 5 = Impounded 6 = Isolated 7 = New Terrestrial SUMMARY CODE Circumstances surrounding the decision to accept or reject a site sample (replaced by QF codes in mid-1993). Valid codes are as follows: 1 = One or more of the data values for this site sample are suspected or known to be in error. 2 = Possible equipment malfunction. 3 = Data potentially non-representative of that habitat type due to local, short-term conditions. 4 = Post-entry data analysis suggests that this observation may be atypical, but no reporting or transcription errors have been identified. 5 = No apparent problems. SUBSTRATE CODE A qualitative description code of substrate sediments. Started in mid-1993. Valid codes are as follows: 0 = Clay 1 = Silt 2 = Silt/Clay/Sand 3 = Sand 4 = Hard 9 = Unobtainable COVERAGE CODE Determination of the relative abundance of emergent and submergent aquatic vegetation, estimated as a percent. Valid codes are as follows: 0 = 0% 1 = 1 - 19% 2 = 20 - 49% 3 = >50% VEG DENSITY Subjective visual determination of the relative density of emergent and submergent aquatic vegetation. Valid codes are as follows: 1 = Sparse 2 = Dense VEG TYPE Determination of the type of emergent and/or submergent aquatic vegetation. Valid codes are as follows: S = Submergent E = Emergent F = Floating B = Both submergent and emergent METHOD Numeric code specifying the method used to locate the collection site, as follows: 1 = UTMs recorded from cross-reference between base map and site features 2 = UTMs recorded from GPS device (Magellan) 3 = Latitude (N/S coordinates; degrees, minutes, seconds) and longitude (E/W coordinates; degrees, minutes, seconds) recorded from GPS (Loran) 4 = Latitude and longitude recorded from cross-reference between base map and site features(Other) 5 = Differential GPS UTM ZONE Numeric field to record Global Positioning System (GPS) zone. LTRMP data resides in either zone 15 or 16. COORDINATES NORTH SOUTH Coordinates north south Universal transverse mercator (UTM) northing coordinate for a water quality sampling site (in meters). Proper interpretation of this coordinate requires reference to the appropriate UTM zone (15 or 16 for LTRMP). This is the initially assigned and registered UTM northing for an LTRMP sampling site. COORDINATES EAST WEST Coordinates east west Universal transverse mercator (UTM) easting coordinate for a water quality sampling site (in meters). Proper interpretation of this coordinate requires reference to the appropriate UTM zone (15 or 16 for LTRMP). This is the initially assigned and registered UTM easting for an LTRMP sampling site. GIS GRID CODE Modified and concatenated utm coordinate pair used to generalize site locations within a 50 square meter area. ZONE 15 NORTH SOUTH Zone 15 north south Universal transverse mercator (UTM) northing coordinate for a quality sampling site (in meters) referenced to a single UTM zone (15). This value is calulated from coordinated north south and is particularly useful for LTRMP areas that include both UTM zone 15 and UTM zone 16. ZONE 15 EAST WEST Zone 15 east west Universal transverse mercator (UTM) easting coordinate for a quality sampling site (in meters) referenced to a single UTM zone (15). This value is calulated from coordinated east west and is particularly useful for LTRMP areas that include both UTM zone 15 and UTM zone 16. FIELD DERIVED EASTING Field derived easting Universal transverse mercator (UTM) easting coordinate for a water quality sampling site ( in meters) as reported from the field. Proper interpretation of this coordinate requires reference to the appropriate UTM zone (15 or 16 for LTRMP). LTRMP procedures call for a value in this field only when a sample is collected at a location that differs significantly from the pre-assigned or registered coordinates. FIELD DERIVED NORTHING Field derived northing Universal transverse mercator (UTM) northing coordinate for a water quality sampling site ( in meters) as reported from the field. Proper interpretation of this coordinate requires reference to the appropriate UTM zone (15 or 16 for LTRMP). LTRMP procedures call for a value in this field only when a sample is collected at a location that differs significantly from the pre-assigned or registered coordinates. UMESC DERIVED EASTING UMESC derived easting Universal transverse mercator (UTM) easting coordinate for a water quality sampling site ( in meters) as preassigned by UMESC. Proper interpretation of this coordinate requires reference to the appropriate UTM zone (15 or 16 for LTRMP). UMESC preassigns coordinates for stratified random sampling (SRS) only. For SRS sites, this coordinate is also the initial assignment for Coordinates east west. UMESC DERIVED NORTHING UMESC derived northing Universal transverse mercator (UTM) northing coordinate for a water quality sampling site ( in meters) as preassigned by UMESC. Proper interpretation of this coordinate requires reference to the appropriate UTM zone (15 or 16 for LTRMP). UMESC preassigns coordinates for stratified random sampling (SRS) only. For SRS sites, this coordinate is also the initial assignment for Coordinates north south. ACCURACY Numeric field to record a measure of positioning accuracy. Record Percent Dilution of Precision (PDOP) from GPS devices and the following codes for base map cross-reference and revisits to marked fixed sites: 000.1 = Almost certain accuracy within 100 m because of immediate proximity to uniquely identifiable features (undisturbed marker, wing dam, day mark, etc.). 000.2 = High confidence of accuracy within 100 m because of agreement between general site appearance and identifiable features on a base map. 000.3 = Other than above. SAMPLE TYPE Indicates the types of samples collected. Valid codes are as follows: Blank = Normal sampling 1 = QA sampling STAGE READING The height of the water surface above the National Geodetic Vertical Datum, and is controlled by dam operations. Measured in feet. RECORDER CODE Alphanumeric field to identify the LTRMP recorder responsible for recording of this data. These codes are permanently assigned to LTRMP staff at each station. CREW LEADER CODE Alphanumeric field to identify the LTRMP Crew Leader responsible for recording of this data. These codes are permanently assigned to LTRMP staff at each station. SITE COMMENT Eighty-character field to record miscellaneous comments and observations. SAMPLE ROW NUMBER Numeric field to identify, isolate, and sort individual detail records. Z The vertical distance (to the nearest 0.1m) between the free water surface and the point of sample collection or ambient measurement. When ice is present, the following conventions are used to record Z: (1) samples collected more than 25 cm below the bottom of the ice are assigned a z value in the usual manner as described above, (2) samples collected 16-25 cm below the ice are assigned a z value of 0.2 m. (3) Samples collected between 0 and 14 cm below the ice are assigned a z value of 0.1m, and (4) samples collected above the lower level of the ice (i.e., in the access hole) are assigned a z value of zero. Z QF Sample depth measurement quality factor code. Valid codes are as follows: Blank = No problems 0 = Equipment inoperative 1 = Equipment questionable 2 = Reading Off-Scale Hi 3 = Reading Off-Scale Lo 4 = Sample Returned to Lab 5 = Sample Unusable or Unobtainable 6 = Sample Unrepresentative 7 = Sample Possibly Contaminated 8 = Sample Diluted A = Non-Standard Method C = Category Measurement D = Cal Off Excessive H = Hold time Exceeded X = Parameter Optional SAMPLE DEPTH CODE Subjective description of water depth at which sample depth was taken. Valid codes are as follows: SF = Surface MD = Middle BT = Bottom OT = Other CALCULATED SAMPLE DEPTH CODE Administrative field. Derived from comparing sample depth against Z MAX. Used as a comparison check against sample depth code. Valid codes are as follows: SF = Surface MD = Middle BT = Bottom OT = Other TEMP Water temperature for the sample measured in degrees Celsius. TEMP QF Water temperature measurement quality factor code. Valid codes are as follows: Blank = No problems 0 = Equipment inoperative 1 = Equipment questionable 2 = Reading Off-Scale Hi 3 = Reading Off-Scale Lo 4 = Sample Returned to Lab 5 = Sample Unusable or Unobtainable 6 = Sample Unrepresentative 7 = Sample Possibly Contaminated 8 = Sample Diluted A = Non-Standard Method C = Category Measurement D = Cal Off Excessive H = Hold time Exceeded X = Parameter Optional DO Amount of Dissolved Oxygen in the sample. Measured in milligrams/liter. DO QF Dissolved oxygen measurement quality factor code. Valid codes are as follows: Blank = No problems 0 = Equipment inoperative 1 = Equipment questionable 2 = Reading Off-Scale Hi 3 = Reading Off-Scale Lo 4 = Sample Returned to Lab 5 = Sample Unusable or Unobtainable 6 = Sample Unrepresentative 7 = Sample Possibly Contaminated 8 = Sample Diluted A = Non-Standard Method C = Category Measurement D = Cal Off Excessive H = Hold time Exceeded X = Parameter Optional PH pH measurement for the sample. Measured in pH units. PH QF pH measurement quality factor code. Valid codes are as follows: Blank = No problems 0 = Equipment inoperative 1 = Equipment questionable 2 = Reading Off-Scale Hi 3 = Reading Off-Scale Lo 4 = Sample Returned to Lab 5 = Sample Unusable or Unobtainable 6 = Sample Unrepresentative 7 = Sample Possibly Contaminated 8 = Sample Diluted A = Non-Standard Method C = Category Measurement D = Cal Off Excessive H = Hold time Exceeded X = Parameter Optional TURB Turbidity (water clarity) measurement for the sample. Measured in nephelometric turbidity to the nearest whole nephelometric techniques. TURB QF Turbidity measurement quality factor code. Valid codes are as follows: Blank = No problems 0 = Equipment inoperative 1 = Equipment questionable 2 = Reading Off-Scale Hi 3 = Reading Off-Scale Lo 4 = Sample Returned to Lab 5 = Sample Unusable or Unobtainable 6 = Sample Unrepresentative 7 = Sample Possibly Contaminated 8 = Sample Diluted A = Non-Standard Method C = Category Measurement D = Cal Off Excessive H = Hold time Exceeded X = Parameter Optional COND Conductivity (ability of the water to conduct an electric current) measurement for the sample. Measured to the nearest uS/cm. COND QF Conductivity measurement quality factor code. Valid codes are as follows: Blank = No problems 0 = Equipment inoperative 1 = Equipment questionable 2 = Reading Off-Scale Hi 3 = Reading Off-Scale Lo 4 = Sample Returned to Lab 5 = Sample Unusable or Unobtainable 6 = Sample Unrepresentative 7 = Sample Possibly Contaminated 8 = Sample Diluted A = Non-Standard Method C = Category Measurement D = Cal Off Excessive H = Hold time Exceeded X = Parameter Optional VEL Velocity of water current. Measured in meters per second. VEL QF Velocity measurement quality factor code. Valid codes are as follows: Blank = No problems 0 = Equipment inoperative 1 = Equipment questionable 2 = Reading Off-Scale Hi 3 = Reading Off-Scale Lo 4 = Sample Returned to Lab 5 = Sample Unusable or Unobtainable 6 = Sample Unrepresentative 7 = Sample Possibly Contaminated 8 = Sample Diluted A = Non-Standard Method C = Category Measurement D = Cal Off Excessive H = Hold time Exceeded X = Parameter Optional DIR Compass direction from which the water current is flowing. Measured in degrees. DIR QF Current direction measurement quality factor code. Valid codes are as follows: Blank = No problems Blank = No problems 0 = Equipment inoperative 1 = Equipment questionable 2 = Reading Off-Scale Hi 3 = Reading Off-Scale Lo 4 = Sample Returned to Lab 5 = Sample Unusable or Unobtainable 6 = Sample Unrepresentative 7 = Sample Possibly Contaminated 8 = Sample Diluted A = Non-Standard Method C = Category Measurement D = Cal Off Excessive H = Hold time Exceeded X = Parameter Optional SAMPLE BARCODE Identifying barcode for a water sample to be used for future chemical analysis. FILTERED SNP Code indicates sample was collected for analysis of soluble nitrogen and phosphorus. Valid codes are as follows: Blank = No sample 1 = Sample OK 4 = Sample Returned to Lab 5 = Sample Unusable or Unobtainable 6 = Sample unrepresentative 7 = Sample possibly contaminated 8 = Sample Diluted A = Non-Standard Method H = Hold Time Exceeded X = Parameter Optional FILTERED NOX Code indicates sample was collected for analysis of nitrate and nitrite. Valid codes are as follows: Blank = No sample 1 = Sample OK 4 = Sample Returned to Lab 5 = Sample Unusable or Unobtainable 6 = Sample unrepresentative 7 = Sample possibly contaminated 8 = Sample Diluted A = Non-Standard Method H = Hold Time Exceeded X = Parameter Optional FILTERED MET Code indicates sample was collected for analysis of major cations. Valid codes are as follows: Blank = No sample 1 = Sample OK 4 = Sample Returned to Lab 5 = Sample Unusable or Unobtainable 6 = Sample unrepresentative 7 = Sample possibly contaminated 8 = Sample Diluted A = Non-Standard Method H = Hold Time Exceeded X = Parameter Optional FILTERED CL Code indicates sample was collected for analysis of chloride and soluble reactive phosphorus. Valid codes are as follows: Blank = No sample 1 = Sample OK 4 = Sample Returned to Lab 5 = Sample Unusable or Unobtainable 6 = Sample unrepresentative 7 = Sample possibly contaminated 8 = Sample Diluted A = Non-Standard Method H = Hold Time Exceeded X = Parameter Optional FILTERED SS Code indicates sample was collected for analysis for total and volatile suspended solids. Valid codes are as follows: Blank = No sample 1 = Sample OK 4 = Sample Returned to Lab 5 = Sample Unusable or Unobtainable 6 = Sample unrepresentative 7 = Sample possibly contaminated 8 = Sample Diluted A = Non-Standard Method H = Hold Time Exceeded X = Parameter Optional FILTERED CHS Code indicates sample was collected for spectrophotometric analysis of chlorophyll a. Valid codes are as follows: Blank = No sample 1 = Sample OK 4 = Sample Returned to Lab 5 = Sample Unusable or Unobtainable 6 = Sample unrepresentative 7 = Sample possibly contaminated 8 = Sample Diluted A = Non-Standard Method H = Hold Time Exceeded X = Parameter Optional FILTERED CHF Code indicates sample was collected for fluorometric determination of chlorophyll a. Valid codes are as follows: Blank = No sample 1 = Sample OK 4 = Sample Returned to Lab 5 = Sample Unusable or Unobtainable 6 = Sample unrepresentative 7 = Sample possibly contaminated 8 = Sample Diluted A = Non-Standard Method H = Hold Time Exceeded X = Parameter Optional UNFILTERED PYT Code indicates sample was collected and preserved (Lugol's iodine) for enumeration of phytoplankton. Valid codes are as follows: Blank = No sample 1 = Sample OK 4 = Sample Returned to Lab 5 = Sample Unusable or Unobtainable 6 = Sample unrepresentative 7 = Sample possibly contaminated 8 = Sample Diluted A = Non-Standard Method H = Hold Time Exceeded X = Parameter Optional UNFILTERED TNP Code indicates sample was collected for analysis of total nitrogen and total phosphorus. Valid codes are as follows: Blank = No sample 1 = Sample OK 4 = Sample Returned to Lab 5 = Sample Unusable or Unobtainable 6 = Sample unrepresentative 7 = Sample possibly contaminated 8 = Sample Diluted A = Non-Standard Method H = Hold Time Exceeded X = Parameter Optional REPORT CODE Numeric code documenting the overall quality of a specific sample as described below: 1 = Gear failure; site may be re-sampled within time period 2 = Site cannot be sampled (i.e., site is dry or inaccessible) 3 = Sample collected under unusual environmental conditions 4 = Weighing equipment may be in error due to wind and waves 5 = Normally completed sample; all LTRMP procedures followed 6 = Non-critical gear modification (e.g., fyke net lead shortened) 7 = Pseudo-shoreline used for shoreline gear 8 = Minor gear damage or noncritical gear failure NOTE: The following chemical analysis fields (SOLUBLE REACTIVE PHOSPHORUS through CHLORIDE QF) are dependant on when or if chemical analysis is done on the sample. Chemical analysis is done after the other data has already been loaded into the system. Once chemical analysis is done and the chemical data received, it is then loaded into the appropriate fields. Hence, a water record which should have chemical data, (based on the presence of a sample barcode and the appropriate future chemical analysis codes) will not have chemical data if the lab results have not yet been received.   SOLUBLE REACTIVE PHOSPHORUS Soluble reactive phosphorus measurement for the sample. Reported as milligrams of phosphorus per liter. SOLUBLE REACTIVE PHOSPHORUS QF Description is in review. TOTAL SOLUBLE PHOSPHORUS Total soluble phosphorus measurement for the sample. Measured in milligrams per liter. TOTAL SOLUBLE PHOSPHORUS QF Description is in review. TOTAL PHOSPHORUS The total amount of phosphorus (dissolved and particulate) in the sample determined using persulfate digestion. Reported as milligrams of phosphorus per liter. TOTAL PHOSPHORUS QF Description is in review. TOTAL NITROGEN The total nitrogen concentration (dissolved and particulate) in the sample. Reported as milligrams of nitrogen per liter. TOTAL NITROGEN QF Description is in review. TOTAL SOLUBLE N The total soluble nitrogen concentration for the sample. Measured in milligrams per liter. TOTAL SOLUBLE N QF Description is in review. SUSPENDED SOLIDS The total particulate material trapped by a glass fiber filter and dried at 105 degrees Centigrade. Reported as milligrams per liter. SUSPENDED SOLIDS QF Description is in review. ORGANIC MATTER Organic matter measurement for the sample. This is not yet measured and units have not yet been determined. ORGANIC MATTER QF Organic matter measurement quality factor code. This field is not yet used. CHLOROPHYLL A The concentration of photosynthetic pigment chlorophyll-a, corrected for phaeophytin as determined by the spectrophotometric technique using 90% acetone extraction. Measured in micrograms per liter. CHLOROPHYLL A QF Description is in review. PHAEOPHYTIN Phaeophytin is a degradation product of chlorophyll as detected by the spectrophotometric technique for the sample. Measured in milligrams per liter. PHAEOPHYTIN QF Description is in review. AMMONIUM N The total amount of ammonia (ionized and non-ionized) for the sample. Measured in milligrams per liter. AMMONIUM N QF Description is in review. NITRATE NITRITE The total amount of nitrate plus nitrite for the sample. Measured in milligrams of nitrogen per liter. NITRATE NITRITE QF Description is in review. SILICA The total amount of silica for the sample. Measured in milligrams per liter. SILICA QF Description is in review. DISSOLVED CALCIUM The total amount of calcium for the sample. Measured in milligrams per liter. DISSOLVED CALCIUM QF Description is in review. DISSOLVED IRON The total amount of iron for the sample. Measured in milligrams per liter. DISSOLVED IRON QF Description is in review. DISSOLVED MANGANESE The total amount of mangenese for the sample. Measured in milligrams per liter. DISSOLVED MANGANESE QF Description is in review. DISSOLVED POTASSIUM The total amount of potassium for the sample. Measured in milligrams per liter. DISSOLVED POTASSIUM QF Description is in review. CHLORIDE The total amount of chloride for the sample. Measured in milligrams per liter. CHLORIDE QF Description is in review. VOLATILE SUSPENDED SOLIDS The weight loss on combustion at 500 - 500 degrees Centigrade of the total suspended solids residue for the sample. Reported in milligrams per liter. CHLOROPHYLL FL1 Uncalibrated fluorometric chlorophyll. Values must be compared to spectrophotometric measurements of chlorophyll a (see above) to develop specific calibration factors. Approximate calibration equation is: Chlorophyll a = 1.9 + 0.9*FL1. Units of Chlorophyll and FL1 are both micrograms per liter. CHLOROPHYLL FLI1 Uncalibrated fluorometric reading after acidification - for determination of phaeophytin. Can be compared/combined with Chlorophyll FL1 (above) to assess phaeophytin concentration. SODIUM The concentration (milligrams/Liter) of sodium ions in the sample. MAGNESIUM The concentration (milligrams/Liter) of magnesium ions in the sample. SULFATE The concentration of sulfate (S04) ions in the sample expressed as milligrams per liter. HABITAT CLASS Alphabetic code LTRMP habitat class description: BWC-O = Backwater contiguous - open water BWC-V = Backwater contiguous - vegetated water BWI-O = Backwater isolated - open water BWI-V = Backwater isolated - vegetated water IMP-L = Impounded - lakelike IMP-O = Impounded - open water IMP-V = Impounded - vegetated water CBU = Main channel border unstructured CBW = Main channel border wingdam CTR = Main channel trough TWB = Tailwater channel border TWW = Tailwater wingdam TRIB = Tributary TRBM = Tributary mouth INSTRUMENT CODE Serial number of instrument used for sample readings. CROSS LINKED BARCODE Barcode used to link Water Quality data sheet to other LTRMP components. INSTRUMENT READING Sample collect instrument reading. INSTRUMENT READING QF Instrument reading quality factor code. Valid codes are as follows: Blank = No problems Blank = No problems 0 = Equipment inoperative 1 = Equipment questionable 2 = Reading Off-Scale Hi 3 = Reading Off-Scale Lo 4 = Sample Returned to Lab 5 = Sample Unusable or Unobtainable 6 = Sample Unrepresentative 7 = Sample Possibly Contaminated 8 = Sample Diluted A = Non-Standard Method C = Category Measurement D = Cal Off Excessive H = Hold time Exceeded X = Parameter Optional DISCLAIMER These data have been generated by State agencies under contract with the Department of the Interior and the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC). Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the UMESC, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made regarding the accuracy or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. However, error correction is a continuing process, and the UMESC routinely makes changes to data as errors are discovered. The file date is referred to as the release date and should be mentioned in all references to data. These data have been provided as a unit package to ensure that you receive a valid dataset collected in a consistent manner. Methods, purposes, and conditions can vary dramatically among data-collecting efforts and these data should not be combined with other datasets from the UMESC or other sources unless the user fully understands the procedures and purposes used to create each set of data and can verify that data are comparable across sources.

Problems with this web site:  Dave Bergstedt Last updated on December 12, 2001 Questions and comments: web_team@umesc.er.usgs.gov URL: http://umesc.usgs.gov/data_library/water_quality/water_m_fmt.html

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