Lake Superior, St. Louis Estuary, and Associated Tributaries Nutrient and Water Quality Data Synthesis (2010-2025)

There are many groups in the Southwestern Lake Superior region collecting water quality and water chemistry data. The data collected, however, are often in different formats and can be difficult to access, making collaborative science challenging. This dataset combines and harmonizes data collected by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the National Park Service, the University of Minnesota-Duluth, the Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve, and the Burke Center for Ecosystem Research. It also integrates data from the U.S. Geological Survey and data submitted by various entities to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Water Quality Portal. The dataset is broken into three parts: Southwestern Lake Superior, the St. Louis River Estuary, and tributaries to the Lake and Estuary (HUC8 codes 04010102, 04010201, 04010202, 04010301, 04010302). The dataset includes of chlorophyll-a and nutrient (N, P, C) concentrations, standard water quality parameters (water temperature, pH, turbidity, etc.), and discharge (for tributary locations). Data are limited to surface (<2m depth) observations, and range from January 1st 2010 to December 31st 2025.