Benthic macroinvertebrate community count data. California streams (1994 - 2016)

The scope of data covered in this set consists of 4984 stream samples from 2997 unique geographic locations across the state of California, constituting a 23-year period (1994-2016). Every sample contains the following data: benthic macroinvertebrates (BMIs) enumerated and sorted to a standardized level (generally a genus-level identification except chironomids which were identified to subfamily), sample site altitude in meters, U.S. Geological Survey Hydrologic Unit Code 8 level watershed, and the percent developed land use (agricultural, urban, and managed landscapes) within a 5 km clipped buffer of the watershed upstream of the sampling site, and a bioassessment index score (California Stream Conditions Index) based on a composite of taxonomic and functional diversity within BMI assemblages.