Water quality data and habitat suitability modeling results for Dreissenid mussels in Alaskan lakes

This data package provides in situ and modeled water quality information for Alaskan lakes. We compiled published and unpublished water quality data and supplemented these records with new data collection with numerous partners. The purpose of this dataset was to support a study of habitat suitability for invasive Dreissenid mussels, as the spread of Zebra and Quagga mussels (ZQM) to Alaska would disrupt freshwater ecosystems and important salmon fisheries. ZQM establishment is limited by dissolved calcium (Ca 2+). From this assembled dataset, we predicted Ca2+ concentrations and associated Dreissenid habitat suitability across Alaskan lakes using a randomForest model. Tabular and geospatial formats of water quality data and modeling results are provided along with the processing scripts.