Attribution of benthic macroinvertebrate sampling data to NHDPlus V2 and NHDPlus HR catchments within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

This data release links benthic macroinvertebrate sites to both the NHDPlus Version 2 and NHDPlus High Resolution Region 02 networks, hereafter referred to as V2 and HR, using the hydrolink methodology. Linked benthic macroinvertebrate sites are those included in the Chesapeake Bay Basin-wide Index of Biotic Integrity (Chessie BIBI) developed by the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) and available from the Chesapeake Bay Program (https://datahub.chesapeakebay.net/LivingResources). The data set contains a unique sample identifier created by ICPRB, survey program, coordinates of sample, linked V2 COMID and HR Permanent Identifier, and information regarding uncertainty in the attribution. We strongly caution the use of sampling points with attribution uncertainty to avoid spurious attribution of geospatial data to benthic macroinvertebrate samples.