This data release supports the following publication: Hittle, Elizabeth, 2017, Longshore water-current velocity and the potential for transport of contaminants: A pilot study in Lake Erie from Walnut Creek to Presque Isle State Park beaches, Erie, Pennsylvania, June and August 2015: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2016–1206 126 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20161206 Water-quality grab samples were collected about a meter from shore and coincide with the 25 longshore water-current velocity transects as closely as conditions would allow. Nearshore water-quality grab samples were collected on June 24, August 11, and August 19, 2015. Samples were analyzed for bacteria concentration, temperature, specific condictivity, pH, turbidity, and suspended sediment concentration. Not all parameters were analyzed for every sample. Samples were collected by Erie County Department of Health (ECDH) employees and Regional Science Consortium (RSC) interns. The nearshore water-quality samples were collected using grab-sample techniques. To maintain sterile conditions, grab samples were collected in at least 1 meter of water at approximately 0.3 meters below the water surface, being careful not to stir up bottom sediments. Water samples for bacteria analysis were collected in pre-sterilized 500-mL polypropylene bottles, allowing about 2 inches of head space for proper mixing, and were kept on ice prior to processing. Bacteria samples were analyzed for Escherichia coli (E. coli) using modified mTEC membrane-filtration techniques and were processed by RSC staff in the RSC laboratory within 6 hours of sample collection.
Water samples for sediment analysis (June 24 and August 11, 2015) were collected in pre-tared 1000-mL polypropylene bottles by tilting the bottle at about a 45 degree angle away from the sampler and moving it from just under the surface (where the bottle was uncapped) to just above the streambed and back in a smooth vertical motion to get as close to a depth-integrated, single-vertical grab sample as possible. Sediment samples were prepared for shipping and sent to the USGS sediment laboratory at the USGS Kentucky Water Science Center where they were analyzed for total suspended sediment concentration, sand/fine break (percent of sediment less than 4 mm), and fine components including percent fines less than 2 mm, 1 mm, 0.5 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.125 mm, and silt/clay break at <0.0625mm.