NCCA 2010 Benthic Metadata for Assessed and Not_Assessed files. "“’Assessed’ data were used to develop the Good, Fair and Poor ratings in the report. ‘Not_Assessed’ data were not used to develop the ratings.”" "For questions about these data, please contact Hugh Sullivan at sullivan.hugh@epa.gov or use the Contact Us link on the webpage: http://www.epa.gov/national-aquatic-resource-surveys/forms/national-aquatic-resource-surveys-contact-us" "It is the responsibility of the end data user to become familiar with the QA codes used in the NCCA 2010 assessment (NCCA_QA_Codes.csv) and review the ""QA_CODES"" column in each dataset to determine whether the data meet quality objectives for specific uses." Location information for each site is contained in the SITEINFO File. Use UID as key column for merging data. Benthic Metadata Variable Definition UID Unique Identifier for site and visit number SITE_ID Unique NCCA site dentifier STATE State in which sample collection site s located VISIT_NO "Sequential visit number in sampling season. ALL ASSESSED visits are Visit 1, so the VISIT_NO column is removed from the ASSESSED file." DATE_COL Date sample was collected at field site WTBDY_NM Name of waterbody from which the sample was taken SCREENSIZE Size of openings in screen through which benthic samples was sieved in the field before shipment to taxonomic laboratory TAXON_ORIGINAL Taxon name prior to reconciliation TAXON_CORRECTED File taxon name after reconciliation TOTAL Total number of organisms of the taxon in the sample ADULT Number of adult organisms of the taxon in the sample CONDITION Specimens in poor condition or fragments. Legal values are Y or N. DISTINCT Denotes whether the taxon is distinct within the sample. Legal values are Y or N. FLAGGED Sample was flagged by lab IMMATURE Were specimens immature? Legal values are Y and N INDETERMINATE Are the specimens indeterminate? Legal Values are Y and N LAB_TIN Internal Laboratory Taxa ID number LARVAE Number of larval organisms of the taxa in the sample NUM_AGGREGATED Number of individual aggregated in sample PUPAE Number of pupal organisms of taxa in sample QA_CODE Qualifier code entered during NCCA QA process QA_COMMENTS Comment to accompany QA Code if necessary SAMPLE_ID NCCA Sample ID number WORMS_STATUS Status in World Register of Marine Species database WORMS_APHIAID Unique and permanent number for every species name within WoRMS ITIS_STATUS Interagency Taxonomic Information System. Legal values are valid/accepted or invalid/not accepted ITIS_TSN ITIS Taxonomic Serial Number LPIL Lowest Practical Identification Level PHYLUM Phylum of Specimen CLASS Class of Specimen ORDER Order of Specimen FAMILY Family of Specimen GENUS Genus of Specimen GRAB_TYPE Type of sediment grab apparatus used to collect sample Grab_Area(m^2) Surface area of grab apparatus Number of grabs Number of grabs composited to make up sample Final_Grab_Area(m^2) "Surface area of grab apparatus. When grabs are composited, surface area consists of sum of grab areas from each grab in composite." Grab_Depth(cm) Depth grab penetrated into substrate Sieve_Size(mm^2) Size of openings in screen through which benthic samples was sieved in the field before shipment to taxonomic laboratory Grab_QA QA codes associated with grab used to obtain sample Grab_Comment Comment to accompany QA Code if necessary