Continuous Water Level, Salinity, and Temperature Data from Monitoring Wells in Wetlands on the South Shore of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2020-2022

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Continuous Water Level, Salinity, and Temperature Data from Monitoring Wells in Wetlands on the South Shore of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2020-2022
Abstract:
Environmental parameters affecting plant productivity and microbial respiration, such as water level, salinity, and groundwater temperature included in these datasets, are key components of wetland carbon cycling, carbon storage, and capacity to maintain elevation. Data were collected to (1) provide background information for evaluating potential differences in water level and carbon flux between wetland sites with differing elevation and tidal inundation and (2) facilitate applications of Blue Carbon projects in coastal wetlands. Associated child pages include continuous water level, salinity, and temperature data from shallow wells installed in coastal wetland sites on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. These datasets are grouped by the project they support or by study site. Project study sites include salt marshes with natural tidal flow, salt marshes that were previously tidally restricted and have been restored, impounded coastal wetlands with restricted tidal flow inclusive of various vegetation types, and Phragmites dominated areas fringing natural salt marshes.
Supplemental_Information:
For more information, see the following field activities: https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/fan_info.php?fan=2020-019-FA https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/services/activity.php?fan=2021-026-FA https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/services/activity.php?fan=2022-011-FA .
This dataset was added to the original data release in version 3, released in September 2025.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Jennifer A. O'Keefe Suttles, Eagle, Meagan J., Sanders-DeMott, Rebecca, Nick, Sydney K., Brooks, Thomas W., Mann, Adrian G., and Kroeger, Kevin D., 20250923, Continuous Water Level, Salinity, and Temperature Data from Monitoring Wells in Wetlands on the South Shore of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 2020-2022: data release DOI:10.5066/P9T1KOTW, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Jennifer A. O'Keefe Suttles, Eagle, Meagan J., Sanders-DeMott, Rebecca, Nick, Sydney K., Brooks, Thomas W., Mann, Adrian G., and Kroeger, Kevin D., 2022, Continuous Water Level, Salinity, and Temperature Data from Coastal Wetland Monitoring Wells, Cape Cod, Massachusetts (ver. 3.0, September 2025): data release DOI:10.5066/P9T1KOTW, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Suggested citation: O'Keefe Suttles, J.A., Eagle, M.J., Sanders-DeMott, R., Nick, S.K., Brooks, T.W., Mann, A.G., and Kroeger, K.D., 2022, Continuous water level, salinity, and temperature data from coastal wetland monitoring wells, Cape Cod, Massachusetts (ver. 3.0, September 2025): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9T1KOTW
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.6702894
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.4984456
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.6014953
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.5295207
  3. What does it look like?
    https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/66e08865d34ecba8b8676780?name=SLP_HighSal_Phrag.jpg (JPEG)
    Photograph of the Sage Lot Pond high salinity sampling site, Cape Cod, MA.
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Beginning_Date: 11-Dec-2020
    Ending_Date: 21-Apr-2022
    Currentness_Reference:
    Ground Condition. Refer to the entity CCImpounded_WellSensorDeploymentHeights_2020-2022.csv for sensor deployment periods in each well. Also check within the datafile for exact time period of data collection for each sensor. All sensors were not collecting data at all locations for the entire study period; refer to the completeness section of this metadata record for explanations of gaps in the continuous record.
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Comma Separated Text files (*.csv).
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      Indirect_Spatial_Reference: Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) placenames
      This is a Point data set.
    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 1.0E-5. Longitudes are given to the nearest 1.0E-5. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees. The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1983.
      The ellipsoid used is Geodetic Reference System 80.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.0.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257222101.
      Vertical_Coordinate_System_Definition:
      Altitude_System_Definition:
      Altitude_Datum_Name: North American Vertical Datum of 1988
      Altitude_Resolution: 0.01
      Altitude_Distance_Units: meters
      Altitude_Encoding_Method: Attribute values
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    Well_CC_Impounded_2020_2022.csv
    Continuous monitoring of well water level, temperature, and salinity at four wetland sites with tidal restrictions and two sites within a tidally unrestricted wetland on the south shore of Cape Cod. Raw pressure data, used to calculate water level, is reported as atmospherically corrected pressure (as exported from manufacturers' software). The CSV file also includes latitude and longitude of sensor placement. The dataset includes 252,004 records. (Source: Producer-defined)
    site_name
    A text identifier for the general location of the study site. (Source: Producer-defined)
    ValueDefinition
    Sage Lot PondA data point collected from a tidally unrestricted wetland in Sage Lot Pond, part of the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Cape Cod, MA.
    Flat PondA data point collected from an impounded tidally restricted wetland in Flat Pond, part of the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Cape Cod, MA.
    Woods HoleA data point collected from an impounded wetland adjacent to Mill Pond in Woods Hole, Cape Cod, MA.
    West FalmouthA data point collected from an impounded wetland in West Falmouth, Cape Cod, MA.
    status
    Hydrological management status of the sampling location (Source: Producer-defined)
    ValueDefinition
    UnrestrictedIndicates that the sampling location experiences natural, unrestricted tidal exchange.
    ImpoundedIndicates that the sampling location experiences impaired drainage or restricted tidal exchange as a result of altered hydrology.
    veg_type
    Dominant vegetation at sampling location. (Source: Producer-defined)
    ValueDefinition
    Phragmites WetlandSampling location is dominated by Phragmites australis.
    Typha WetlandSampling location is dominated by Typha latifolia.
    experimental_unit_name
    An abbreviation of the site name relative to the geographical location with, as needed, qualifiers for vegetation type or relative salinity status for geographical locations with multiple plots. (Source: Producer-defined)
    ValueDefinition
    SLP-LowSampling location within Sage Lot Pond that has lower average salinity of the two plots located at this site.
    SLP-HighSampling location within Sage Lot Pond that has higher average salinity of the two plots located at this site.
    FPTSampling location within Flat Pond that is dominated by Typha vegetation.
    FPPSampling location within Flat Pond that is dominated by Phragmites vegetation.
    WHPSampling location in Woods Hole, MA that is dominated by Phragmites vegetation.
    WFPSampling location in West Falmouth, MA that is dominated by Phragmites vegetation.
    well_type
    Description of the relative depth of well deployment below the land surface. (Source: Producer-defined)
    ValueDefinition
    ShallowThe tip of the slotted screened well section was pushed about 0.3 meters below land surface for shallow wells. Refer to the well installation process step for further information.
    DeepThe tip of the slotted screened well section was pushed about 1 meter below the land surface for deep wells. Refer to the well installation process step for further information.
    latitude
    Latitude decimal degrees north, NAD83 (Source: Producer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:41.5295207
    Maximum:41.6014953
    Units:decimal degrees
    longitude
    Longitude decimal degrees west, NAD83. The negative value indicates a location in the western hemisphere. (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-70.6702894
    Maximum:-70.4984456
    Units:decimal degrees
    date_time
    A text string identifier for the date and time the data point was logged in the format yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm (UTC). (Source: Producer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:12/11/2020 14:00
    Maximum:04/21/2022 15:45
    Units:mm-dd-yyyy hh:mm (UTC)
    temp_well
    A numeric data value of logged well water temperature. Manufacturer's specifications for temperature accuracy and resolution of In-Situ AquaTroll 200 water level loggers are +/- 0.1 degrees Celsius and 0.01 degrees Celsius or better, respectively. (Source: Producer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1.333
    Maximum:22.218
    Units:degrees Celsius
    The value "NaN" is defined as a textual representation of an erroneous measurement that was excluded from the dataset. After removing the logger from the well for downloading and maintenance, some parameters took time to re-equilibrate to ambient conditions when redeployed. The entity, "CCImpounded_WellSensorDeploymentHeights_2020-2022.csv", may be referenced for specific sensor deployment dates; the process description lists specific dates the logger was removed from the well for downloading. The attribute "temp_well" has 2,163 records with the "NaN" domain.
    sal_well
    A numeric data value of logged well water salinity. Salinity is converted in the manufacturer's software from measured conductivity which has a manufacturer's specification for accuracy of +/- 0.5 percent of the reading + 1 microsiemens per centimeter when reading less than 80,000 microsiemens per centimeter and a resolution of 0.1 microsiemens per centimeter. (Source: Producer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.089
    Maximum:27.302
    Units:practical salinity units (PSU)
    The value "NaN" is defined as a textual representation of a measurement that was excluded from the dataset. After removing the logger from the well for downloading and maintenance, some parameters took time to re-equilibrate to ambient conditions when redeployed. The entity, "CCImpounded_WellSensorDeploymentHeights_2020-2022.csv", may be referenced for specific sensor deployment dates; the process description lists specific dates the logger was removed from the well for downloading. The attribute "sal_well" has 19,865 records with the "NaN" domain.
    press_atm
    A numeric data value of atmospheric pressure logged by the barometer using an In-Situ BaroTROLL 500. The manufacturer's accuracy specification for this sensor is +/- 0.05 percent full-scale from -5 to 50 degrees Celsius, long-term stability is specified as less than 0.1 percent full-scale; the manufacturer's specification for resolution is 0.005 percent full-scale or better. (Source: Producer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:14.22
    Maximum:15.149
    Units:pounds per square inch (PSI)
    press_corr
    A numeric data value of corrected pressure. For non-vented pressure loggers corrected pressure is calculated (in the manufacturers' software) as the difference between the absolute pressure (press_abs) logged by the water level sensor and the atmospheric pressure (press_atm) logged by the barometer. Water level was measured using an In-Situ Aqua TROLL 200-30psia (30 psi maximum pressure; "a" indicates an absolute pressure sensor that is not vented to the atmosphere). The manufacturer's accuracy specification for this sensor is +/- 0.05 percent full-scale from -5 to 50 degrees Celsius, long-term stability is less than 0.1 percent full-scale; the manufacturer's specification for resolution is 0.005 percent full-scale or better. (Source: Producer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.03
    Maximum:1.586
    Units:pounds per square inch (PSI)
    The value "NaN" is defined as a textual representation of a measurement that was excluded from the dataset. Logged datapoints when the logger was removed from the well for maintenance and downloading were excluded from the dataset. The entity, "CCImpounded_WellSensorDeploymentHeights_2020-2022.csv", may be referenced for specific sensor deployment dates. The attribute "press_corr" has 2,163 records with the "NaN" domain.
    dbs
    A numeric data value of water depth below land surface ("dbs") calculated from field measured sensor deployment depth and pressure logged by the water level sensor. Data reported were collected from wells installed in wetlands; the land surface upon which the well was installed may have been periodically inundated with surface water. "Positive" dbs were periods of land surface inundation by surface water (water over the land surface); "negative" dbs were periods when the land surface was not inundated with surface water and water level was below the land surface. (Source: Producer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-0.245
    Maximum:0.583
    Units:meters
    The value "NaN" is defined as a textual representation of a measurement that was excluded from the dataset; data may have been excluded if water level dropped below the sensor deployment depth or when the sensor was removed from the well for maintenance. The entity, "CCImpounded_WellSensorDeploymentHeights_2020-2022.csv", may be referenced for specific sensor start dates. The attribute "dbs" has 2,163 records with the "NaN" domain.
    WL_NAVD88
    A numeric data value of water elevation calculated from field measured land surface elevation, sensor deployment depth, and pressure logged by the water level sensor. Calculations for this attribute are described in the process steps. Positive values are above the datum and negative values below. (Source: Producer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-0.071
    Maximum:1.581
    Units:meters
    The value "NaN" is defined as a textual representation of an erroneous measurement that was excluded from the dataset; data may have been excluded if water levels dropped below the sensor deployment depth or when the sensor was removed from the well for maintenance. The entity, "CCImpounded_WellSensorDeploymentHeights_2020-2022.csv", may be referenced for specific sensor start dates. The attribute "WL_NAVD88" has 2,163 records with the "NaN" domain.
    CCImpounded_WellSensorDeploymentHeights_2020-2022.csv
    Summary of land surface elevation, deployment length, and well height measurements for water level loggers deployed at four impounded wetland sites and two sites with unrestricted tidal flow between December 2020 and April 2022 used in final calculation of water elevation and water depth below land surface. There are 8 records in the table. (Source: Producer-defined)
    site_name
    A text identifier for the general location of the study site. (Source: Producer-defined)
    ValueDefinition
    Sage Lot PondA data point collected from a tidally unrestricted wetland in Sage Lot Pond, part of the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Cape Cod, MA.
    Flat PondA data point collected from an impounded tidally restricted wetland in Flat Pond, part of the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Cape Cod, MA.
    Woods HoleA data point collected from an impounded wetland adjacent to Mill Pond in Woods Hole, Cape Cod, MA.
    West FalmouthA data point collected from an impounded wetland in West Falmouth, Cape Cod, MA.
    veg_type
    Dominant vegetation at sampling location. (Source: Producer-defined)
    ValueDefinition
    Phragmites WetlandSampling location is dominated by Phragmites australis.
    Typha WetlandSampling location is dominated by Typha latifolia.
    experimental_unit_name
    An abbreviation of the site name relative to the geographical location with, as needed, qualifiers for vegetation type or relative salinity status for geographical locations with multiple plots. (Source: Producer-defined)
    ValueDefinition
    SLP-LowSampling location within Sage Lot Pond that has lower average salinity of the two plots located at this site.
    SLP-HighSampling location within Sage Lot Pond that has higher average salinity of the two plots located at this site.
    FPTSampling location within Flat Pond that is dominated by Typha vegetation.
    FPPSampling location within Flat Pond that is dominated by Phragmites vegetation.
    WHPSampling location in Woods Hole, MA that is dominated by Phragmites vegetation.
    WFPSampling location in West Falmouth, MA that is dominated by Phragmites vegetation.
    well_type
    Description of the relative depth of well deployment below the land surface. (Source: Producer-defined)
    ValueDefinition
    ShallowThe tip of the slotted screened well section was pushed about 0.3 meters below land surface for shallow wells. Refer to the well installation process step for further information.
    DeepThe tip of the slotted screened well section was pushed about 1 meter below the land surface for deep wells. Refer to the well installation process step for further information.
    start_date
    A text string identifier for the date the deployment started (in the format yyyy-mm-dd). (Source: Producer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:12/11/2020
    Maximum:05/12/2021
    Units:date format mm-dd-yyyy
    end_date
    A text string identifier for the date the deployment ended (in the format yyyy-mm-dd). (Source: Producer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:04/23/2021
    Maximum:04/21/2022
    Units:date format mm-dd-yyyy
    latitude
    Latitude decimal degrees north, NAD83 (Source: Producer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:41.5295207
    Maximum:41.6014953
    Units:decimal degrees
    longitude
    Longitude decimal degrees west, NAD83. The negative value indicates a location in the western hemisphere. (Source: Producer defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-70.6702894
    Maximum:-70.4984456
    Units:decimal degrees
    land_surface_elevation
    A manual measurement of the land surface elevation (NAVD88) at a particular location (coordinates also measured and reported, measurement made using the RTK GPS). Positive values are above the datum and negative values below. (Source: Producer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:0.1580
    Maximum:1.1839
    Units:meters
    height_above_land_surface
    A manual measurement (using a measuring stick) of the height above land surface of the well that was used for water level logger deployment. (Source: Producer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1.06
    Maximum:1.50
    Units:meters
    deployment_length
    A manual measurement in meters (using a measuring stick) of the length of the well logger deployment cable (cable plus sensor). (Source: Manufacturer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:1.235
    Maximum:2.130
    Units:meters
    sensor_depth_below_land_surface
    Calculated deployment depth of the water level logger below the land surface (equal to the deployment_length minus the height_above_land_surface). (Source: Producer-defined)
    Range of values
    Minimum:-0.63
    Maximum:-0.175
    Units:meters
    sensor_WL
    A text identifier for the manufacturer make and model information of the water level sensor used to collect the given data point. (Source: Manufacturer-defined)
    ValueDefinition
    In-Situ Aqua TROLL 200-30 psiaData point collected using a water level logger manufactured by In-Situ, model type Aqua TROLL 200 (30 psi maximum pressure; "a" indicates an absolute pressure sensor that is not vented to the atmosphere).
    WL_sn
    A numeric identifier of the serial number of the water level logger; it is created by the manufacturer to uniquely tag each water level sensor. (Source: Manufacturer-defined) The serial number of each water level logger is a numeric identifier, created by the manufacturer, to uniquely tag each piece of equipment.
    sensor_baro
    A text identifier for the manufacturer make and model information of the barometer used to atmospherically correct absolute pressure data collected by non-vented water level sensors. (Source: Manufacturer-defined)
    ValueDefinition
    In-Situ BaroTROLL 500An atmospheric pressure (press_atm) data point collected using a barometer manufactured by In-Situ, model type BaroTROLL 500. The manufacturer's accuracy specification for this sensor is +/- 0.05 percent full-scale from -5 to 50 degrees Celsius, long-term stability is specified as less than 0.1 percent full-scale; the manufacturer's specification for resolution is 0.005 percent full-scale or better.
    baro_sn
    A numeric identifier, the barometer serial number is used to uniquely tag each barometer. (Source: Manufacturer-defined) The serial number of each barometer is a numeric identifier, created by the manufacturer, to uniquely tag each piece of equipment.

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
    • Jennifer A. O'Keefe Suttles
    • Meagan J. Eagle
    • Rebecca Sanders-DeMott
    • Sydney K. Nick
    • Thomas W. Brooks
    • Adrian G. Mann
    • Kevin D. Kroeger
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
    Colleagues at the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve provided infrastructure and support for site access.
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    Jennifer A. O'Keefe Suttles
    Northeast Region: WOODS HOLE COASTAL and MARINE SCIENCE CENTER
    Chemist
    384 Woods Hole Road
    Woods Hole, MA
    United States

    508-548-8700 x2385 (voice)
    jokeefesuttles@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

In 2020, two sites were established in tidally unrestricted locations of the Sage Lot Pond salt marsh complex (Waquoit Bay, Mashpee, MA) that are dominated by Phragmites vegetation, close to the forested upland. The site closer to the bay experiences more frequent tidal inundation and more saline waters (Unrestricted-High) than the inland site which is at a higher elevation and where fresh groundwater contributes to lower salinity (Unrestricted-Low). In 2021, four additional impounded Phragmites wetland sites on the South Coast of Cape Cod were included in the study (Falmouth, MA and Mashpee, MA). Data reported include continuous water level, salinity, and temperature in support of field experiments examining how carbon fluxes vary across a salinity gradient in impounded and natural, tidally unrestricted Phragmites wetlands. These data compliment previously released data from 2020 available in an accompanying child page within this data release.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: 2021 (process 1 of 4)
    Well Installation: PVC wells were installed by USGS at 2 sites in 2020 and at four additional sites in 2021. Wells consisted of two pre-manufactured sections of 1 inch (2.54 cm) diameter well casing that were threaded together: a length of slotted screened casing and a solid well casing that stuck above the sediment surface. The slot size was 0.010 inch (~ 0.3 mm). The length of slotted section was 2.5 feet (~0.762 meters) for the deeper wells and about 0.5 feet or between 20 and 30 centimeters for the shallower wells. Wells were installed by pushing the well section into the sediment by hand or lightly tapping the top of the well with a mallet. The tip of the slotted screened well section was pushed about 1 meter below the land surface for deep wells and about 0.3 meters below land surface for shallow wells; the threaded portion (connecting the slotted length with the solid length) was below the sediment surface. Enough well casing remained above the sediment surface (~1.1 meters) to ensure the groundwater well was not over-topped with surface water. A vent hole was drilled near the top of the solid well casing. An eye-bolt was drilled into the inward facing edge of the threaded well cap; water level loggers were hung by aircraft cable threaded through the eye-bolt and through the logger cap and secured on both ends using crimped stainless-steel oval sleeves. Exact well heights and sensor deployment lengths are summarized in a separate entity and attribute section (CCImpounded_WellSensorDeploymentHeights_2020-2022.csv). The process date represents the latest process date.
    Date: 2022 (process 2 of 4)
    Well Logger Deployments: All well loggers for this data release were In-Situ, model type Aqua TROLL 200 (30 psi maximum pressure; "a" indicates an absolute pressure sensor that is not vented to the atmosphere). The manufacturer's accuracy specification for this sensor is +/- 0.05 percent full-scale from -5 to 50 degrees Celsius, long-term stability is less than 0.1 percent full-scale; the manufacturer's specification for resolution is 0.005 percent full-scale or better. For specific logger serial numbers used at each site, refer to the file CCImpounded_WellSensorDeploymentHeights_2020-2022.csv included with this data release.
    Data loggers were periodically downloaded in the field using instrument manufacturers' software (WinSitu); data were inspected for general accuracy. Further data processing and calculation steps are described in the next process steps. Dates of site visits are listed as follows. Sage Lot Phragmites_LowSal Shallow Well: 12/11/2020, 4/14/2021, 4/23/2021, 5/6/2021, 5/26/2021, 7/14/2021, 8/11/2021, 9/13/2021, 10/8/2021, 11/18/2021, 4/21/2022. Sage Lot Phragmites_LowSal Deep Well: 12/11/2020, 4/14/2021, 4/23/2021. Sage Lot Phragmites_HighSal Shallow Well: 12/11/2020, 4/14/2021, 4/23/2021, 5/6/2021, 5/26/2021, 7/14/2021, 8/11/2021, 9/13/2021, 10/8/2021, 11/18/2021, 4/21/2022. Sage Lot Phragmites_HighSal Deep Well: 12/11/2020, 4/14/2021, 4/23/2021. Flat Pond Typha: 5/6/2021, 5/26/2021, 7/14/2021, 8/11/2021, 9/10/2021, 11/18/2021, 4/21/2022. Flat Pond Phragmites: 5/6/2021, 5/26/2021, 7/14/2021, 8/11/2021, 9/10/2021, 11/18/2021, 4/21/2022 Woods Hole Phragmites: 5/6/2021, 6/2/2021, 7/15/2021, 10/6/2021, 11/18/2021, 4/21/2022. West Falmouth Phragmites: 5/12/2021, 7/15/2021, 9/8/2021, 10/6/2021, 11/18/2021, 4/21/2022.
    The process date represents the most recent end date of this process step.
    Date: 2024 (process 3 of 4)
    A barometer (In-Situ BaroTroll 500; serial number 745296) deployed in air (~1.5 meters above the soil surface) at the Sage Lot Pond Phragmites site was used to atmospherically correct pressure data logged in wells. The manufacturer's accuracy specification for this barometric pressure sensor is +/- 0.05 percent full-scale from -5 to 50 degrees Celsius, long-term stability is specified as less than 0.1 percent full-scale; the manufacturer's specification for resolution is 0.005 percent full-scale or better.
    Manufacturer software (WinSitu BaroMerge) was used to atmospherically correct logged pressure data from the non-vented water level sensors. Corrected pressure was converted to sensor depth assuming a brackish water density for all sites (WinSitu: 1.012 grams per cubic centimeter). Barometric pressure and density corrections were processed throughout the deployment period and checked while finalizing the data report. Corrected pressure and barometric pressure are reported in this data release.
    Data from all continuous monitoring sensors were exported from manufacturers' software as a .csv file and compiled using MATLAB (R2021a). Water elevation calculations were performed in MATLAB as described in the following process steps. Data resulting from erroneous measurements (malfunctioning sensors or insufficient water within a well) were excluded from the final dataset. Data were processed throughout the deployment period and checked while finalizing the data report; the process date represents the latest date of data processing.
    Date: 2024 (process 4 of 4)
    Field measured deployment heights for specific time periods are summarized in a comma separated text file (CCImpounded_WellSensorDeploymentHeights_2020-2022.csv) included with this data release. These deployment heights were used to convert sensor depth (calculated from pressure in the manufacturer's software; described in previous process step) to water depth below land surface (dbs) and water elevation (WL_NAVD88) with respect to NAVD88. Calculations were processed throughout the deployment period in MATLAB (R2021a). Positive dbs values indicate water above the land surface; negative dbs values indicate water below the land surface. The following parameters are used for these two calculations (units for all measurements are in meters): a: depth of sensor as calculated in manufacturer's software (see previous process step for description of measured pressure data and assumptions of density constants; positive value when sensor pressure is greater than barometric pressure) b: land surface elevation (in the NAVD88 datum) at deployment location measured by RTK (land_surface_elevation; positive above (elevation) and negative below the datum) c: deployment well height above land surface measured periodically in the field using a meter stick (height_above_land_surface; always positive) d: total length of the deployment cable and water level sensor measured in the field using a meter stick (deployment_length; always positive)
    Well water elevation was calculated as: WL_NAVD88 = a+b+c-d
    Well water depth below land surface is calculated as: dbs = a+c-d
    Calculations were processed throughout the deployment period; the process date represents the latest date of data processing.
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
    Sanders-DeMott, Rebecca, Eagle, Meagan, Kroeger, Kevin, Wang, Faming, Brooks, T. Wallace, O'Keefe Suttles, Jennifer A., Nick, Sydney, Mann, Adrian, and Tang, Jianwu, 2022, Carbon dioxide and methane fluxes with supporting environmental data from coastal wetlands across Cape Cod, Massachusetts: data release DOI:10.5066/P9RRL3T0, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: Supporting data release.

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    Well sensors were bench tested for accuracy in the laboratory at the beginning and end of the field season as described below.
    Data from temperature sensors logging in air were compared to a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Traceable Digital Thermometer (Fisher brand) co-deployed on the bench. Logged temperature readings that were within manufacturer's accuracy specification of temperature measured by the NIST Traceable Thermometer were deemed acceptable.
    Salinity sensors were checked with a purchased calibration standard (Ricca 50.000 millisiemens per centimeter, catalog number 2248-1) and re-calibrated as needed. Salinity sensors were also field checked periodically and re-calibrated as needed; field service dates are listed in the process steps.
    Water level sensors were tested in the laboratory for accuracy by comparing logged pressure readings in air to the barometers used for barometric compensation; logged pressure readings that were within manufacturer's accuracy specification of the barometer's logged pressure in air were deemed acceptable. The make and model of the water level logger and barometer used for each water level measurement are included as attributes in the file CCImpounded_WellSensorDeploymentHeights_2020-2022.csv; the manufacturer's accuracy and resolution specifications for each continuous monitoring sensor are stated in the process steps regarding well logger deployment and atmospheric corrections or in the attribute definitions.
    Data were exported as logged by each sensor. Calculated attributes of water level ("dbs" and "WL_NAVD88") from all sensor types are reported to a resolution of 0.001 meters to allow for relative point-to-point comparisons. However, accuracy of these calculated parameters is dependent upon sensor accuracy, manual measurements of deployment depths, and RTK GPS elevation measurements. Additionally, the unconsolidated nature of the sediment surface at many sites (thick thatch, water above the land surface resulting in wet, fluid, dynamic sediment surface) contributes to lower precision. Overall, the approximate accuracy of this measurement technique is 1-5 centimeters.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    Horizontal positions were determined with a SpectraPrecision (SP80) Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) GPS with Positional Dilution of Precision (PDOP) and Horizontal Dilution of Precision (HDOP) values less than or equal to 1.300 and 0.700 respectively. Based on the range in replicate measurements, the horizontal accuracy is estimated to be +/- 30 centimeters. No formal positional accuracy tests were conducted.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
    Water level loggers were deployed in 8 wells at 6 different locations; sensor depth data from these instruments were converted to water elevation relative to NAVD88 using land surface elevations measured by SpectraPrecision (SP80) Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) GPS. Details on this calculation are described in the process steps. Vertical Dilution of Precision (VDOP) for RTK GPS measurements were less than 1.000; average vertical accuracy of this method is +/- 5 centimeters. No formal positional accuracy tests were conducted.
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    Gaps in the continuous data record for a given parameter may have been the result of one of several sources: sensor not deployed during that time period, removal of an instrument for maintenance, corrupt data file due to malfunctioning instrument, or wells with insufficient water level to produce reliable data. Exclusions of data from the continuous record are coded as the unrepresentable domain "NaN" (used in MATLAB, meaning "not a number"). The NaN count for each attribute are included in the domain definition for NaN. In some cases, the sensor error may have affected only one logged parameter. Short periods of NaN usually coincide with field maintenance and download; these dates are listed in the process steps below. Gaps in the continuous record that are not represented by NaN indicate the sensor was not deployed or a large part of a deployment was excluded from the dataset. PVC wells were installed by USGS at two Sage Lot Pond sites at the beginning of the study in 2020; two additional deeper wells were added later in the summer of 2020 as it became apparent that water level was dropping below the sensors in the original wells. During some periods, data from both the shallow well and deep well may be reported for the same time period; refer to the latitude and longitude attributes to differentiate between wells at each site and the file CCImpounded_WellSensorDeploymentHeights_2020-2022.csv included in this data release for logger deployment periods. As an additional note, observed differences in well water temperature between the deep and shallow wells at a given site are due to different deployment depths of the water level loggers within these wells. The water level sensor in the deep well is further from the land surface than the shallow well logger.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    Each logged parameter set was queried for maximum and minimum values to be sure logged data fell within expected ranges for the environmental conditions. Data were plotted to look for any obvious instrument errors (data jumps or gaps or noisy data). Erroneous data in the logged data files may be the result of one of several sources: removal of an instrument for maintenance, corrupt data file due to malfunctioning instrument, or wells with insufficient water level to produce reliable data. These data were excluded from the final data report.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
Access_Constraints No access constraints. Please see 'Distribution Information' for details.
Use_Constraints These data are marked with a Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal License. These data are in the public domain and do not have any use constraints. Users are advised to read the dataset's metadata thoroughly to understand appropriate use and data limitations.
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    U.S. Geological Survey - ScienceBase
    Denver Federal Center, Building 810, Mail Stop 302
    Denver, CO
    United States of America

    1-888-275-8747 (voice)
    sciencebase@usgs.gov
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? This dataset contains 2 individual comma separated text files: Well_CC_Impounded_2020_2022.csv; CCImpounded_WellSensorDeploymentHeights_2020-2022.csv. The dataset also contains a browse graphic (SLP_HighSal_Phrag.jpg) and the FGDC CSDGM metadata in XML format (CC_Impounded_wells_meta_2020-2022.xml).
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data for other purposes, nor on all computer systems, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
  4. How can I download or order the data?
  5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?
    The zip file resulting from the first network resource link contains data in CSV format. The user must have software capable of uncompressing the zip file and reading the data formats.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 23-Sep-2025
Metadata author:
Jennifer A. O'Keefe Suttles
Northeast Region: WOODS HOLE COASTAL AND MARINE SCIENCE CENTER
Chemist
384 Woods Hole Road
Woods Hole, MA
United States

508-548-8700 x2385 (voice)
whsc_data_contact@usgs.gov
Contact_Instructions:
The metadata contact email address is a generic address in the event the person is no longer with USGS.
Metadata standard:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
This page is <https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/catalog/whcmsc/SB_data_release/DR_P9T1KOTW/CC_Impounded_wells_meta_2020-2022.faq.html>
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