Development and Implementation of a Baseflow (groundwater) Monitoring Network for the Pepacton Watershed
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By New York Water Science Center
August 10, 2015
The Pepacton watershed is an integral part of New York City's public-water supply system. Most of the watershed is within Delaware County with headwaters of some of its eastern tributary streams originating in Greene and Ulster Counties. Land use varies from dairy farms in the northern portion of the watershed to extensive forested areas in the south with small rural communities interspersed throughout the watershed. Sound management of the water resources in the region necessitates development of hydrologic data networks that will document current water-quality conditions in relation to watershed characteristics such as land use. Ground-water discharge to streams accounts for most of the water reaching the New York City reservoirs during periods of little or no rainfall (baseflow conditions), and a large proportion (60-70 percent) of total annual streamflow. Baseflow samples from carefully selected drainage areas provide a composite or integrated ground-water discharge sample that is a reflection of the most active part of the shallow ground-water flow system. The study addresses ground-water quality (major ions, nutrients, selected pesticides and their metabolites) through development of a monitoring network of baseflow sites that characterize spatial (land use, physical basin characteristics) and temporal water-quality variations within the Pepacton watershed.
Objectives
- Development of a ground-water (baseflow) monitoring network that will provide water-quality data that are representative of upland and valley shallow ground-water flow systems and the spatial variations in the type or intensity of land use in each sampled basin.
- Identification of temporal water-quality variations in baseflow.
- Interpretation of initial water-quality data on the basis of hydrogeologic setting, land-use type, distribution, and intensity.
Related Publications
- Heisig, P.M. and Phillips, P.J., 2004, Stream base-flow chemistry responses to hydrogeology and nonpoint sources, Pepacton Reservoir watershed, New York [abs.], in Compendium of Abstracts, 2d Annual New York City Watershed Science and Technical Conference, Sept. 21-22, 2004, Fishkill, New York, p.16.
- Phillips, P.J. and Heisig, P.M., 2004, Hydrogeology and water quality of the Pepacton Reservoir Watershed in Southeastern New York. Part 1. Concentrations of pesticides and their degradates in stream baseflow, 2000-2001: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4137, 13 p.
- Reynolds, R.J., 2004, Hydrogeology and water quality of the Pepacton Reservoir Watershed in Southeastern New York. Part 2. Hydrogeology, stream base flow, and ground-water recharge: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5134, 31 p.
- Heisig, P.M., 2004, Hydrogeology and water quality of the Pepacton Reservoir Watershed in Southeastern New York. Part 4. Quantity and quality of ground-water and tributary contributions to stream base flow in selected main-valley reaches: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5018, 21 p.
- Heisig, P.M. and Phillips, P.J., 2004, Hydrogeology and water quality of the Pepacton Reservoir Watershed in Southeastern New York. Part 3. Responses of stream base-flow chemistry to hydrogeologic factors and nonpoint-sources of contamination: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5008, 31 p.
Project Location by County
Delaware County, NY, Greene County, NY, Ulster County, NY
- Source: USGS Sciencebase (id: 55c8ee55e4b08400b1fd882f)
The Pepacton watershed is an integral part of New York City's public-water supply system. Most of the watershed is within Delaware County with headwaters of some of its eastern tributary streams originating in Greene and Ulster Counties. Land use varies from dairy farms in the northern portion of the watershed to extensive forested areas in the south with small rural communities interspersed throughout the watershed. Sound management of the water resources in the region necessitates development of hydrologic data networks that will document current water-quality conditions in relation to watershed characteristics such as land use. Ground-water discharge to streams accounts for most of the water reaching the New York City reservoirs during periods of little or no rainfall (baseflow conditions), and a large proportion (60-70 percent) of total annual streamflow. Baseflow samples from carefully selected drainage areas provide a composite or integrated ground-water discharge sample that is a reflection of the most active part of the shallow ground-water flow system. The study addresses ground-water quality (major ions, nutrients, selected pesticides and their metabolites) through development of a monitoring network of baseflow sites that characterize spatial (land use, physical basin characteristics) and temporal water-quality variations within the Pepacton watershed.
Objectives
- Development of a ground-water (baseflow) monitoring network that will provide water-quality data that are representative of upland and valley shallow ground-water flow systems and the spatial variations in the type or intensity of land use in each sampled basin.
- Identification of temporal water-quality variations in baseflow.
- Interpretation of initial water-quality data on the basis of hydrogeologic setting, land-use type, distribution, and intensity.
Related Publications
- Heisig, P.M. and Phillips, P.J., 2004, Stream base-flow chemistry responses to hydrogeology and nonpoint sources, Pepacton Reservoir watershed, New York [abs.], in Compendium of Abstracts, 2d Annual New York City Watershed Science and Technical Conference, Sept. 21-22, 2004, Fishkill, New York, p.16.
- Phillips, P.J. and Heisig, P.M., 2004, Hydrogeology and water quality of the Pepacton Reservoir Watershed in Southeastern New York. Part 1. Concentrations of pesticides and their degradates in stream baseflow, 2000-2001: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4137, 13 p.
- Reynolds, R.J., 2004, Hydrogeology and water quality of the Pepacton Reservoir Watershed in Southeastern New York. Part 2. Hydrogeology, stream base flow, and ground-water recharge: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5134, 31 p.
- Heisig, P.M., 2004, Hydrogeology and water quality of the Pepacton Reservoir Watershed in Southeastern New York. Part 4. Quantity and quality of ground-water and tributary contributions to stream base flow in selected main-valley reaches: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5018, 21 p.
- Heisig, P.M. and Phillips, P.J., 2004, Hydrogeology and water quality of the Pepacton Reservoir Watershed in Southeastern New York. Part 3. Responses of stream base-flow chemistry to hydrogeologic factors and nonpoint-sources of contamination: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5008, 31 p.
Project Location by County
Delaware County, NY, Greene County, NY, Ulster County, NY
- Source: USGS Sciencebase (id: 55c8ee55e4b08400b1fd882f)