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Groundwater and Streamflow Information

Groundwater and surface water are among the Nation’s most important natural resources. The USGS provides unbiased, timely, and relevant information, studies, and data about water resources of the Nation. The NYWSC maintains a network of more than 300 surface water and 650 groundwater monitoring stations across New York State; over the years, the USGS has collected water-resources data at approximately 1.5 million sites in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. The data collected at the various sites are synthesized in State-level, interstate, and international studies to evaluate resources not only in one State but also other States and countries that might be affected or may influence the condition of surface water and groundwater. The data collected are used in studies of water supplies, groundwater contamination, flooding, water stored in ice and the oceans, and the effects of climate and land use change and manmade influences.

Filter Total Items: 107

Development and Operation of Groundwater, Surface-Water, and Water-Quality Monitoring Networks in Richmond, New York, and Bronx Counties, New York

Problem Previous hydrologic studies have indicated that there may be sufficient water resources underlying Richmond, New York, and Bronx Counties for use as a supplemental water supply by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) in times of a drought or other water shortage. Unfortunately, comprehensive data on the quantity and quality of the Counties' water resources are
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Development and Operation of Groundwater, Surface-Water, and Water-Quality Monitoring Networks in Richmond, New York, and Bronx Counties, New York

Problem Previous hydrologic studies have indicated that there may be sufficient water resources underlying Richmond, New York, and Bronx Counties for use as a supplemental water supply by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) in times of a drought or other water shortage. Unfortunately, comprehensive data on the quantity and quality of the Counties' water resources are
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Hydrogeology of the Tully Valley Mudboil Area, Southern Onondaga County, New York

Problem The Tully Valley, located in southern Onondaga County has been the source of sediment and brackish water discharge to Onondaga Creek, a tributary to the Seneca and Oswego Rivers and eventually Lake Ontario. Information on the origin of the Tully Valley mudboils, their persistence, and the possible extent of their migration within the Tully Valley is needed to mitigate or remediate (1)the d
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Hydrogeology of the Tully Valley Mudboil Area, Southern Onondaga County, New York

Problem The Tully Valley, located in southern Onondaga County has been the source of sediment and brackish water discharge to Onondaga Creek, a tributary to the Seneca and Oswego Rivers and eventually Lake Ontario. Information on the origin of the Tully Valley mudboils, their persistence, and the possible extent of their migration within the Tully Valley is needed to mitigate or remediate (1)the d
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Effects of Stream Restoration and Bank Stabilization on Suspended Sediment in Tributaries to the Upper Esopus Creek

Introduction The upper Esopus Creek watershed is located in the eastern Catskill Mountains of New York State and covers 497 km2 from Slide Mountain, the highest peak in the Catskills at 1,274 m, to the Ashokan Reservoir at 193 m elevation (fig. 1). Suspended sediment and turbidity are primary water quality concerns in the Ashokan Reservoir watershed, part of the New York City Catskill-Delaware
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Effects of Stream Restoration and Bank Stabilization on Suspended Sediment in Tributaries to the Upper Esopus Creek

Introduction The upper Esopus Creek watershed is located in the eastern Catskill Mountains of New York State and covers 497 km2 from Slide Mountain, the highest peak in the Catskills at 1,274 m, to the Ashokan Reservoir at 193 m elevation (fig. 1). Suspended sediment and turbidity are primary water quality concerns in the Ashokan Reservoir watershed, part of the New York City Catskill-Delaware
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Groundwater Flow Patterns near Pulaski, Oswego County, New York

Problem - The Village of Pulaski in Oswego County, N.Y., obtains its water supply from groundwater that drains under gravity from an unconfined aquifer into three shallow dug wells. The well field is in an area where groundwater discharges to springs along the west edge of the Tug Hill Aquifer, which is comprised of beach and kame deposits of sand and gravel. A numerical groundwater model was c
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Groundwater Flow Patterns near Pulaski, Oswego County, New York

Problem - The Village of Pulaski in Oswego County, N.Y., obtains its water supply from groundwater that drains under gravity from an unconfined aquifer into three shallow dug wells. The well field is in an area where groundwater discharges to springs along the west edge of the Tug Hill Aquifer, which is comprised of beach and kame deposits of sand and gravel. A numerical groundwater model was c
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Hudson River Salt-Front Monitoring Project, New York

Study area Hudson River from Hyde Park to Yonkers, N.Y. Period of project Continuous since October 1991 Problem - The location of the salt front (freshwater-saltwater interface) in the lower Hudson River basin can affect wildlife habitats and freshwater withdrawals for municipal use. Knowing the location of the salt front can help managers make informed decisions to protect the environment, mai
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Hudson River Salt-Front Monitoring Project, New York

Study area Hudson River from Hyde Park to Yonkers, N.Y. Period of project Continuous since October 1991 Problem - The location of the salt front (freshwater-saltwater interface) in the lower Hudson River basin can affect wildlife habitats and freshwater withdrawals for municipal use. Knowing the location of the salt front can help managers make informed decisions to protect the environment, mai
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The Hydrologic Benchmark Network

Summary The Hydrologic Benchmark Network (HBN) consists of 37 watersheds that provide long-term measurements of streamflow and water quality in areas that are minimally affected by human activities. In 2011 measurements of aquatic biology and soil chemistry were added to the network. All of these data are used to study long-term trends in surface water flow, water chemistry, aquatic biology, and
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The Hydrologic Benchmark Network

Summary The Hydrologic Benchmark Network (HBN) consists of 37 watersheds that provide long-term measurements of streamflow and water quality in areas that are minimally affected by human activities. In 2011 measurements of aquatic biology and soil chemistry were added to the network. All of these data are used to study long-term trends in surface water flow, water chemistry, aquatic biology, and
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Simulation and Analysis of the Effects of Land-Use Changes and Stormflow Detention Basins on Flooding and Nonpoint-Source Pollution, in Irondequoit Creek Basin, Monroe and Ontario Counties, New York

Problem - Urbanization of the 150-square-mile Irondequoit Creek basin in Monroe and Ontario Counties, N.Y., continues to spread southward and eastward from the City of Rochester. Conversion of forested land to other uses over the past 40 years has increased to the extent that more than 50 percent of the basin is now developed. This expansion has increased flooding and impaired stream-water qual
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Simulation and Analysis of the Effects of Land-Use Changes and Stormflow Detention Basins on Flooding and Nonpoint-Source Pollution, in Irondequoit Creek Basin, Monroe and Ontario Counties, New York

Problem - Urbanization of the 150-square-mile Irondequoit Creek basin in Monroe and Ontario Counties, N.Y., continues to spread southward and eastward from the City of Rochester. Conversion of forested land to other uses over the past 40 years has increased to the extent that more than 50 percent of the basin is now developed. This expansion has increased flooding and impaired stream-water qual
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Simulation of Flow and Water Quality by a Precipitation-Runoff Model of the Onondaga Lake Watershed, Onondaga County, New York

Problem - During 2003-07, a precipitation-runoff watershed model with water-quality components was developed to assess pollutant sources and loadings to Onondaga Lake, and to assist water-resources managers in making decisions regarding the selection and location of mitigative measures to maximize load reduction for a given effort. In the absence of chemical loading rates that were specific to
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Simulation of Flow and Water Quality by a Precipitation-Runoff Model of the Onondaga Lake Watershed, Onondaga County, New York

Problem - During 2003-07, a precipitation-runoff watershed model with water-quality components was developed to assess pollutant sources and loadings to Onondaga Lake, and to assist water-resources managers in making decisions regarding the selection and location of mitigative measures to maximize load reduction for a given effort. In the absence of chemical loading rates that were specific to
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Simulation of the Shallow Ground-Water Flow System at Fire Island National Seashore, Long Island, New York

Fire Island National Seashore (FIIS) is located on the barrier island along the extreme southern shore of western and central Suffolk County, New York. Interspersed throughout FIIS are seventeen residential beach communities that in the summer months greatly increase in population due to the arrival of summer residents and vacationers. Wastewater from the numerous homes and businesses in the bar
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Simulation of the Shallow Ground-Water Flow System at Fire Island National Seashore, Long Island, New York

Fire Island National Seashore (FIIS) is located on the barrier island along the extreme southern shore of western and central Suffolk County, New York. Interspersed throughout FIIS are seventeen residential beach communities that in the summer months greatly increase in population due to the arrival of summer residents and vacationers. Wastewater from the numerous homes and businesses in the bar
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Survey of Low-Flow Stream Water Specific Conductance in the Southern Tier of New York State

Description of Study The objective of this study was to define specific conductance in stream water under low streamflow conditions in Central New York. The study area covers parts of six counties in the Southern Tier region of New York State (fig. 1). This survey covered a range of watershed areas and land use types, and specifically targeted low-flow periods during the summer as the flow wou
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Survey of Low-Flow Stream Water Specific Conductance in the Southern Tier of New York State

Description of Study The objective of this study was to define specific conductance in stream water under low streamflow conditions in Central New York. The study area covers parts of six counties in the Southern Tier region of New York State (fig. 1). This survey covered a range of watershed areas and land use types, and specifically targeted low-flow periods during the summer as the flow wou
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The Onondaga Valley Ground-Water Study, central New York

Problem Onondaga Lake has been identified as one of the nation's most contaminated lakes as a result of discharges from industrial, sewage, and stormwater sources, and the lake received priority cleanup status under the National Water Resources Development Act of 1990. Although remediation of polluted surface-water discharges is planned, the migration of poor quality (saline) ground water into th
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The Onondaga Valley Ground-Water Study, central New York

Problem Onondaga Lake has been identified as one of the nation's most contaminated lakes as a result of discharges from industrial, sewage, and stormwater sources, and the lake received priority cleanup status under the National Water Resources Development Act of 1990. Although remediation of polluted surface-water discharges is planned, the migration of poor quality (saline) ground water into th
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