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Michael L Noll

Intro

Michael Noll is a hydrologist with the USGS New York Water Science Center and a licensed New York State Geologist.  Michael graduated Summa Cum Laude from Stony Brook University in 2009 with a Bachelor’s Degree of Science (Geology), and in 2015 with a Master's of Science (Hydrogeology). Since 2007, Michael has worked on various environmental investigations to inform rehabilitation efforts of the New York City water supply system that is used to distribute potable water to New York City’s 8 million residents and another 1 million residents in upstate New York. Currently, Michael is working on a project to assess the effects of leakage from the Catskill and Delaware Aqueducts on the local bedrock and overburden aquifers in southeastern New York using a multidisciplinary approach.

Michael also oversees a cooperative program with the Suffolk County Water Authority which coordinates drilling activities and allows for cost-effective hydrogeologic data collection. Lithologic and geophysical data are analyzed on site to identify major hydrogeologic contacts and inform production well construction.

Michael has been working with the Shinnecock Nation on the south fork of eastern Long Island since 2014 on projects that help support decision making related to the Tribe’s natural resources. These projects include defining baseline hydrologic conditions, characterizing the movement and distribution of shallow groundwater beneath the tribal lands, and identifying sources of potential contamination to the surficial aquifer and coastal ecosystems. Michael participates in an annual training event to strengthen the technical capacity of the Shinnecock Tribe in managing their natural resources, and to establish and maintain positive relationships between the USGS and the Tribal Government.

Michael is also a subject matter expert for the USGS Geospatial Data Collection Group which provides technical guidance, method development, and training to the Water Mission Area for 9 geospatial disciplines. These disciplines include global navigation satellite systems, trigonometric leveling, differential leveling, storm-tide monitoring, bathymetry, light detection and ranging, datum conversion, photogrammetry, and geodesy.

 

 

 

Science and Products

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orange colored area on a white map

Hydrogeologic and Geochemical Assessment of the Effects of Leakage from the Catskill and Delaware Aqueducts on the Local Bedrock and Overburden Aquifers in Southeastern New York

PROBLEM As part of an effort to sustain a viable water-supply system for 8 million residents in New York City, and 1 million other residents in upstate New York that rely on City water, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) has requested a multi-disciplinary study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to determine the source(s) of water to surface-water sites (springs
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New York Water Science Center
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Hydrogeologic and Geochemical Assessment of the Effects of Leakage from the Catskill and Delaware Aqueducts on the Local Bedrock and Overburden Aquifers in Southeastern New York

PROBLEM As part of an effort to sustain a viable water-supply system for 8 million residents in New York City, and 1 million other residents in upstate New York that rely on City water, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) has requested a multi-disciplinary study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to determine the source(s) of water to surface-water sites (springs
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drillrig on snowy ground by houses

Documenting Hydrogeologic Information Obtained from Deep-Borehole Drilling in Suffolk County, New York

Background Borehole drilling and well-installation are costly procedures, and securing funding for new well installation for the sake of research is often difficult.The Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA) maintains a large network of deep wells for public supply that is constantly being upgraded as water demands increase. During the drilling process, contractors record drillers’ lo
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New York Water Science Center
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Documenting Hydrogeologic Information Obtained from Deep-Borehole Drilling in Suffolk County, New York

Background Borehole drilling and well-installation are costly procedures, and securing funding for new well installation for the sake of research is often difficult.The Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA) maintains a large network of deep wells for public supply that is constantly being upgraded as water demands increase. During the drilling process, contractors record drillers’ lo
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women sitting on chair on blacktop in woods, snow covered ground, with groundwater sampling equipment around her

Hydrologic Assessment of the Shallow Groundwater-Flow System Beneath the Shinnecock Nation Tribal Lands, Suffolk County, New York

Background The Shinnecock Nation is located on the south fork of eastern Long Island adjacent to the town of Southampton to the east, and the hamlet of Shinnecock Hills to the west, in Suffolk County, NY. Shinnecock Nation tribal lands encompass approximately 1.2 square miles and are bounded to the east and west by tidal creeks, and to the south by Shinnecock Bay. The Shinnecock Nation has a po
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New York Water Science Center
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Hydrologic Assessment of the Shallow Groundwater-Flow System Beneath the Shinnecock Nation Tribal Lands, Suffolk County, New York

Background The Shinnecock Nation is located on the south fork of eastern Long Island adjacent to the town of Southampton to the east, and the hamlet of Shinnecock Hills to the west, in Suffolk County, NY. Shinnecock Nation tribal lands encompass approximately 1.2 square miles and are bounded to the east and west by tidal creeks, and to the south by Shinnecock Bay. The Shinnecock Nation has a po
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High-Water Marks in the Five Boroughs of New York City from Flash Flooding Caused by the Remnants of Hurricane Ida, September 1, 2021

This data release contains results of a high-water mark survey across the five boroughs of New York City following flash flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida, September 1, 2021.  The survey was conducted between September 7 and November 23, 2021, and is based on observations of mud, debris, and seed lines left by the flooding.  Real time and static GNSS surveying as well as available l
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New York Water Science Center

Potentiometric-Surface Contours in a Bedrock Aquifer near High Falls, New York, 2019–2020

This geospatial data set contains groundwater level contours, well locations, and associated metadata that characterize the potentiometric surface near the Rondout pressure-tunnel in High Falls, New York during November 5–7, 2019, and January 21–22, 2020. The pressure tunnel was shut down and partially dewatered for 74 days from November 11, 2019, to January 23, 2020, for inspection and repairs.
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New York Water Science Center

Data and analytical type-curve match for selected hydraulic tests at an earthen dam site in Southern Westchester County, New York

This data release contains water level displacement data and analytical type-curve matches for selected hydraulic tests that support USGS Open-File Report 2019-1102, "Slug-test analysis of selected wells at an earthen dam site in southern Westchester County, New York." In 2005, the U.S. Geological Survey began a cooperative study with New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP
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New York Water Science Center

Water-table and potentiometric-surface altitudes in the Upper Glacial, Magothy, and Lloyd aquifers of Long Island, New York, April-May 2013

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with State and local agencies, systematically collects groundwater data at varying measurement frequencies to monitor the hydrologic conditions on Long Island, New York. Each year during April and May, the USGS conducts a synoptic survey of water levels to define the spatial distribution of the water table and potentiometric surfaces within the thr
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Water Resources Mission Area, New York Water Science Center, USGS Science in Long Island Sound and its Watershed
woman waist deep in ocean working on equipment
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Servicing Water Level sensor at Fire Island Breach, Long Island
Image: Surveying High-Water Marks after Hurricane Sandy
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Surveying High-Water Marks after Hurricane Sandy
Image: Surveying High-Water Marks after Hurricane Sandy
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Surveying High-Water Marks after Hurricane Sandy
Image: Surveying High-Water Marks after Hurricane Sandy
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Surveying High-Water Marks after Hurricane Sandy
Image: Surveying High-Water Marks after Hurricane Sandy
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Surveying High-Water Marks after Hurricane Sandy
woman surveying high water mark next to Statue of Liberty
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Surveying a high-water mark on Liberty Island, after Hurricane Sandy

Hydrologic effects of leakage from the Catskill Aqueduct on the bedrock-aquifer system near High Falls, New York, November 2019–January 2020

Historical observations by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) indicate that the Rondout pressure tunnel has been leaking in the vicinity of the hamlet of High Falls, New York. In the 74 days from November 11, 2019, to January 23, 2020, NYCDEP shut down and partially dewatered the pressure tunnel for inspection and repairs. On November 5–7, 2019 (during normal tunnel
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Anthony Chu, Michael L. Noll, William D. Capurso
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Water Resources Mission Area, New York Water Science Center

Procedures and best practices for trigonometric leveling in the U.S. Geological Survey

With the advent of highly precise total stations and modern surveying instrumentation, trigonometric leveling has become a compelling alternative to conventional leveling methods for establishing vertical-control networks and for perpetuating a datum to field sites. Previous studies of trigonometric-leveling measurement uncertainty proclaim that first-, second-, and third-order accuracies may be a
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Michael L. Noll, Paul H. Rydlund
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Water Resources Mission Area, Central Midwest Water Science Center, New York Water Science Center

Slug-test analysis of selected wells at an earthen dam site in southern Westchester County, New York

In 2005, the U.S. Geological Survey began a cooperative study with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection to characterize the local groundwater-flow system and identify potential sources of seeps on the southern embankment of the Hillview Reservoir in southern Westchester County, New York. The earthen embankment comprises low-permeability glacial clays that were excavated from th
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Michael L. Noll, Anthony Chu, William D. Capurso
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Water Resources Mission Area, New York Water Science Center

Groundwater-level data from an earthen dam site in southern Westchester County, New York

In 2005, the U.S. Geological Survey began a cooperative study with New York City Department of Environmental Protection to characterize the local groundwater-flow system and identify potential sources of seeps on the southern embankment of the Hillview Reservoir in Westchester County, New York. Groundwater levels were collected at 49 wells at Hillview Reservoir, and 1 well in northern Bronx County
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Michael L. Noll, Anthony Chu
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Water Resources Mission Area, New York Water Science Center

Water-quality data from an earthen dam site in southern Westchester County, New York, 2015

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, sampled 37 sites in the reservoir area for nutrients, major ions, metals, pesticides and their degradates, volatile organic compounds, temperature, pH, and specific conductance during fall 2015. Data collection was done to characterize the local groundwater-flow system and identify potential s
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Anthony Chu, Michael L. Noll
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Water Resources Mission Area, New York Water Science Center

Detecting temporal change in land-surface altitude using robotic land-surveying techniques and geographic information system applications at an earthen dam site in Southern Westchester County, New York

In 2005, the U.S. Geological Survey began a cooperative study with New York City Department of Environmental Protection to characterize the local groundwater-flow system and identify potential sources of seeps on the southern embankment at the Hillview Reservoir in southern Westchester County, New York. Monthly site inspections at the reservoir indicated an approximately 90-square-foot depression
Authors
Michael L. Noll, Anthony Chu
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Water Resources Mission Area, New York Water Science Center

Vertical datum conversion process for the inland and coastal gage network located in the New England, Mid-Atlantic, and South Atlantic-Gulf hydrologic regions

Datum conversions from the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 among inland and coastal gages throughout the hydrologic regions of New England, the Mid-Atlantic, and the South Atlantic-Gulf have implications among river and storm surge forecasting, general commerce, and water-control operations. The process of data conversions may involve the appli
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Paul H. Rydlund, Michael L. Noll
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Water Resources Mission Area, New York Water Science Center

Hydrologic assessment of the shallow groundwater flow system beneath the Shinnecock Nation tribal lands, Suffolk County, New York

Defining the distribution and flow of shallow groundwater beneath the Shinnecock Nation tribal lands in Suffolk County, New York, is a crucial first step in identifying sources of potential contamination to the surficial aquifer and coastal ecosystems. The surficial or water table aquifer beneath the tribal lands is the primary source of potable water supply for at least 6 percent of the household
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Michael L. Noll, Simonette L. Rivera, Ronald Busciolano
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Water Resources Mission Area, New York Water Science Center

Delineation of fractures, foliation, and groundwater of the bedrock at a geothermal feasibility site on Roosevelt Island, New York County, New York

Advanced borehole-geophysical methods were used to investigate the hydrogeology of the crystalline bedrock in three boreholes on Roosevelt Island, New York County, New York. Cornell University was evaluating the feasibility of using geothermal energy for a future campus at the site. The borehole-logging techniques were used to delineate bedrock fractures, foliation, and groundwater-flow zones of t
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Frederick Stumm, Anthony Chu, Michael D. Como, Michael L. Noll, Peter K. Joesten
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Water Resources Mission Area, New York Water Science Center

Delineation of fractures, foliation, and groundwater-flow zones of the bedrock at the Harlem River Tunnel in northern New York County, New York

Advanced borehole-geophysical methods were used to investigate the hydrogeology of the crystalline bedrock in 36 boreholes on the northernmost part of New York County, New York, for the construction of a utilities tunnel beneath the Harlem River. The borehole-logging techniques were used to delineate bedrock fractures, foliation, and groundwater-flow zones in test boreholes at the site. Fracture i
Authors
Frederick Stumm, Anthony Chu, Peter K. Joesten, Michael L. Noll, Michael D. Como
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Water Resources Mission Area, New York Water Science Center

Geophysical and hydrologic analysis of an earthen dam site in southern Westchester County, New York

Ninety percent of the drinking water for New York City passes through the Hillview Reservoir facility in the City of Yonkers, Westchester County, New York. In the past, several seeps located downslope from the reservoir have flowed out from the side of the steepest slope at the southern end of the earthen embankment. One seep that has been flowing continuously was discovered during an inspection o
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Anthony Chu, Frederick Stumm, Peter K. Joesten, Michael L. Noll
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Water Resources Mission Area, New York Water Science Center

Preliminary analysis of the hydrologic effects of temporary shutdowns of the Rondout-West Branch Water Tunnel on the groundwater-flow system in Wawarsing, New York

Flooding of streets and residential basements, and bacterial contamination of private-supply wells with Escherichia coli (E. coli) are recurring problems in the Rondout Valley near the Town of Wawarsing, Ulster County, New York. Leakage from the Rondout-West Branch (RWB) Water Tunnel and above-normal precipitation have been suspected of causing elevated groundwater levels and basement flooding. Th
Authors
Frederick Stumm, Anthony Chu, Michael D. Como, Michael L. Noll
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Water Resources Mission Area, New York Water Science Center

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