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Delineation of Areas Contributing Groundwater and Travel Times to Receiving Waters in Kings, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties, New York

Scientific Investigations Report 2021-5047
Prepared in cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
By: , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20215047

Links

  • Document: Report (92.9 MB pdf) , XML
  • Tables:
    • Table 1.1 (12.2 KB csv) - Association of receiving water body index to New York State priority water body list database for water bodies on Long Island, New York
    • Table 1.2 (9.48 KB csv) - Sum of groundwater outflows to receiving water bodies simulated by a flow model of regional hydrologic conditions from 2005 to 2015 for Long Island, New York
    • Table 1.3 (27.5 KB csv) - Marine subsystems, estuaries, and number of receiving water bodies on Long Island, New York, associated with New York State priority water bodies
  • Data Release: USGS data release - MODFLOW–NWT and MODPATH6 used to delineate areas contributing groundwater and travel times to receiving waters of Kings, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties, New York
  • Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core

Abstract

To assist resource managers and planners in developing informed strategies to address nitrogen loading to coastal water bodies of Long Island, New York, the U.S. Geological Survey and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation initiated a program to delineate areas contributing groundwater to coastal water bodies by assembling a comprehensive dataset of areas contributing groundwater, travel times, and groundwater discharges to streams, lakes, marine surface waters, and subsea discharge boundaries. Steady-state, 25-layer regional, three-dimensional finite-difference groundwater-flow models of average regional hydrologic conditions were used for particle-tracking analysis to delineate areas contributing groundwater to 843 water bodies. Two steady-state conditions were simulated: recent conditions from 2005 to 2015 and predevelopment conditions of about 1900. About 14 million particles were evenly distributed across the water table and tracked forward to discharge zones. Using a uniform porosity of 25 percent, simulated recent condition travel times ranged from less than 2 years to greater than 10,000 years and were visualized in 11 travel time intervals. About 85 percent of particle travel times from the water table to points of discharge are less than 100 years. Simulated particle-tracking ending zones represented 843 receiving water bodies, based on the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation water body inventory and priority water bodies list. Areal delineation of travel-time intervals and areas contributing groundwater to water bodies were generated and are summarized with total groundwater outflow for each water body.

Suggested Citation

Misut, P.E., Casamassina, N.A., and Walter, D.A., 2021, Delineation of areas contributing groundwater and travel times to receiving waters in Kings, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties, New York: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2021–5047, 61 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20215047.

ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Methods of Analysis
  • Delineation of Areas Contributing Groundwater to Surface Receiving Water Bodies
  • Limitations of Analysis
  • Summary
  • Appendix 1. Priority Water Bodies on Long Island, New York
  • Appendix 2. Areas Contributing Groundwater to Individual Receiving Water Bodies
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Delineation of areas contributing groundwater and travel times to receiving waters in Kings, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties, New York
Series title Scientific Investigations Report
Series number 2021-5047
DOI 10.3133/sir20215047
Year Published 2021
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) New England Water Science Center, New York Water Science Center
Description Report: iv, 61 p.; 3 Tables; Data Release
Country United States
State New York
County Kings County, Queens County, Nassau County, Suffolk County
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details