Data Sources and Methods for Digital Mapping of Eight Valley-Fill Aquifer Systems in Upstate New York

Scientific Investigations Report 2022-5024
Prepared in cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
By: , and 

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Abstract

Digital hydrogeologic maps were developed in eight study areas in upstate New York by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The digital maps define the hydrogeologic framework of the valley-fill aquifers and surrounding till-covered uplands in the vicinity of the villages of Ellenville and Wurtsboro and hamlets of Woodbourne and South Fallsburg in Sullivan and Ulster Counties, town of Greene in Chenango County, city of Cortland and town of Cincinnatus in Cortland County, city of Jamestown in Chautauqua County, city of Olean and village of Ellicottville in Cattaraugus County, and villages of Fishkill and Wappinger Falls in Dutchess County. The hydrogeologic framework provided the foundation for groundwater-flow models that were used in the delineation of areas contributing groundwater flow to production wells screened in four of the eight valley-fill aquifers considered in this study. The hydrogeologic framework for the other four study areas was developed for potential future use in groundwater contributing-area studies.

Data used in the creation of all digital surfaces and thicknesses included published surficial geology; aquifer maps and hydrogeologic sections; light detection and ranging (lidar) datasets; the Soil Survey Geographic Database; and lithologic well logs from the National Water Information System, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Department of Transportation, and Empire State Organized Geologic Information System databases. Digital maps of the surficial geology; thickness of the surficial sand and gravel aquifers; and tops of the confining lacustrine silt and clay units, confined sand and gravel aquifers, and bedrock surfaces were created by using ArcGIS (a geographic information system). All surfaces and thicknesses were generated by using one of the following ArcGIS interpolation tools: Topo to Raster, Natural Neighbors, Kriging, or Empirical Bayesian Kriging. The datasets developed in this study provide a greater understanding of the underlying hydrogeologic framework in glacial valley-fill aquifers and can be applied in the evaluation of groundwater-supply development and protection.

Suggested Citation

Finkelstein, J.S., Woda, J.C., and Williams, J.H., 2022, Data sources and methods for digital mapping of eight valley-fill aquifer systems in upstate New York: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2022–5024, 21 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20225024.

ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Description of Study Areas
  • Data Sources
  • Methods
  • Limitations, Postprocessing, and Use of Data
  • Summary
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Data sources and methods for digital mapping of eight valley-fill aquifer systems in upstate New York
Series title Scientific Investigations Report
Series number 2022-5024
DOI 10.3133/sir20225024
Year Published 2022
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) New York Water Science Center
Description Report: v, 21 p.; Data Release
Country United States
State New York
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
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