Observation Well Network in Upstate New York

The United States Geological Survey, in cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, monitors a network of observation wells throughout upstate New York to provide current information on the effect of climatic conditions on ground-water levels. The observation-well network began in the 1930s, and by the 1960s consisted of 48 wells completed in unconsolidated and bedrock aquifers. However, in 1995, due to budget constraints, the network was reduced to only 14 wells, all in unconsolidated aquifers. When deficiencies in the observation-well coverage became widely known during the droughts of the late 1990s, funding was made available to the NYSDEC and USGS to expand the network by reactivation of old wells and installation of new wells. At present, there are over 80 observation wells in unconsolidated and bedrock aquifers. Daily ground-water levels and 10-year hydrographs for each well site are published in the USGS Water Resources Annual Data Reports for New York. In addition, monthly assessments of ground-water conditions, based on frequency statistical analysis of the observation-well data, are provided on the WEB at http://ny.water.usgs.gov/htmls/pub/data.html.