Water Resources Investigation Report 98-4036 Table of Contents

Abstract

Introduction

Approach

Purpose and Scope

Acknowledgments

Physiography and Water Use

Geology

Bedrock

Unconsolidated Deposits

Water Resources

Components of the Hydrologic System

Precipitation

Evapotranspiration

Total Runoff

Recharge

Basinwide Mean

Spatial Distribution

Overland Flow

Water Withdrawals

Downstream Water Diversion

Surface Water

Flow Conditions

Human Alteration of Surface-water Flows

Infiltration Losses from Tributary Streams

Low-flow Frequency and Duration

Frequency Statistics

Duration Statistics

Chemistry

Temporal Variations

Physical Properties, Selected Nutrients, and Turbidity

Inorganic Constituents

Spatial Variations

Ground Water

Sources

Unconsolidated Deposits

Thickness and Classification

Extent and Saturated Thickness of the Stratified-drift Aquifer

Hydraulic Properties

Bedrock

Subsurface Continuity of Natural-gamma Units

Fracture Distribution and Frequency

Saline Water

Hydraulic Properties

Geochemistry of Natural Ground Waters

Chemical Evolution Along Flowpaths

Mixing with Saline Water

Effects of Human Practices on Ground-water Quality

Point-source Degradation

Wastewater Disposal

Road-salt Storage

Solid-waste Disposal

Underground Fuel Storage

Borehole Short Circuits

Other Sources

Nonpoint-source Degradation

Conceptual Model of the Ground-water Flow System

Bedrock-dominated, High-relief Hillsides and Hilltops

Till-dominated Uplands of Moderate Relief

Valleys with Established Flood Plains and the Lower Parts of Adjacent Hillsides

Summary and Conclusions

References Cited

Glossary

Appendix A: Data on wells and test holes in the Batavia Kill study area, Greene County, N.Y.

Appendix B: Chemical analyses of ground water from the Batavia Kill study area, Greene County, N.Y.

1991-92, by water type

Appendix C: Chemical analyses of ground-water samples that were affected by human activities, Batavia Kill

study area, Greene County, N.Y. 1991-92

Plate

1. Locations of wells, test holes, springs, and selected cultural features

FIGURES

1. Map showing location and pertinent geographic features of the Batavia Kill study area and vicinity

in southeastern New York

2. Diagram showing fining-upward sedimentary cycle of bedrock in the eastern Catskill Mountain

region of N.Y.

3. Half-rose diagram showing an equal-weight composite of high-angle-fracture strike orientations

from the Batavia Kill Basin, Greene County, N.Y.

4. Diagram showing relative magnitudes of major hydrologic components; each component scaled

and listed as a percentage of the preceding component

5. Maps showing estimated areal distribution of selected hydrologic components an hydrogeologic

characteristics in the gaged part of Batavia Kill Basin: A. Annual precipitation, B. Total runoff,

C. Unchanneled areas/valley areas and channeled areas, and D. Surface exposures of bedrock,

stratified drift, and till

6. Graph showing annual evapotranspiration in humid climates as a function of mean annual air temperature

7. Map showing streams and their subbasin boundaries within the study area and locations of other surface-water

features within the Batavia Kill Basin

8. Graph showing discharge at three surface-water gages, and withdrawals from the infiltration gallery on the

Batavia Kill, November 3-11, 1991

9. Map showing locations of discharge-measurement sites along lower reaches of Batavia Kill tributaries

in the study area

10. Graphs and equations showing application of the MOVE.1 equation relating flows at Schoharie Creek

at Prattsville to those of the Batavia Kill near Ashland, 1991-93: A. Low flows. B. All flows

11. Graph showing flow-duration curves for the Batavia Kill near Ashland (01349900) based on indicated periods

of record for Schoharie Creek at Prattsville (01350000)

12. Map showing locations of surface-water sampling sites in Batavia Kill study area, N.Y.

13. Graph showing specific conductance of the Batavia Kill as a function of discharge at station 01349900

near Ashland, N.Y., 1991-92

14. Graphs showing pH, turbidity, and concentrations of total phosphorus and ammonia plus organic nitrogen

in the Batavia Kill near Ashland, N.Y., June 1, 1991 through October 1, 1992

15. Graphs showing nitrate (plus nitrite for Batavia Kill) concentration and discharge of Batavia Kill

near Ashland and Neversink River at Claryville, N.Y., June, 1991 to October 1992: A. Batavia Kill,

B. Neversink River, and C. Both sites

16. Stiff diagrams showing concentrations of selected ions in samples from the Batavia Kill near

Ashland, N.Y., June 7 and August 19, 1991

17. Map showing specific conductance and pH of surface water at selected sites in Batavia Kill Basin, Greene

County, N.Y., June 27, 1991

18. Stiff diagrams showing downstream increases in major-ion concentrations and specific conductance in Mad

Brook, June 27, 1991

19. Map showing turbidity at surface-water sites in Batavia Kill study area, Greene County, N.Y.,

April 26, 1993

20. Map showing thickness of unconsolidated deposits in Batavia Kill study area, Greene County, N.Y.

21. (A) Map showing surficial unconsolidated units and bedrock in the Batavia Kill study area, Greene County, N.Y.

(B) Stratigraphic columns of 23 wells in the study area, based on drillers’ logs. All columns end at bedrock.

22. Graph showing water-table fluctuations at a shallow well (614) screened in unconsolidated deposits in the

Batavia Kill valley, 1991

23. Map showing saturated thickness of the stratified-drift aquifer in the Batavia Kill valley and in lower

reaches of major tributary valleys

24. Illustration showing bedrock gamma stratigraphic units along vertical sections A-A' and B-B' at Windham, N.Y.

25. Graph showing of zones of greatest fracture density at selected wells in the Batavia Kill study area, Greene

County, N.Y., as determined from caliper logs keyed to altitude

26. Graphs showing frequency of high- and low-angle fractures as a function of depth below bottom

of well casing, as identified from downhole television-camera logs from four wells in Batavia Kill

study area

27. Hydrographs showing water levels measured in bedrock wells in the eastern hydraulic zone, Batavia Kill

valley, June 21, 1992 through January 21, 1992

28. Hydrographs showing water levels measured in bedrock wells that are representative of the eastern,

central, and western hydraulic zones, and at well 639, which approximates natural (nonpumping)

conditions (November 1990 through November 1992)

29. Conceptualized vertical section along the Batavia Kill valley showing approximate extent of the four

hydraulic zones

30. Map showing minimum areal extent of four hydraulic zones in bedrock defined by water-level responses

to ground-water withdrawals

31. Map showing locations and water-level response data of wells affected by the 48-hour aquifer test at

well 632 in the central hydraulic zone of the Batavia Kill valley at Windham, N.Y.

32. Graph showing drawdowns in observation wells as a function of drawdown in the production well during

48-hour aquifer test in central hydraulic zone of Batavia Kill study area, Greene County, N.Y.

33. Trilinear diagram and stiff diagrams showing major-ion composition and interpreted water-type designation of

ground-water samples from springs and wells finished in bedrock or unconsolidated deposits

in the Batavia Kill study area, Greene County, N.Y.

34. Modified high-low chart showing the range of selected physical property values and constituent concentrations

along: a hypothetical ground-water flowpath in the Batavia Kill valley at Windham, Greene County, N.Y.

A. Specific conductance, chloride, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and boron; and B. Calcite saturation

index, pH, hydrogen sulfide (presence of odor), alkalinity, sulfate, dissolved oxygen, nitrite plus nitrate,

and ammonia

35. Graph showing water levels and specific conductance of water from two shallow wells upgradient (613) and

immediately downgradient (614) of a road-salt stockpile at Ashland, N.Y.

36. Map showing ground conductivity on the flood plain of Mad Brook, downgradient of road-salt storage

area at Windham, N.Y.

37. Illustrations showing conceptualization of ground-water occurrence and flow in two generalized vertical

sections: A. Batavia Kill valley; B. A representative upland tributary valley

38. Hydrographs showing water-level response to 2.78 in. of rain on November 22-23, 1991 in wells that

tap three hydrogeologic settings in the Batavia Kill valley, Greene County, N.Y.: A. Unconfined,

permeable valley fill; B. Unconfined shallow, fractured bedrock; C. Deep confined bedrock

TABLES

1. Estimated long-term mean annual hydrologic component values for the gaged part of the Batavia Kill Basin

2. Computation of mean total annual streambed-infiltration rates of tributaries in Batavia Kill study area,

and annual total for the gaged part of the Batavia Kill Basin

3. Discharge and associated infiltration rates of tributaries in the Batavia Kill valley, 1991-9220

4. Estimated 3-day, 7-day, and 30-day low flows of the Batavia Kill (at USGS gage 01349900),

for 2-, 10-, and 20-year recurrence intervals

5. Water-quality and discharge data for Batavia Kill near Ashland (01349900), 1991-92

6. Chemical composition of surface-water samples from the Batavia Kill, Mad Brook, and Tributary B,

June and August 1991

7. Chemical quality of surface-water samples collected in Batavia Kill study area, June 27, 1991

8. Distribution of total fractures and water-bearing fractures among gamma-radiation-defined

intervals or changes, in 19 wells at Windham, N.Y.

9. Observation-well characteristics and response to withdrawals during 48-hour aquifer test at

production well 632 in the Batavia Kill study area, Greene County, N.Y. (June 30 to July 2, 1992)

10. Interpretations of ground-water age or mixing based on tritium concentrations

11. Pesticide use in Batavia Kill study area, Greene County, N.Y., 1991

Abstract

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