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Analysis of Aquifer Framework and Properties, Alvahs Lane Well Field, Cutchogue, New York

Paul E. Misut, J.J. Danielson, S.K. Poppenga, J.C. Brock, G.A. Evans, D.J. Tyler · U.S. Geological Survey

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Prepared in cooperation with the Suffolk County Water Authority

Analysis of Aquifer Framework and Properties, Alvahs Lane Well Field, Cutchogue, New York

Scientific Investigations Report 2024–5128

U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey

Cover. Aerial photograph of the Alvahs Lane well field. Image from the Suffolk County GIS Viewer, Nearmap imagery, copyright Nearmap and Esri, 2015.

Analysis of Aquifer Framework and Properties, Alvahs Lane Well Field, Cutchogue, New York By Paul E. Misut

Prepared in cooperation with the Suffolk County Water Authority

Scientific Investigations Report 2024–5128

U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2025

For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment—visit https://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS. For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit https://store.usgs.gov/. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner. Suggested citation: Misut, P.E., 2025, Analysis of aquifer framework and properties, Alvahs Lane well field, Cutchogue, New York: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2024–5128, 9 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20245128. ISSN 2328-0328 (online)

iii

Contents Abstract��1 Introduction��1 Alvahs Lane Well Field Aquifer Test��5 Aquifer Test Design��5 Groundwater-Level Data Collection During Test��5 Groundwater-Level Analysis��5 Aquifer Properties��7 Summary��9 References Cited��9

Figures 1. 2.

Map showing land surface altitude and location of selected wells in the study area, Alvahs Lane well field, Cutchogue, New York��2 Hydrogeologic section of aquifer framework, freshwater/saltwater interface, and selected wells, and graph showing subsurface lithology description and gamma log for borehole S-32390.1 at the Alvahs Lane well field, Cutchogue, New York��3 Graph showing groundwater-level altitudes for wells S–133855.1 and S–133854.1 at the Alvahs Lane well field, Cutchogue, New York, from October 18 through October 21, 2022��6 Graph showing groundwater-level change at wells S–133855.1 and S–133854.1 during an aquifer test at the Alvahs Lane well field, Cutchogue, New York, from October 18 through October 21, 2022��7 Graph showing groundwater-level change and Neuman type-curve match for monitoring wells S–133855.1 and S–133854.1 at the Alvahs Lane well field, Cutchogue, New York��8

Tables 1.

Construction and aquifer information for selected wells in the study area, Alvahs Lane well field, Cutchogue, New York��6

Conversion Factors U.S. customary units to International System of Units

Multiply

To obtain

Length inch (in.)

2.54

centimeter (cm)

foot (ft)

0.3048

meter (m)

mile (mi)

1.609

kilometer (km)

Volume gallon (gal)

3.785

liter (L)

gallon (gal)

0.003785

cubic meter (m3)

gallon (gal)

3.785

cubic decimeter (dm3)

Flow rate gallon per minute (gal/min)

0.06309

liter per second (L/s)

Hydraulic conductivity foot per day (ft/d)

0.3048

meter per day (m/d)

Transmissivity foot squared per day (ft2/d)

0.09290

meter squared per day (m2/d)

Datum Vertical coordinate information is referenced to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88). Horizonal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83). Altitude, as used in this report, refers to distance above the vertical datum.

Abbreviations bls

below land surface

SCWA

Suffolk County Water Authority

USGS

U.S. Geological Survey

Analysis of Aquifer Framework and Properties, Alvahs Lane Well Field, Cutchogue, New York By Paul E. Misut

Abstract

Introduction

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Suffolk County Water Authority, evaluated the aquifer transmissivity and storage properties at the Alvahs Lane well field north of the village of Cutchogue, New York. This analysis of aquifer properties provides the Suffolk County Water Authority with hydrogeologic information needed to develop water supplies to meet the increasing water demands of the residents of Suffolk County, New York. An aquifer test was conducted at the Alvahs Lane well field from October 18 through October 21, 2022, when a production well was pumped at 550 gallons per minute for about 24 hours, and groundwater-level drawdown and recovery were measured in two monitoring wells. The three wells are screened in a glaciofluvial aquifer under unconfined (water table) conditions. Drawdown and recovery data were analyzed with an analytical solution for partial penetration and delayed yield in an unconfined aquifer to provide estimates of the glaciofluvial aquifer properties. Inclusion of lateral aquifer boundaries was not necessary for the analysis to result in satisfactory matches with the observed water-level responses. Aquifer transmissivity was estimated at 32,000 feet squared per day. Assuming a saturated aquifer thickness of 120 feet, this result is equivalent to a horizontal hydraulic conductivity value of 270 feet per day. Specific yield was estimated at 0.15 (dimensionless). The estimated properties are consistent with those of a highly transmissive unconfined aquifer.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA), collected and analyzed groundwater levels during an aquifer test at the Alvahs Lane well field north of the village of Cutchogue, New York (fig. 1), as part of the ongoing SCWA investigation of the aquifers of Suffolk County. The well field is underlain by about 200 feet (ft) of Pleistocene glaciofluvial sand and gravel and glaciolacustrine silt and clay (Schubert and others, 2004). The glaciofluvial deposits below the water table that form the upper glacial aquifer in this location consist of aquifer sediments above and below a glaciolacustrine confining unit. The lower glaciofluvial aquifer sediments are underlain by the Cretaceous Magothy aquifer, which consists of about 350 ft of sand, silt, and clay. The maximum water-table altitude in the study area near the well field is about 6 ft above the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88; Como and others, 2015), and the depth to the freshwater/saltwater interface is about 200 ft below NAVD 88 (fig. 2; Walter and others, 2020). A groundwater divide separates water flowing to Great Peconic Bay and Long Island Sound (Walter and others, 2020). The purpose of this report is to describe the design and results of an aquifer test at the Alvahs Lane well field in Cutchogue, New York. The report describes the test design, the methods of collecting groundwater-level data, and the methods of estimating aquifer properties from the data. This analysis of aquifer properties provides the SCWA with hydrogeologic information needed to develop water supplies to meet the increasing water demands of the residents of Suffolk County, New York, as well as hydrogeologic information needed for the ongoing USGS and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation cooperative investigation of the regional groundwater resources of the Long Island aquifer system, New York (U.S. Geological Survey, 2024a).

2 Analysis of Aquifer Framework and Properties, Alvahs Lane Well Field, Cutchogue, New York 72°29'

72°37'

41°02'

l Is

u So

AL VA H

Alvahs Lane well field S–133700.1

il Ra DE

S–133854.1 S–133855.1 S–32390. 1

Cutchogue

41°00'

0.25

0 Great Peconic Bay Base from U.S. Geological Survey Coastal National Elevation Database Transverse Mercator projection North American Datum of 1983

0.25 0.5 0.75

1 MILE

1 KILOMETER

Long

Isla

nd S

ound

Great Peconic Bay

Map area

Island

CEAN

TIC O

N ATLA

0 A

0.75

EXPLANATION Land surface altitude—Feet above North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (U.S. Geological Survey, 2018) 100

0.5

A' Line of geologic section shown in figure 2

S–133700.1 Production well and identifier—Details listed in table 1 S–133855.1 Exploratory or monitoring well and identifier—Details

listed in table 1

Figure 1. Map showing land surface altitude and location of selected wells in the study area, Alvahs Lane well field, Cutchogue, New York.

Introduction 3

100

EAST

EXPLANATION

Water table Upper glaciofluvial aquifer

−100 Freshwater/saltwater interface

Glaciolacustrine confining unit

−300

Altitude, in feet

Production well—U.S. Geological Survey identification number. Screen interval shown by yellow box. Location of well in figure 1

Lower glaciofluvial aquifer S133854.1

−200

S133700.1

S–133854.1

S–133700.1

WEST

S–133855.1

−400

Magothy aquifer

Monitoring well—U.S. Geological Survey identification number. Screen interval shown by yellow box. Location of well in figure 1

−500 −600

Raritan confining unit

−700

Lloyd aquifer

−800 −900 −1,000

Bedrock

NORTH AMERICAN VERTICAL DATUM OF 1988 VERTICAL EXAGGERATION ×5

0 0

0.25 0.25

0.5 MILE 0.5 KILOMETER

Figure 2. A, Hydrogeologic section of aquifer framework, freshwater/saltwater interface, and selected wells, and B, graph showing subsurface lithology description and gamma log for borehole S-32390.1 at the Alvahs Lane well field, Cutchogue, New York. Aquifer and confining-unit surfaces modified from Smolensky and others (1989), and freshwater/saltwater interface modified from Walter and others (2020). Lithologic data and gamma log from U.S. Geological Survey (2024b). Location of section shown in figure 1.

4 Analysis of Aquifer Framework and Properties, Alvahs Lane Well Field, Cutchogue, New York B Depth, in feet below land surface

Unit

Gamma emissions

Counts per second

Lithology Soil

Coarse brown sand and gravel

Unconfined glacial aquifer

100

Fine to medium brown sand and grits

120

140

Solid gray clay

160 Confining unit

Gray clay, coarse sand, and gravel

180

Coarse brown sand and gravel

200

Solid gray clay

220

Layers of coarse sand and solid clay Fine to medium coarse sand, grits, lumps, and clay

240

260

Confined glacial aquifer Coarse brown sand, grits, and gravel

280

Figure 2.—Continued

Alvahs Lane Well Field Aquifer Test 5

Alvahs Lane Well Field Aquifer Test The USGS inventoried wells and boreholes in the study area (fig. 1; table 1) to provide aquifer framework information. At the Alvahs Lane well field, lithologic and gamma logs were available for exploratory hole S–32390.1 (fig. 2; U.S. Geological Survey, 2024b). Production well S–133700.1 and monitoring wells S–133854.1 and S–133855.1 are screened in the upper glacial aquifer above the glaciolacustrine confining unit. Although no logs were available for other wells in the well field, their screen depths indicate that they are also screened in the upper part of the glaciofluvial aquifer.

Aquifer Test Design Production well S–133700.1 is located near the regional groundwater divide, as shown in Walter and others (2020), that separates groundwater flow to Great Peconic Bay and Long Island Sound. This well is completed in the upper glacial aquifer with a natural gravel-packed screen from 80 to 115 ft below land surface (bls; fig. 2; table 1). Monitoring well S–133855.1 is about 55 ft northeast of the production well and is screened from 85 to 115 ft bls. Monitoring well S–133854.1 is about 255 ft northeast of the production well and is also screened from 85 to 115 ft bls (fig. 2). Both wells were instrumented with continuous groundwater-level recorders. Production well S–133700.1 was pumped at 550 gallons per minute (gal/min) for about 24 hours starting at 11:59 p.m. eastern standard time on October 18, 2022, and ending at 11:44 p.m. the next day.

Groundwater-Level Data Collection During Test The USGS collected groundwater-level data in monitoring wells S–133854.1 and S–133855.1 (fig. 1; table 1) from October 18 through October 21, 2022.

Groundwater levels were recorded at 1-minute intervals by using submersible vented pressure transducers as described by Freeman and others (2004) and checked against manual measurements with a steel level tape during installation, removal of the instrumentation, and other various times. Altitude of groundwater-level measuring points was determined from well casing stick-up measurements above land surface and estimated land surface relative to NAVD 88 based on a digital elevation model generated by using the method described by Danielson and others (2016). The groundwater-level monitoring period included (1) stabilization of groundwater levels prior to the beginning of the aquifer test, (2) drawdown from the 24-hour period of controlled pumping from the production well, and (3) a 36-hour period of groundwater-level recovery following the cessation of pumping (fig. 3). Several upward spikes of about 0.1 ft (for example, at about 6 a.m. on October 20, 2022) were likely caused by heavy trains passing along the nearby railroad tracks (fig. 1).

Groundwater-Level Analysis Groundwater levels in monitoring wells S–133855.1 and S–133854.1 indicated the position of the water table in the upper glacial aquifer. Groundwater-level drawdown in the two monitoring wells was as much as 1.6 ft when well S–133700.1 was pumped for about 24 hours at a rate of 550 gal/min (fig. 4). Three downward spikes of about 1 ft resulted from bursts of S–133700.1 pumping during the resting and recovery periods. These groundwater-level records are consistent with the aquifer being under unconfined (water-table) conditions and highly transmissive.

Analysis of Aquifer Framework and Properties, Alvahs Lane Well Field, Cutchogue, New York

Table 1. Construction and aquifer information for selected wells in the study area, Alvahs Lane well field, Cutchogue, New York. [Data are from U.S. Geological Survey (2022). All depths are below land surface. USGS, U.S. Geological Survey; NWIS, National Water Information System; ID, identification number; SCWA, Suffolk County Water Authority; ft, feet; NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988; —, not measured or not reported; E, exploratory well; P, production well; M, monitoring well]

USGS station name S–32390.1

Depth to top Distance from Depth to of screen, production bottom of in ft2 well, in ft screen, in ft2

NWIS ID

SCWA ID

Site use

Land Surface, in ft above NAVD 88

Year drilled

410056072302601

—

388

S–133700.1

410053072302702

2015

115

S–133855.1

410053072302701

West

35.1

2015

115

55.11

S–133854.1

410055072302501

East

34.9

2015

115

255.29

1Production well was pumped at 550 gallons per minute during aquifer test.

Groundwater-level altitude, in feet above North American Vertical Datum of 1988

2Depth listed is relative to land surface.

4.5

Start of resting period

Start of recovery period

Pumping period

End of recovery period

3.5

2.5

EXPLANATION Well—Data recorded at 1-minute intervals and drawn as a continuous line; location of well in figure 1

S–133854.1 S–133855.1 1.5

October 2022

Figure 3. Graph showing groundwater-level altitudes for wells S–133855.1 and S–133854.1 at the Alvahs Lane well field, Cutchogue, New York, from October 18 through October 21, 2022. Data from U.S. Geological Survey (2022).

Aquifer Properties 7 0

Groundwater-level change, in feet

−0.4

−0.8

−1.2

−1.6

EXPLANATION Well—Location of well in figure 1 S–133854.1 S–133855.1 −2.0

800

1,600

2,400

3,200

4,000

Elapsed time since beginning of pumping, in minutes

Figure 4. Graph showing groundwater-level change (drawdown and recovery) at wells S–133855.1 and S–133854.1 during an aquifer test at the Alvahs Lane well field, Cutchogue, New York, from October 18 through October 21, 2022. Data from U.S. Geological Survey (2022).

Aquifer Properties The analytical solution of Neuman (1974) for an aquifer test in an unconfined (water-table) aquifer was used for the quantitative analysis of the groundwater-level data. The following idealized aquifer and well conditions are assumed in the application of this analytical solution: the aquifer is unconfined with delayed gravity response, has infinite areal extent and a uniform thickness of 120 ft, and is homogeneous; production (pumping) and monitoring wells are partially penetrating, flow is radial to the production well, flow is unsteady, and storage within wells is negligible.

Inclusion of boundary conditions in the analysis was not necessary to obtain satisfactory matches with the observed groundwater-level changes in response to pumpage. The aquifer properties of transmissivity, hydraulic conductivity, specific yield, and horizontal-to-vertical anisotropy ratio were estimated from the type-curve analysis by using AQTESOLV for Windows (Duffield, 2007). This computer program performs nonlinear least-squares parameter estimation for automatic type-curve matching. A slightly varying pumping rate of 550 gal/min from production well S–133700.1 during a 24-hour period was represented in the analysis. In addition, a 36-hour recovery period with no pumping was included in the groundwater-level matching.

8 Analysis of Aquifer Framework and Properties, Alvahs Lane Well Field, Cutchogue, New York The transient groundwater-level data from wells S–133855.1 and S–133854.1 (U.S. Geological Survey, 2022) were matched with the Neuman analytical solution (Neuman, 1974; fig. 5). The subsequent recovery data diverged slightly from the ideal model-curve geometry. There may have been minor interference from unknown offsite pumping, possibly from an irrigation well. An aquifer transmissivity of about 32,000 feet squared per day (ft2/d) with a vertical to horizontal anisotropy of 0.6 (dimensionless), and a specific yield of 0.15 (dimensionless) provided a satisfactory analytical match with the drawdown and recovery measured in monitoring wells S–133855.1 and S–133854.1. Assuming a saturated aquifer thickness of 120 ft, this result is equivalent to a horizontal

hydraulic conductivity value of about 270 feet per day (ft/d). For comparison, Schubert and others (2004) suggested the horizontal hydraulic conductivity value of the Roanoke Point outwash unit at the well field to be 200 ft/d with a vertical to horizontal anisotropy of 0.1. Without monitoring wells screened at different depths, vertical anisotropy cannot be fully characterized; however, the value indicates a lack of fine-grained beds in the upper glacial aquifer that is consistent with the available lithologic and gamma log.

Groundwater-level displacement, in feet

0.4

0.8

1.2

1.6

EXPLANATION Neuman type-curve match Well—Location of well in figure 1 S–133854.1 S–133855.1

2.0

800

1,600

2,400

3,200

4,000

Time, in minutes

Figure 5. Graph showing groundwater-level change (drawdown and recovery) and Neuman type-curve match (Neuman, 1974) for monitoring wells S–133855.1 and S–133854.1 at the Alvahs Lane well field, Cutchogue, New York. Data from U.S. Geological Survey (2022).

References Cited 9

Summary The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Suffolk County Water Authority, evaluated the aquifer transmissivity and storage properties at the Alvahs Lane well field north of the village of Cutchogue, New York. Analysis of a drilling-record log and groundwater levels generated during the aquifer test provided the Suffolk County Water Authority with hydrogeologic information needed to develop water supplies to meet the increasing water demands of the residents of Suffolk County, New York, as well as hydrogeologic information needed for the ongoing USGS and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation cooperative investigation of the regional groundwater resources of the Long Island, New York, aquifer system. Two monitoring wells, S–133855.1 and S–133854.1, screened in the unconfined (water-table) part of the glaciofluvial aquifer were instrumented with continuous groundwater-level recorders for the aquifer test. Analysis of drawdown and recovery groundwater-level data through the application of a Neuman analytical model provided estimates of aquifer characteristics and properties. Boundary conditions were not necessary for the analysis to result in satisfactory matches with the observed groundwater-level changes in response to pumpage. Aquifer transmissivity was estimated to be 32,000 feet squared per day, and hydraulic conductivity was estimated to be 270 feet per day. Specific yield was estimated to be 0.15 (dimensionless). The estimated properties are consistent with that of a highly transmissive unconfined aquifer.

References Cited Como, M.D., Noll, M.L., Finkelstein, J.S., Monti, J., Jr., and Busciolano, R., 2015, Water-table and potentiometric-surface altitudes in the upper glacial, Magothy, and Lloyd aquifers of Long Island, New York, April–May 2013: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3326, 4 sheets, scale 1:125,000, 6-p. pamphlet, accessed April 24, 2024, at https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3326. Danielson, J.J., Poppenga, S.K., Brock, J.C., Evans, G.A., Tyler, D.J., Gesch, D.B., Thatcher, C.A., and Barras, J.A., 2016, Topobathymetric elevation model development using a new methodology—Coastal National Elevation Database, in Brock, J.C., Gesch, D.B., Parrish, C.E., Rogers, J.N., and Wright, C.W., eds., Advances in topobathymetric mapping, models, and applications: Journal of Coastal Research, v. 76, no. 1 (special issue), p. 75–89, accessed April 24, 2024, at https://doi.org/10.2112/SI76-008. Duffield, G.M., 2007, AQTESOLV for Windows—Version 4.5 user’s guide: Reston, Va., HydroSOLVE, Inc., 529 p.

Freeman, L.A., Carpenter, M.C., Rosenberry, D.O., Rousseau, J.P., Unger, R.L., and McLean, J.S., 2004, Use of submersible pressure transducers in water-resources investigations: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques of Water-Resources Investigations, book 8, chap. A3, 52p., accessed April 24, 2024, at https://doi.org/10.3133/twri08A3. Neuman, S.P., 1974, Effect of partial penetration on flow in unconfined aquifers considering delayed gravity response: Water Resources Research, vol. 10, no. 2, p. 303–312. [Also available at https://doi.org/10.1029/WR010i002p00303.] Schubert, C.E., Bova, R.G., and Misut, P.E., 2004, Hydrogeologic framework of the North Fork and surrounding areas, Long Island, New York: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 2002–4284, 23 p., 4 pls. [Also available at https://doi.org/10.3133/ wri024284.] Smolensky, D.A., Buxton, H.T., and Shernoff, P.K., 1989, Hydrologic framework of Long Island, New York: U.S. Geological Survey Hydrologic Investigations Atlas HA–709, 3 sheets, scale 1:250,000. [Also available at https://doi.org/10.3133/ha709.] U.S. Geological Survey, 2018, Coastal National Elevation Database (CoNED) Project—Topobathymetric digital elevation model (TBDEM): U.S. Geological Survey database, accessed January 1, 2025, at https://doi.org/ 10.5066/F7Z60MHJ. U.S. Geological Survey, 2022, USGS water data for the Nation: U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System database, accessed September 11, 2024, at https://doi.org/10.5066/F7P55KJN. U.S. Geological Survey, 2024a, New York Water Science Center—Groundwater sustainability of the Long Island aquifer system: U.S. Geological Survey web page, accessed April 24, 2024, at https://www.usgs.gov/centers/new-york- water-science-center/science/groundwater-sustainability- long-island-aquifer-system. U.S. Geological Survey, 2024b, USGS GeoLog Locator: U.S. Geological Survey database, accessed September 11, 2024, at https://webapps.usgs.gov/ GeoLogLocator/. Walter, D.A., Masterson, J.P., Finkelstein, J.S., Monti, J., Jr., Misut, P.E., and Fienen, M.N., 2020, Simulation of groundwater flow in the regional aquifer system on Long Island, New York, for pumping and recharge conditions in 2005–15: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2020–5091, 75 p., accessed April 24, 2024, at https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20205091.

For more information about this report, contact: Director, New York Water Science Center U.S. Geological Survey 425 Jordan Road Troy, NY 12180–8349 dc_[email protected] or visit our website at https://www.usgs.gov/centers/ny-water Publishing support provided by the Pembroke Publishing Service Center

Misut—Analysis of Aquifer Framework and Properties, Alvahs Lane Well Field, Cutchogue, New York—SIR 2024–5128

ISSN 2328-0328 (online) https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20245128

Analysis of Aquifer Framework and Properties, Alvahs Lane Well Field, Cutchogue, New York

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