USGS begins study of Tug Hill aquifer

How much water is in the Tug Hill aquifer? How clean is it? What happens to it if there's a dry year or a water-intensive industry grows in the region?

This summer, the U.S. Geological Survey began a six-year study to answer those questions about the Tug Hill aquifer. The aquifer stretches from north of Adams Center to south of Little River in Vienna.

"We're in the data collection phase," said Edward F. Bugliosi, subdistrict chief for USGS in Ithaca. By the end of the project, "we'll build complete models of the ground aquifer system."

The agency has an intern locating wells, work that will continue for several more weeks. And it installed a real-time river elevation gauge on Trout Brook, which can be checked online.

The data from wells, streams and other flows into and out of the aquifer will allow the USGS to create a comprehensive model of the aquifer. The agency then can create different scenarios, such as a dry year or expanding water-intensive industry, and see how the scenarios affect the aquifer.

"The models can be used as a tool for water managers," Mr. Bugliosi said.

That includes the towns and villages with municipal water supplies whose source is the aquifer, including Adams, Mannsville, Sandy Creek, Lacona, Pulaski, Orwell and Camden. Some residential wells in Jefferson, Oswego and Oneida counties also tap into the aquifer.

On top of the drinking water, the aquifer supplies water for farms, the state Department of Environmental Conservation Fish Hatchery in Altmar and the prime salmon and trout habitat of the Salmon River, Trout Brook and Orwell Brook.

And as municipalities consider future economic development, knowledge of the aquifer will prove helpful.

"Aquifer data is great to have when doing any kind of regional planning," said Brian J. Wohnsiedler, executive director of Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District. He cited agriculture and conservation practices as other areas that can benefit from the models.

The district, the Tug Hill Commission and other local agencies are cooperating with the agency on the project. The USGS also is drawing on its research into the extent of the aquifer from the 1980s and 1990s.

The commission approached USGS about a project after officials and residents asked for more information about the aquifer.

Felix Schoeller Technical Papers Inc. stopped pumping 1.5 million gallons per day from the Pulaski plant's Richland wells. This possibly led to a rise in the aquifer's level and flooding in people's basements. Nestle Waters North America considered putting a plant in Orwell, which would have taken about 1 million gallons per day.

And Lacona secured the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency designation of sole-source aquifer for the northern section of the aquifer. That means that at least half of the drinking water consumed in the area overlaying the aquifer is from the aquifer itself. The designation brought with it additional protections from EPA, including the agency's review of certain projects.

"The big thing is we know a lot about where the aquifer is but we don't know a lot about its sustainable yield," said John K. Bartow, executive director of the commission.

The original proposal for the study was about $1.9 million, with $372,020 for this year. But federal, state and local sources have mustered only $119,784. The USGS will match 30 percent of whatever funding the Tug Hill Commission and other cooperators can collect.

The commission is continuing the search for funding and the federal agency is seeking sponsors for the Trout Brook gauge after this year.

"Communities and individuals make decisions daily about water sources," Mr. Bartow said. "It's an investment we think could help people make better decisions on economic development."