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Use of penetrative investigations and pumping test data to revise large scale maps of surficial aquifers in northern Cattaraugus County, New York

Conference · · Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States)
OSTI ID:5697604
; ; ;  [1]
  1. AFI Environmental, Lockport, NY (United States)

A penetrative investigation of the Carpenter Brook Valley (CBV) in northern Cattaraugus County, New York provided a sedimentologic and hydrologic database for comparison with regional valley-fill aquifers. CBV trends east-west and is tributary to the larger Ischua Creek Valley (ICV) which contains a small primary aquifer. A regional map (1:250,000) by Miller (1988) depicts the CBV as containing a throughgoing surficial aquifer of unknown potential. In the CBV, discrete deposits have been evaluated for aquifer potential using sustainable well yields, transmissivities, and size. These parameters are then compared against known local aquifer-grade deposits in the ICV. The results demonstrate that there are no throughgoing surficial aquifers in CBV. The uppermost surficial unit is a clayey mottled silt (ave. K = 10[sup [minus]6] cm/sec). Based upon current soil conservation service data, the lower water-bearing unit forms discontinuous pockets that are generally less than 0.31 mi[sup 2] in area. The average saturated thickness for this flow till unit is less than 15 ft. Average transmissivity based upon pumping test data is approximately 3.96 [times] 10[sup [minus]1] ft[sup 2]/min. Average specific capacity from step-drawdown data is approximately 7--25 gpm/ft. The ICV primary aquifer is greater than 5 mi[sup 2] in area and supports several municipal supply wells. The Villages of Machias and Franklinville have wells with saturated thicknesses of approximately 40 and 76 ft; municipal supply wells exhibit specific capacities of 310 and 188 gpm/ft, respectively. This study demonstrates the need for detailed penetrative investigations to augment regional-scale maps. Regional scale maps are not intended for site-specific investigations and cannot be solely relied upon for interpretations of surficial deposits and their hydraulic performance.

OSTI ID:
5697604
Report Number(s):
CONF-9303211--
Journal Information:
Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States), Journal Name: Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs; (United States) Vol. 25:2; ISSN GAAPBC; ISSN 0016-7592
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English