Mission of the Center for Water Resources Management
Education and Research on Water Management Now and in the Future
The Center for Water Resources Management (CWRM) was created to provide educational and interesting information about the condition of water resources from Long Island, New York to the nation and the world. It promotes thoughtful discussion on the connections between the health of the planet and actions to improve the protection and management of water resources.
CWRM works to develop and advance innovative practices, technical solutions, legal strategies, policy discussions, and management approaches for the benefit of local and world ecosystems and the impacts on water systems both locally and beyond.
GOALS OF CWRM
Water resource challenges require effective solutions relevant to local problems as well as those being confronted across the nation. The goals of CWRM are:
- Develop crucial information and promote practices and technologies that address water quality and quantity problems, conservation, public policy, resource sustainability and public health;
- Report on recent research and highlight the interconnections between the natural systems of the planet and the environmental health of all life forms living on this planet called Earth.
- Advance effective policies or practices in water resource management, climate adaptation, the water-food-energy nexus, groundwater sustainability, and the interconnected water-dependent ecological systems through public programs, forums, information dissemination, and public-private partnerships.
WHAT INFORMATION IS AVIALABLE HERE?
The CRWM website develops information on a range of issues including original research and publications, policy recommendations and public testimony on water-related issues.
WHAT'S NEW?
The USGS reported in 2020 on significant saltwater intrusion into the interior of Queens County, New York. All three major aquifers beneath Long Island are affected. The Long Island Groundwater Sustainability Study is on-going. The Phase One Report on the study is due to be released in May 2024. Phase One evaluates groundwater conditions in Queens and Nassau Counties, NY.
MEETINGS AND EVENTS
The New York State Drinking Water Quality Council held it's most recent meeting on June 28, 2023. Led by the NY State Department of Health (DOH), progress was made on adopting drinking water standards (MCLs - maximum contaminant levels) of 10 parts per trillion (ppts) for four additional PFAS chemicals. This is consistent with the earlier adoption of 10 ppt standards for PFOS and PFAS. At the same time, DOH considered the "notification level" for 19 PFAS chemicals recently authorized for monitoring by most public water suppliers in New York State. When detected at or above the notification level, the public must be notified of the detection.
MEETINGS AND EVENTS
An upcoming water program is scheduled for May 16th, 2024, at Long Island University in Old Brookville, Nassau County, New York. The Clean Water Symposium: Global Challenges and Local Solutions program will be held from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm. The Nature Conservancy, The North Shore Land Alliance, and Citizens Campaign for the Environment are sponsors. The keynote speaker is David Sedlak, UC Berkely professor and author.
Updates
Last updated 5-12-2024.
About Us
Water Resources Research
Reports on the connection between science and the law.
Natural Resources and Ecosystems Research
This site will publicize research and recent discoveries that enrich our understanding of water protection issues on Long Island, New York State and beyond.
Natural Resources and Ecosystems Research
Reports on the connection between science and the law.
Natural Resources and Ecosystems Research
This section will provide information that expands public discourse and understanding of the natural environment, all the life that collectively makes up our planet's biosphere, and their interactions.
Reports on the connection between science and the law.
Reports on the connection between science and the law.
Reports on the connection between science and the law.
This new section will focus on how the law and regulations are intersecting with what we are learning about the natural world and its resources, including water.
What Is New in the News ?
Global Ocean Circulation Currents Are in Trouble
The global ocean circulation system includes a surface current system and a deep ocean circulation system. Together, the two currents are referred to as the ocean's conveyor belt, and they move ocean water across the planet. The system of currents influences global temperatures, weather, food for fisheries, sea ice, salinity, and much more. The two systems come together at the poles and operate in all the oceans of the planet.
Scientists have been concerned that the North Atlantic Ocean conveyor system (known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation or AMOC) is becoming unstable due to the warming of the Arctic Ocean, the melting of the Arctic ice sheets, and the decrease in Arctic Ocean salinity. The Arctic waters, starting north of Greenland, normally become very salty, cold, and denser than the surrounding North Atlantic waters, causing it to sink to the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean and move slowly toward the South Pole and the Southern Ocean. However, the excessive fresh water from the melting Arctic sea ice is causing the Arctic water to be warmer and less salty. This, in turn, makes the water less dense, so it does not sink as deep into the ocean or move as rapidly as before. Data collected on Atlantic conditions show that the ocean circulation system is at its weakest in more than 1,000 years. Scientists are raising the possibility that the Atlantic system could collapse before the end of this century - maybe by mid-century. This could stop the circulation of such important currents as the Gulf Stream along the US east coast. It would have a massive impact on the weather in Eastern North America and Western Europe. (Peter and Susan Ditlevsen, Nature Communications, July 25, 2023) )
Kelp Farming and Water Quality
Kelp farming has been shown to improve water quality to such a degree that shellfish farmed amid the kelp develop noticeably thicker shells and sweeter, larger meat. (NY Times, 5-1-2019) To apply the benefits of seaweed agriculture, a new aquaculture industry has begun in the northeast US. It started in Connecticut on Long Island Sound. It has now spread to a new program in Moriches Bay on Long Island. Sugar kelp is being grown along with oysters and other shellfish. A similar program is also being developed along the Alaska coast on the US west coast. In a new development using sea weed, the marine alga is being harvested and fed to cows in an experiment to see if a seaweed diet will reduce the amount of methane produced by cattle. This experimental project is being conducted in Maine and New Hampshire. (Newsday 12-30-2019.)
Widely Used Herbicide Now Facing Cancer Claims
The herbicide weed killer, Roundup, has be found to cause cancer in two different court cases in California (March 2019). Roundup is the most widely used weedkiller in the world. The active ingredient in Roundup is glyphosate. The original manufacturer, Monsanto, was purchased by Bayer AG in 2018. The cancer connection news resulted in a drop in stock prices for Bayer. In a related matter, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) reported (8-2018) that they found glyphosate in 24 out of 29 popular oat-based foods. The worst offender, says EWG, was Quaker oat products. Kellogg products were largely free of the chemical says EWG.
Biden EPA Works to Reverse Changes that Weakened Wetland Protections - Update
Shortly after the Biden administration took over the US EPA (2020), it began to reverse major actions taken by the Trump Administration to eliminate significant protection for wetlands as provided in the Clean Water Act. The effort by the Trump EPA redefined what waters are considered "waters of the US." The Biden EPA began to promote more wetland protections. As a result of continuing litigation over wetlands, the US Supreme Court ruled (May 2023, Sackett v US EPA) that the EPA did not have the authority to control discharges into wetlands unless the wetlands have a continuous surface connection to those waters. The new Court decision removed the earlier court ruling that the EPA could regulate wetlands that had a "significant nexus" to navigable waters. As a result, the EPA issued waivers that basically exempted millions of streams, marches and wetlands from federal protection. in compliance with the court ruling. (Coral Davenport, New York Times, 8-30-2023)
Editorial Comment: The saga of wetland protection in the US is one of the clearest examples of the perils of having Court Judges and Justices who know nothing about hydrology, ecology, and water resources science making decisions about water resources. The majority of wetland connections are sub-surface, through groundwater. That doe not make the interconnectedness of wetlands any less appropriate for protection. The Clean Water Act itself made it clear that Congress at the time of adoption of the CWA, intended for it to be interpreted as broadly as possible. This Supreme Court ruling violates that basic legislative intent.
Water Pollution Surprise in Shrimp
Researchers in the U.K. looking at the connection between "micropollution" in five local rivers found that many freshwater shrimp tested positive for various pesticides. What surprised them is that all the shrimp had cocaine in their bodies. The suspected source of the cocaine was sewage but these rivers were far from major urban areas. (NY Times 5-4-2019)
Ocean Role as a Heat Sink
The world's oceans have long been known to be a major sink for storing excess carbon dioxide drawn from the atmosphere. Another significant aspect of climate change's impact on the oceans is that they also store more than 90% of the heat trapped by greenhouse gases. The Atlantic Ocean surface water temperatures reached the highest level ever recorded along the U.S. coast. Florida waters reached nearly 100 degrees F. Predictions for major storms in 2024 are that the year will be the most active ever.
Its time to change spring habits
Learn to Love a New Kind of Lawn
2023 was a warm year, but not a year of drought. Instead, it was marked by major flooding on the west coast. On Long Island, New York, water conservation has not yet received the support of local municipalities or state agencies such as NYS DEC. Lawn irrigation continues to be a major factor impacting the aquifer system. Water use in the summer (May to September) on Long Island increases by 200 to 400 % compared to water use in the winter (October to April). For 2024, spring has come early. This suggests that irrigation will also begin earlier than usual.
In Las Vegas, Nevada, homeowners were compelled to remove traditional turf grass from their lawns and along roadways. In the U.S., lawn turf is the conventional landscape for homes and businesses, with the total area of turfed land in the country roughly equivalent to the size of Florida. However, this vast expanse of grass comes at a significant environmental cost.
In 2012, homeowners in the U.S. dumped a staggering 59 million pounds of pesticides onto their residential landscapes, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. These same chemicals, when they leach into groundwater and waterways, pose a serious threat to pets, children, and local wildlife. The use of pesticides and herbicides is a practice that needs to be curbed for the sake of our environment.
Americans irrigate about 7 billion gallons of water daily, a third of all residential water consumption. On Long Island, irrigation consumes about half of all annual residential water use. And then there's the mowing, edging, and leaf blowing. According to a study by Quiet Communities, that equipment, mostly powered by gas, emitted 26.7 million tons of pollutants into the atmosphere in 2011.
Despite the time and resources needed to maintain a tidy lawn, they provide no habitat for bees, butterflies or the birds that feed on the insects.
"Lawns are a significant environmental problem," said David Mizejewski, a naturalist with the National Wildlife Federation. "We put in these lawns and basically turn these important habitats into dead zones."
This spring, you are encouraged to consider replacing some of that needy grass with a low-maintenance ground cover like clover, creeping thyme, mint, or strawberry. You can also plant a tree and surround it with a bed of mulch. If you plan on adding a new plant or tree, try a variety native to your area rather than an invasive species.
Whatever you plant, avoid pesticides and herbicides. You can aerate the soil to promote rapid rain infiltration and use lawn clippings as fertilizer.
Overall, you can choose to make part or all of your lawn an earth-friendly place for plants, children, pets, and all the wildlife you share this unique planet with. (Adapted from NYTimes 4-14-2019 Here To Help)
Water Resources Research and Public Policy
Understanding the Nitrogen Problem in Suffolk County
Public Hearing on Water Quality and Contamination in New York
Public Hearing on Water Quality and Contamination in New York
This report looks at the history of wastewater management in Suffolk County, N.Y. and the possible solutions. (2015)
Public Hearing on Water Quality and Contamination in New York
Public Hearing on Water Quality and Contamination in New York
Public Hearing on Water Quality and Contamination in New York
Testimony was presented to NY State Assembly and Senate Health and Environmental Standing Committees on Sept. 12, 2016.
Long Island Sound Public Hearing on Water Quality
Public Hearing on Water Quality and Contamination in New York
Climate Change: Public Hearing on State Program to Reduce Greenhouse Gases and Related Issues
This testimony addresses the condition of Long Island Sound and changes recommended to better water protection and improved water quality. Hearing Aug. 27, 2018.
Climate Change: Public Hearing on State Program to Reduce Greenhouse Gases and Related Issues
Climate Change: Public Hearing on State Program to Reduce Greenhouse Gases and Related Issues
Climate Change: Public Hearing on State Program to Reduce Greenhouse Gases and Related Issues
Testimony submitted to NYS Senate public hearing held on Feb. 16, 2019 on best approaches to reduce the risk of catastrophic climate change impacts.
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Climate Change: Public Hearing on State Program to Reduce Greenhouse Gases and Related Issues
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In development. Check here again later.
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Climate Change: Public Hearing on State Program to Reduce Greenhouse Gases and Related Issues
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Public Education and Information
Long Island's Lloyd Aquifer
Legal Review of Lloyd Aquifer Protection
Legal Review of Lloyd Aquifer Protection
The Lloyd Aquifer beneath Long Island, New York has special protected status in New York. This report is a detailed look at why that status is appropriate.
Legal Review of Lloyd Aquifer Protection
Legal Review of Lloyd Aquifer Protection
Legal Review of Lloyd Aquifer Protection
The legal history of protecting the Lloyd Aquifer is reviewed here and how groundwater science supports the state policy for the Lloyd.
New Projects
Legal Review of Lloyd Aquifer Protection
Issues of Public Interest
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Issues of Public Interest
Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water
Issues of Public Interest
In development.
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Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water
Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water
Stay tuned for more stories and reports.
Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water
Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water
Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water
Coming soon.
recent projects
Project to map superfund sites on Long Island
This graduate thesis project by Vincent Varricchio used the ESRI Story Map feature to provide important information about three major Superfund sites: the Fulton Ave sites, the former Unysis site and the Grumman-Navy site. See this one-of-a-kind project to show the groundwater impact of these three major areas in Nassau County, NY. 6-2016.
Recent Student Research on Drought and the Refugee Crisis in Africa
Environmental Technology & Sustainability graduate student, Rachel Pereira, created a new Story Map on ESRI.com that tells the story with visuals and maps of how climate change, and specifically drought, is changing environmental conditions in Africa. These changes are a significant factor in the growing climate refugee crisis there. 12-2019.
The Price of Drinking Water on Long Island
Student project identifies water costs for all major water suppliers. Coming soon.
Promoting Current Research
Areas of interest for developing new research discussed here.
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FAQs
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