Managing water resources on Long Island, New York, with integrated, multidisciplinary science

Abstract

Clean water is essential for life on Long Island. Safeguarding the quality and quantity of water in the island’s sole-source aquifer system requires a unified, multidisciplinary approach. High-quality and near real-time scientific data collection and analyses support state-of-the-science numerical and machine learning models, which are increasingly used to make essential decisions about water-resource management. These models, in turn, will help guide future data needs for areas that are the most vulnerable to water quantity or quality problems. These models provide information that can then help waterresources managers meet human needs while minimizing negative effects to the island’s environment and coastal ecosystems.