FOREWORD 



In 1945 the Water Power and Control Commission called the attention of the Legislature 

 to the fact that the work of administering the provisions of Article XI of the Conservation 

 Law in so far as the ground waters of Long Island were concerned was seriously handicapped 

 by lack of factual data as to the geology and aquifers of that Island and of even greater dearth 

 of practical and tested hydrologic theory by which the eifects of pumping of ground water 

 could be foreseen, regulated and controlled. 



It, therefore, asked for a special appropriation for this purpose, stating that a period of 

 five years would be about the least extent of time in which the work could be completed. Acting 

 on this request, the Legislature included an item of $30,000 in the budget appropriations for 

 1946-47, and again appropriated the sum of $25,000 in the budget for 1947-48. 



In this present report, the factual data to date are set forth. This material is the essential 

 base for theoretical studies and administrative procedure. 



Studies in theoretical and applied ground water hydrology have not as yet gone forward. 



Such work will require the continuous effort of men of certain relatively rare aptitudes and 

 interest, and to date it has not been possible to obtain the services of men with these 

 qualifications. 



This work is most urgent, and it should be pushed energetically as soon as the necessary 

 personnel can be obtained. 



The present report is based on work and contributions of many men and organizations 

 extending over a period of a good many years, and without outside aid these results would not 

 have been possible. 



The greater part of this work has been done as a cooperative effort with the Geological 

 Survey of the U. S. Department of the Interior under the direction of Secretaries Harold L. 

 Ickes, Julius Krug and Directors W. G. Mendhall and W. E. Wrather and District Geologists 

 D. G. Thompson, R. M. Leggette and M. L. Brashears, Jr. The geologic data used are largely 

 the work of Dr. Wallace de Laguna and Nathaniel M. Perlmutter of the local office of the Survey. 



In addition, the people of Long Island have awakened to the fact that their water supply 

 presents a serious problem, and the county, city, town, village and district officials, engineers 

 and well drillers have been most cooperative and helpful in the common cause. 



For this Commission the work was directed by Executive Engineer Russell Suter until 

 his retirement at the end of March, 1948, since which date he has been retained in a consulting 

 capacity to complete this report. 



Water Power and Control Commission 

 Albany, New York 



November, 1949 



IX 



