Highlights of 2008

The State University of New York at Stony Brook established the Long Island Groundwater Research Institute (liGRI) in 1994 to marshal the resources and expertise of the University for the study of groundwater hydrology and chemistry. One of our goals is to bring the results of scientific research to bear on the region's most pressing groundwater problems. Inquiries on all aspects of groundwater hydrology and chemistry are welcome.

The resolution of hydrogeological and groundwater pollution problems requires basic and applied research from a broad array of disciplines. The Institute coordinates and expands the existing potential for research by faculty, staff and students in groundwater hydrology. The Institute maintains close communication with ground-water professionals in the government and private sector in Long Island. Through the University's Center for Regional Policy Studies, a distinguished Advisory Council has been established with representation of agencies with management responsibilities. In 1997 the Institute was formally established by legislative act.

The focus of research is Long Island's aquifer system, which is an ideal natural laboratory. It is self-contained and representative of coastal plain aquifers all along the east coast of the U.S. It has a unique diversity ranging from western Long Island with a densely populated urban environment, through a suburban zone, to farmland, and finally to undeveloped pine barrens in eastern Long Island. Superimposed on each of these zones is a north-south gradient from barrier islands and coastal regions to interior uplands of varied topography. Since the primary flow of groundwater is north and south, there tends to be little intermixing of waters associated with different levels of development. The application of results of high-quality research is essential for the effective management of our groundwater resources.

The University has a long history of groundwater research. We are particularly proud of our contributions in:

• groundwater modeling,
• geochemical studies,
• groundwater impacts on coastal environments,
• bioremediation and biodegradation of pollutants.

In addition, the Institute's faculty provides a course of graduate study in groundwater hydrology leading to the degree of Master's of Science. Teacher workshops, technical conferences, and public lectures are also offered by the Institute.

The Institute is served by faculty in the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, the Department of Earth and Space Science, and the Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics.

LIGRI Faculty

• Gamal Abouelenean, Science and Technology. Water resources, hydrology, and environmental hydraulics. 631-632-4623
  
• Henry J. Bokuniewicz, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. Nearshore transport processes; coastal groundwater, salinity intrusion. 631-632-8674
• Bruce J. Brownawell, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. Biogeochemistry of organic pollutants in groundwater. Bioremediation. 631-632-9411
• J. Kirk Cochran, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. Marine geochemistry; use of radionuclides as geochemical tracers in ground water. 631-632-8781
• Gilbert Hanson, Geosciences. Trace element and isotope geochemistry in groundwater studies. 631-632-8210
• Brent Lindquist, Applied Mathematics and Statistics. Environmental fluid modeling; dispersion in porous media. 631-632-8361
• Kamazima Lwiza, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. Water quality. 631-632-7309
  
• Devinder Mahajan, Material Sciences and Engineering. Energy-water nexus. 631-632-1813
• Jaymie Meliker. Dept. of Preventive Medicine, Evaluative Sciences. Exposure science and health geography. 631-444-1145
  
• Richard J. Reeder, Geosciences. Low-temperature geochemistry in aqueous/solids systems; mineralogy and mineral-solution equilibria. 631-632-8208
• Martin Schoonen, Geosciences. Geochemistry of natural waters; kinetics and thermodynamics of low-temperature and hydrothermal water-rock. 631-632-8007
• Gordon T. Taylor, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. Microbial ecology of surfaces; microbial biofouling; bioremediation. 631-632-8688
• David Tonjes, Technology and Society. Solid waste processes and management, and estuarine and coastal management. 631-632-8518
• Teng-fong Wong, Geosciences. Deformation and hydraulic transport in geologic materials; quantitative characterization of pore space. 631-632-8212

The Institute is also served by an Advisory Council to help focus the research done at the University and carry those results to practical application.

Groundwater Advisory Council

Liaison

• George Proios, Suffolk County Executive Office

Environmental Community Assistance Consortium

The Institute has become a member of ECAC, joining the Maxwell School and College of Engineering and Computer Science at Syracuse University, the New York Water Resources Institute at Cornell University and the Darrin Fresh Water Institute at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to assist local communities access institutional expertise and resources to provide outreach and education and support government agencies through a state wide effort. As part of this effort, the Institute has been asked to provide technical information to community groups (ABCO, NEARS) concerned with contamination at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The Institute also provided testimony for a joint legislative assembly hearing on water quality and quality issues sponsored by the Commission on Water Resource Needs, the Environmental Conservation Committee and the Task Force on Food, Farm and Nutrition.

Research Projects

The Institute has pursued research projects on a broad spectrum of groundwater problems related to Long Island. The following is a partial list of ongoing research projects:

• Compilation and maintenance of comprehensive bibliography of Long Island geology and hydrology.
• Interactions of surface and ground waters.
• Isotopic signatures of nitrogen contaminant sources.
• Recharge characteristics on Long Island.
• Occurrence of trace metals in ground-water.
• Classification of coasts with regard to ground-water seepage into the coastal ocean.
• Nitrogen in recharge basins: impacts of turf maintenance.
• Contamination by pharmaceutical and personal care products.

Pine Barrens Research Forum

The Institute has co-hosted the Pine Barrens Research Forum together with the Pine Barrens Commission and Brookhaven National Laboratory each October since 1996. 2007 was our 12th Annual Forum. The 2008 Forum is scheduled for Thursday, October 9, 2008.

Please see the website for more information and proceedings from each year.

The August Guerrera Award

The August Guerrera Award is given to an outstanding student by the Institute and the Long Island Water Conference for the encouragement of the study of water resources.

The following are winners of the Guerrera Award with their respective year:

Inquiries may be sent to:

Dr. Henry J. Bokuniewicz
Director of the Groundwater Institute
School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY 11794-5000
631-632-8674 / (Fax) 631-632-8820
hbokuniewicz@notes.cc.sunysb.edu