GROUND WATER DISCHARGE INTO SILVER CREEK, ONEONTA, NY

The study of Oneonta, New York’s Silver Creek through the use of thermal imaging along with conductivity measurements was proven to be a success. Silver Creek has a drainage area of 1.46 mi^2 upstream from where surveying took place. The creek is a small distributary to the Susquehanna river. Thermal images helped visually determine where groundwater seeps into a surface water body. Images showing warm or cold spots (depending on the streams average temperature) also showed a large increase of a conductivity value. Conductivity helps identify and conclude an alternate water source is being added to the creek. Silver creek showed numerous groundwater springs upstream in an alluvial stream setting. Little to no infiltration of groundwater was found downstream, in a bedrock stream setting. Conductivity values showed additional sources of water had a great effect on the remaining body of water when the source was sufficient enough. In one location the conductivity values reached an alarming value. Precipitation was also shown to influence the streams conductivity on a week to week basis. High precipitation values lead to a decrease in the creek’s overall conductivity values. Temperature values are all in degrees Fahrenheit, precipitation values in inches, and conductivity values in micro siemens.