Suffolk County Agricultural Irrigation Webinar

Thursday, November 16, 2023, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Join us for the CCE Suffolk County Agricultural Irrigation Webinar hosted by the Agricultural Stewardship Program! Participants will learn about the geology and movement of water in Long Island's sole-source aquifer from a geology professor at Hofstra University, Long Island well and registered agricultural water withdrawal programs from EPA geologists, Riverhead Water District agricultural irrigation recommendations from the Riverhead Water District Superintendent, and best management practices for agricultural land from our NRCS District Conservationist. The information in this program is applicable for agricultural stakeholders across commodities.

This program is in partnership with Long Island Farm Bureau.

In-person registration please call or email Administrative Assistant Sarah Osborn, or for online zoom registration use the link below.

Password for today's meeting:759721

Agenda

Welcome and Introductions

9:00-9:05

Emily Lindback, Agricultural Stewardship Specialist, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County

Long Island’s Aquifer System

9:05-9:45

Dr. J Bret Bennington, Department of Geology, Environment, and Sustainability, Hofstra University

This presentation will provide an overview of the sole-source aquifer system on Long Island. We will start with the geology and formation of Long Island and its major landforms, soils, and water bodies. We will then consider how water moves through the aquifers and their connections to surface water bodies. Lastly, we will look at how the system is impacted by groundwater pumping, urbanization, and pollution, as well as what we need to do to use groundwater sustainably on Long Island.

Long Island Well and Registered Agricultural Water Withdrawal Programs

9:45-10:30

George Holmes, PG, Professional Geologist 1, NY DEC

Sara Reutlinger, Assistant Geologist, NY DEC

Jennifer Pilewski, P.G., Regional Water Manager, NY DEC

Staff from NYSDEC Division of Water will present on the Long Island Well and Registered Agricultural Water Withdrawal Programs. Program thresholds, how to apply, program requirements and reporting will be covered

BREAK

10:30-10:45

Riverhead Water District Irrigation Recommendations

10:45-11:15

Frank Mancini, Superintendent, Riverhead Water District

In this presentation Mancini will discuss Suffolk County regulations, lessons learned from attempting to codifying regulations in Riverhead, and conservation vs peak demand mitigation.

Best management Practices for Agricultural Land

11:15-12:00

Liz Camps, NRCS

Join us as we delve into the world of Irrigation Best Management Practices (BMPs), a cornerstone for sustainable and productive farming. This presentation aims to enlighten farmers on how BMPs in irrigation not only optimize water usage but also significantly impact crop yields and environmental preservation. We will explore a range of practices including efficient irrigation system design and installation, advanced irrigation scheduling, and the integration of modern monitoring technologies. Moreover, we will discuss the importance of nutrient management in coordination with irrigation practices to prevent water contamination and promote soil health. The session will also touch on the available educational, technical, and financial support to aid farmers in adopting and maintaining these BMPs.