Hempstead Lake State Park- Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi today announced that he has re-established a Cooperative Agreement between Nassau County and the United States Geological Survey (USGS), which will enhance protection of the County's water resources. Under the agreement, the USGS will assist the County in monitoring for salt-water intrusion into the drinking water supply in coastal areas, and monitoring of groundwater levels and stream flows throughout Nassau County. This information will supplement the County's water resources monitoring program, which is one of the most extensive in the nation.

"This is a key component of the County's Environmental Improvement Program and my commitment to preserve the County's environmental resources and protect our drinking water supply," County Executive Suozzi stated at a news conference today in Hempstead Lake State Park.

The Cooperative Agreement between Nassau County and the USGS, which had been in effect for over 65 years and was one of the oldest in the Country, was terminated by the previous administration in 1999 due to the County's growing financial debt at the time. The initial terms of the new agreement are for two years at a cost of $100,000 per year, however the County intends to continue its relationship with USGS well into the future.

"Now that my administration has gotten the County's finances back in the black, we are in a position to bolster the testing of our water quality and start repairing the damage done by the previous administration to our environmental programs," said Suozzi. "Long Island has a fragile water supply and we must take every step to ensure its protection."

While the County has been conducting testing on water levels and groundwater quality, the USGS will gauge stream flows and lake levels. The data will also be used to produce comprehensive water quality reports for Nassau County residents and individual water districts. USGS will also help identify specific areas of groundwater contamination that were caused by from Superfund sites, leaking underground gas tanks and other sources of contamination.

Legislator David Denenberg (D-Merrick), who chairs the Committee on Planning, Development & Environment noted, "Testing drinking water quality is a great step in keeping with our program to rehabilitate and restore the ponds along the South Shore and the estuary, as well as achieve proper storm water management."

Several environmental advocates were present at today's announcement and voiced their support for the new initiative: