Irene J Fisher
Irene is a hydrologist at the USGS Water Resources Mission Area.
Irene began her career with the USGS as a Volunteer for Science. She held a student trainee position while attending college and was hired shortly after graduation as a hydrologist. Research interests include groundwater quality, nitrogen cycling, and coastal and estuarine systems. Irene currently manages water-quality projects in Long Island, N.Y., with a special interest in contaminants of emerging concern. Current programs include the occurrence and persistence of wastewater-derived contaminants, current and legacy-use pesticides, and per- and polyfluoroaklyl substances (PFAS) in groundwater. Her research interests and capabilities have led her to work with other USGS scientists on diverse project work including isotope forensics, groundwater age dating, stream-quality assessments, environmental health impacts of Hurricane Sandy, and National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) programs.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 14
Effects of acid rain on the ecological health of Long Island’s forests and ponds
BACKGROUND Air emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels in electrical power plants, building heating systems and vehicles are the major source of gaseous sulfur (SOx) and nitrogen (NOx) oxides in the atmosphere. These oxides dissolve in atmospheric moisture forming ions which are deposited by rain, snowfall and dust particles as acidic deposition. Acidic deposition releases soluble...
Long Island-New Jersey (LINJ) Coastal Drainages Study -- Land Use Study (NY)
Background The Long Island-New Jersey (LINJ) coastal drainages NAWQA study is one of the 1994 set and is coordinated from our West Trenton, NJ office. Tasks for the first two years, 1994-95, included staffing, developing a liaison process, analyzing existing data, and designing a data collection program that started in 1996. These planning activities lead to the study design for 3 years...
Water-Quality Assessments of Principal Aquifers
Background A major focus of the NAWQA Program in its second decade (2002-2013) is on regional- and national-scale assessments of groundwater-quality status and trends in principal aquifers. The U.S. Geological Survey Office of Groundwater has identified 62 principal aquifers in the U.S. ( U.S. Geological Survey, 2003 ). About 1/3 of the Nation's principal aquifers are the focus of water...
Trends in Nitrate Concentrations in Public Water-Supply Wells, Suffolk County, New York, 1982-2008
Introduction High nitrate concentrations are a common concern among many purveyors, including the Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA), the largest supplier of water to residents in Suffolk County. Typically, the amount of nitrate in groundwater is related to land use, where the greatest concentrations are observed in agricultural regions. In many areas, the nitrate concentration has...
Monitoring of Waterways for Mosquito Insecticides, Suffolk County, New York
Introduction Mosquitoes are the principle vector of the West Nile Virus (WNV) which causes infections in humans and animals and has emerged as a public health threat throughout Long Island, NY. The WNV was first detected among birds and mosquitoes by the Suffolk County Department of Health Services (SCDHS) in 2000. In response to the public health concern, the USGS in cooperation with...
Hydrologic-Data Collection in the Five Boroughs of New York City
Problem Previous hydrologic studies have indicated that there may be sufficient water resources underlying Queens, Kings, Richmond, New York, and Bronx Counties for use as a supplemental water supply in times of drought or other emergency. An extensive ground-water and surface-water monitoring program is necessary to provide a comprehensive hydrologic data set for use in ongoing and...
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 14
Effects of acid rain on the ecological health of Long Island’s forests and ponds
BACKGROUND Air emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels in electrical power plants, building heating systems and vehicles are the major source of gaseous sulfur (SOx) and nitrogen (NOx) oxides in the atmosphere. These oxides dissolve in atmospheric moisture forming ions which are deposited by rain, snowfall and dust particles as acidic deposition. Acidic deposition releases soluble...
Long Island-New Jersey (LINJ) Coastal Drainages Study -- Land Use Study (NY)
Background The Long Island-New Jersey (LINJ) coastal drainages NAWQA study is one of the 1994 set and is coordinated from our West Trenton, NJ office. Tasks for the first two years, 1994-95, included staffing, developing a liaison process, analyzing existing data, and designing a data collection program that started in 1996. These planning activities lead to the study design for 3 years...
Water-Quality Assessments of Principal Aquifers
Background A major focus of the NAWQA Program in its second decade (2002-2013) is on regional- and national-scale assessments of groundwater-quality status and trends in principal aquifers. The U.S. Geological Survey Office of Groundwater has identified 62 principal aquifers in the U.S. ( U.S. Geological Survey, 2003 ). About 1/3 of the Nation's principal aquifers are the focus of water...
Trends in Nitrate Concentrations in Public Water-Supply Wells, Suffolk County, New York, 1982-2008
Introduction High nitrate concentrations are a common concern among many purveyors, including the Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA), the largest supplier of water to residents in Suffolk County. Typically, the amount of nitrate in groundwater is related to land use, where the greatest concentrations are observed in agricultural regions. In many areas, the nitrate concentration has...
Monitoring of Waterways for Mosquito Insecticides, Suffolk County, New York
Introduction Mosquitoes are the principle vector of the West Nile Virus (WNV) which causes infections in humans and animals and has emerged as a public health threat throughout Long Island, NY. The WNV was first detected among birds and mosquitoes by the Suffolk County Department of Health Services (SCDHS) in 2000. In response to the public health concern, the USGS in cooperation with...
Hydrologic-Data Collection in the Five Boroughs of New York City
Problem Previous hydrologic studies have indicated that there may be sufficient water resources underlying Queens, Kings, Richmond, New York, and Bronx Counties for use as a supplemental water supply in times of drought or other emergency. An extensive ground-water and surface-water monitoring program is necessary to provide a comprehensive hydrologic data set for use in ongoing and...