Georgia Water/Water Policy/Issues/Background

Water Resources
Planning and Management
in Georgia

1. Water Policy
2. Management
3. Information
4. Planning
5. Statewide Plan
6. Regional Plans
7. References

Chapter 2. Water Resources Policy in Georgia

2.5.1. Background -- Identifying the Issues

Timeline of Issues Identification

1999 - ACCG/GMA Joint Task Force on Water Resource Policy

• The Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) and the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) published their ACCG-GMA Joint Task Force on Water Resource Policy report, Georgia Water Resource Policy - A Call for Action] in December, 1999. The report listed four key needs to:

1. Clearly state a comprehensive water management strategy,
2. Refine Georgia's water allocation policies,
3. Encourage multi-jurisdictional water management on a regional/watershed basis,
4. Coordinate water and land use planning and management.

2001 - Georgia Board of Natural Resources

• The Georgia Board of Natural Resources prepared the Water Issues White Paper(May, 2001) which provided a summary of current water law in Georgia and "identified fifteen specific water issues and solutions which are recommended for consideration by the Joint Study Comittee for inclusion in the Comprehensive Water Plan."

1. Interbasin water transfers
2. Allocation of state water to private entities for resale
3. Improve allocation of water for agricultural use
4. Statewide water conservation
5. Interim instream flow protection strategy
6. Priorities for water use during drought
7. Privately owned public water systems
8. Assure a reliable and adequate water supply in growth areas with water supply reservoirs
9. Real-time water management
10. Water quality monitoring
11. Attain water quality standards
12. Assure wastewater capacity in growth areas
13. Develop and implement erosion and sedimentation control improvements
14. Public information and involvement
15. Improve old water and sewer infrastructure

2002 - Joint Comprehensive Water Plan Study Committee

• The Final Report of the Georgia Water/Joint Comprehensive Water Plan Study Committee of the Georgia General Assembly listed 42 water issues needing review and possible revision of policy.

1. Wastewater Capacity in Growth Areas

2. Improvement of Old Water and Sewer Infrastructure

3. Attaining Water Quality Standards/TMDLs

4. Cost-Effective Stormwater Solutions

5. Septic Tank Installation and Maintenance

6. Protection and Management of Georgia’s Aquifer Recharge Areas

7. Source Water Assessment/Protection

8. Protection, Conservation and Restoration of Wetlands, Marshlands, and other Aquatic Ecosystems

9. Water as a Public Resource versus a Market Commodity

10. Allocating/Reallocating Water among Users

11. Allocation of State Water to Private Entities for Resale

12. Legal Status of Water Withdrawals, Permits and Transfers

13. Legal Status of the Water in Aquifers while in the Ground and Following Withdrawal

14. Interbasin Water Transfer and Basin-of-Origin Protection

15. Water for Agricultural Use

16. Statewide Water Conservation and Efficiency

17. Water Reuse

18. Consumptive Use Measurement and Reduction

19. Instream Flow Protection Standards and Strategy

20. Priorities for Water Use during Drought

21. Irrigation Efficiency and Research

22. Overdraft of the Floridan Aquifer/Salt Water Intrusion

23. Water Supply Reservoirs

24. Aquifer Storage and Recovery

25. Flood Mitigation, Floodplain Management, and Dam Safety

26. Lake Protection and Management

27. Development/Implementation of Erosion and Sedimentation Control Improvements

28. State and Substate/Regional Water Management Options

29. Privately Owned Public Water Systems

30. Interstate Water Issues

31. Real-Time Water Management

32. Water Management with Increased Variation in Weather Patterns

33. Interagency Coordination

34. Enforcement

35. Water Quality, Quantity, and Biotic Integrity Monitoring

36. Data Management Systems

37. Public Information and Involvement

38. Statewide Watershed Management and Assessment Information/Standards

39. Increase Funding and Personnel for Water Resources Administration, Including Monitoring

40. Availability and Use of Federal Funding for Water-Related Activities

41. Water for Energy Production Systems

42. Water Security

2005 - Georgia Water Resources Conference

• Five panels were scheduled for the 2005 Georgia Water Resources Conference, held April 25-27, 2005, to discuss issues related to the Georgia Comprehensive Statewide Water Resources Management Plan.

1. Water Quantity Allocation
2. Instream Flow Protection
3. Ground Water Level Protection
4. Water Quality (TMDL) Allocation
5. Water Conservation/Efficiency/Reuse

Issues Identified, by Organization