1. Georgia’s Water Plan June 17, 2008

2. 6/09/08 Page 2 Agenda Plan Development Plan Overview

3. Plan Development

4. 6/09/08 Page 4 Backdrop & Drivers Dramatic expansion in population and economy –4.6 million in 1970  2nd fastest ‘total employment’ growth among states in southeast between ’80 & ‘93 –6.3 million in 1990  ~ 100,000 new jobs per year in 90’s –9.4 million in 2006 Droughts (’81, ’86 – ’88, ’98 – ’02, ’06 - ?) Interstate water disputes Intrastate water concerns Growing stresses on water supplies and water quality

5. 6/09/08 Page 5 Legislative Direction 2004 Comprehensive Statewide Water Management Planning Act –Created the Water Council for planning oversight –Assigned EPD responsibility for preparation of draft plan (with Water Council oversight) –Established guiding policy for water planning –Set schedule for completion of Water Plan –Mandated extensive public involvement

6. 6/09/08 Page 6 Vision Statement For Water Plan “Georgia manages water resources in a sustainable manner to support the state’s economy, to protect public health and natural systems, and to enhance the quality of life for all citizens.”

7. 6/09/08 Page 7 Purpose of Plan Within framework of existing laws, provide a guide for the sustainable management of water resources by: –Supporting Georgia’s Economy; –Protecting Natural Systems & – Public Health; and –Enhancing Citizens’ Quality of Life Art by: Brittany Thomas Georgia Winner 2005 River of Words

8. 6/09/08 Page 8 Plan Development Schedule

9. 6/09/08 Page 9 Public Involvement Technical Advisory Committees: –4 TACs, 45 members, 10 meetings Basin Advisory Committees: –7 BACs, 187 members, 42 meetings Statewide Advisory Committee: – 32 members, 9 meetings Town Hall Meetings: –22 meetings

10. 6/09/08 Page 10

11. Plan Summary

12. 6/09/08 Page 12 Organization of the Document Introduction to Statewide Water Planning Overview – Georgia’s Water Resources Comprehensive Statewide Water Management Plan*** Implementation of Regional Water Planning Acknowledgements ***Section submitted to legislature

13. 6/09/08 Page 13 Major Aspects of Plan Water Policies –Integrated Water Policy –Water Quantity Policy –Water Quality Policy Resource Assessments Management Practices –Water Quantity –Water Quality Regional Planning –Demand Forecasts –Water Development & Conservation Plans Art by: Megan Maller Georgia Winner 2006 River of Words

14. 6/09/08 Page 14 Integrated Water Policy Links future water quality management decisions with water quantity management decisions Where appropriate, links surface water management deliberations and groundwater management deliberations; Links water withdrawal decisions with water return decisions; Accomplishes this linking through existing authority for permitting water withdrawals, drinking water, and water discharges, and erosion and sediment control authority.

15. 6/09/08 Page 15 Water Quantity Policy Manage Georgia’s waters in manner that recognizes the values and opportunities provided by surface and groundwater historic flow patterns Manage consumptive uses of Georgia waters so that opportunities associated with these historic flow patterns continue to be available to Georgians of the future

16. 6/09/08 Page 16 Water Quality Policy Protect and preserve the quality of Georgia’s waters through watershed-based management of both point and non-point sources of pollution Restore impaired waters through use of watershed-based management tools

17. 6/09/08 Page 17 Water Resource Assessments The Plan proposes that the State determine capacities of various water resources – around the state - to support additional water consumption, and to assimilate additional pollutants.

18. 6/09/08 Page 18 Water Quantity Assessments Using scientifically valid data and information, determine historic flows available within specific water sources to support human needs and the needs of natural systems. From these assessments, determine the quantities of water available to sustainably support human uses (‘consumptive use assessments’).

19. 6/09/08 Page 19 Water Quality Assessments Using scientifically valid data and information, determine the extent to which specific current surface water systems can accommodate the introduction of additional quantities of pollutants without violating established water quality standards for that resource.

20. 6/09/08 Page 20 Management Practices The Plan identifies some current and some new management tools that could be employed to help ensure continued sustainable use of Georgia’s waters.

21. 6/09/08 Page 21 Water Quantity Management Practices Manage consumptive use of water through selection of a mix of management actions from the following categories: –Demand Management Practices –Supply Management Practices –Return Management Practices

22. 6/09/08 Page 22 Selected Demand Management Practices Water Conservation activities –Conservation rate structures –Water loss control programs –Outdoor water use schedules Water reuse activities

23. 6/09/08 Page 23 Selected Supply Management Practices Interbasin and/or Intrabasin Transfers –In compliance resource assessments, and in conformance with WDCPs and rigorous set of requirements Surface Water Storage –Based upon rationale demand forecasts; full investigation of options; site selection to minimize environmental impacts, etc ASR & Desalination –Regional investigation of these options D.Shaw -TNC

24. 6/09/08 Page 24 Selected Returns Management Practices Centralized Treatment & Discharge of Water On-Site Sewage Treatment & LAS –Assessment of return rates –Assessment of locations of returns

25. 6/09/08 Page 25 Water Quality Management Practices Management actions and activities that control the extent to which we call upon Georgia’s waters to assimilate additional quantities of pollutants. Arrays of actions that are technically effective and economically feasible management practices that prevent some percentage of these pollutants entering our streams.

26. 6/09/08 Page 26 Selected Water Quality Management Practices Continue Point Source Management Successes Enhance Standards –Bacteria –Dissolved Oxygen Non-Point Source Management –Improved stormwater mgmt compliance –Coordinated environmental planning & land use management programs Explore New Tools –Pollutant allocation trading

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