Broad River Watershed Assessment Rachel Hodge Claire Ike Robin Barker

Problem Statement: No comprehensive studies have been conducted regarding the ecological, hydrological, historical, economic, political, and social features within the Broad River watershed. A wide-ranging water basin characterization will allow the Broad River Watershed Alliance to identify important water monitoring sites.

Broad River Watershed Alliance Founded in 1991 Work with landowners to ensure protection of lands from harmful development Act to conserve Education and outreach through public forums Adopt-A-Stream monitoring River clean-ups

Broad River Background Approximately 944,000 acres and includes parts of thirteen Georgia counties. One of the last free-flowing rivers in Georgia. Flowing south from its headwaters in Banks and Stephens Counties through Madison and Elbert Counties to its confluence with the Savannah River at the Clarks Hill/Strom Thurmond Reservoir. Provides drinking water for the cities of Royston and Franklin Springs and it is an industrial and agricultural water supply for the region. Recreational uses throughout Canoeing, camping, kayaking, etc. Provides habitat for deer, turkeys, bobcats, foxes, beavers, otters, muskrats, quail, dove, mallards, wood ducks, turtles, crayfish and many others.

Threats to Watershed Agricultural non-point source pollution Septic systems Landfill leachate Litter Construction in the floodplain Riverbank erosion Destruction of the vegetative buffer Lack of tributary protection Poorly planned development

Heading North: What we Found on the South Fork Sandy Creek Shallow, can see the bottom from the top of bridge, turtles, brown water, shoal areas, exposed rocks, birds. Watson Mill Bridge St. Park Exposed rock, bridge that separates flowing water form reservoir (dam), water is clear with minimal trash, hydroponic vegetation. Hwy 72 slow water flow, shallow, sandbars, fallen trees, 80% canopy cover, stream not very wide. South Fork Hwy 72 minimal water flow, cut bank on one side, fallen trees blocking flow, turbid waters, sandy brown sediment. *Study points also taken from EPA

Field methods used GPS- NAD 1983 Zone 17 N. Photos Visual observations

Watson Mill Bridge State Park

Analysis: Geoprocessing

Area: 197240.1 Ha

Area: 58470.1 Ha 58470.1

Area: 354308 Ha

Analysis: Statistical

Resources www.gis.state.ga.us http://map8.epa.gov/scripts/esrimap.dll?name=NHDMapper&Cmd=ZoomInByCat&qc=3&th=6&lc=00010200000110_0000&fipsCode=03060104 www.ga.water.usgs.gov www.nwis.waterdata.usga.gov/ga/nwis/rt www.landandfarm.com http://www.fs.fed.us/conf/documents/mid_fork_broad_wsa.pdf http://www.brwa.org/about/show/2 http://www.uga.edu/~brwa/map.html http://www.uga.edu/~brwa/river.html http://www.garivers.org/resources/directory/directory_ae.html