1. Protecting Georgia’s Waters Jennifer Welte Program Manager Regulatory Development & Regional Water Planning Georgia EPD – Watershed Protection Branch

2. Georgia EPD Watershed Protection Branch Air Protection Branch Land Protection Branch Laboratory Operations District Offices –7 locations –Emergency Response

3. Watershed Protection Branch Assessment and Planning RegulatoryNon-Regulatory

4. Watershed Protection Branch Assessment and Planning RegulatoryNon-Regulatory Withdrawal Drinking Water Safe Dams Wastewater E&S Control Stormwater

5. Watershed Protection Branch Grants Outreach -Adopt-a-Stream -Rivers Alive Withdrawal Drinking Water Safe Dams Wastewater E&S Control Stormwater Assessment and Planning RegulatoryNon-Regulatory

6. Watershed Protection Branch Assessment and Planning RegulatoryNon-Regulatory Withdrawal Drinking Water Safe Dams Wastewater E&S Control Stormwater Surface and Groundwater Monitoring 305(b)/303(d) List of Assessed Waters Resource Assessments/Modeling Regional Water Planning Grants Outreach -Adopt-a-Stream -Rivers Alive

7. Regulatory Programs Permitting –Withdrawals –Drinking water systems –Safe Dams –Wastewater, 401 WQ Certification –Stormwater & Erosion Control Compliance –Investigate complaints, inspections, enforcement

8. Regulatory Highlights Water withdrawals & Drinking Water –Flint River Drought Protection –Drought Management –Water Use Efficiency Drinking Water –Total Coliform Rule

9. Nonpoint Source Program Stormwater/E&S Buffers Grants Outreach and education – in 2015: –146 Adopt-a-Stream events –72 Project WET events –54 Rivers Alive cleanups –43 Other education events

10. Water Quality Standards Define the use of the waterbody and the criteria necessary to protect the use All waters are assigned a Designated Use Fishing / Trout WatersWild River Coastal FishingScenic River Drinking WaterRecreation Outstanding National Resource Waters Criteria are Numeric or Narrative, and protective of the designated use

11. Triennial Review 40 CFR 131.20 requires State review and revise water quality standards from time to time, but at least once every three years Updates may be needed if there is: –Change in water quality conditions –Change in water body uses –New scientific information EPD holds public meetings to present concepts and seek input

12. Monitoring Surface Water Gaging 325 Stream Gages Ground Water Well Monitoring 177 Ground Water Wells Water Quality Monitoring 275 Monitoring Sites

13. Surface Water Gages

14. Ground Water Wells

15. Water Quality Monitoring

16. Assessment Compare data to the Water Quality Standards Every 2 years publish Water Quality in Georgia 305(b)/303(d) list of assessed waters

17. 2014 305(b)/303(d) List  Data submitted by: o State Agencies (EPD, WRD, CRD) o Federal Agencies (USGS, EPA) o Local Governments (Cobb, Columbus, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Roswell) o Others (Soquee Partnership, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper)  Listing Assessment Methodology Supporting (Category 1) Assessment Pending (Categories 2 & 3) Not Supporting (Categories 4 & 5) Category 5: 303(d) TMDLs

18. Stream & River Miles Lake Acres Sounds/ Harbors Sq. Miles Total Assessed14,703393,43585 Supporting 39% 53%73% Not Supporting 57% 31%16% Assessment Pending 4% 16%11% 2014 305(b)/303(d) List

19. Causes of Impairments in “Not Supporting” Waters  Streams: FC – 55%; Bio F - 37%; DO – 12%  Coastal Streams: FC 53%, DO – 26%; FCG – 42%  Lakes – FCG &TWR – 62%; Chlorophyll a – 10%  Sounds/Harbors – DO – 50%; FCG – 50%  Coastal Beaches – Enterococci Sources of Impairments  Nonpoint Source/Urban Runoff – 98%  Industrial – 4%Municipal – 3% 2014 305(b)/303(d) List

20. Modeling Efforts Modeling Streams, Lakes, Watersheds, and Aquifers throughout the state Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Use models to conduct Resource Assessments and to evaluate current and future demands

21. Metro Water District Update of 2009 plans underway 10 Regional Water Councils Review and revision of 2011 plans underway Components Forecasts of water and wastewater demands Resource assessments Management practices Regional Water Planning

22. Questions? Jennifer Welte (404) 463-1694 Jennifer.Welte@dnr.ga.gov