1. Broad River Watershed Assessment
Rachel Hodge
Claire Ike
Robin Barker

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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

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

9. Watson Mill Bridge State Park

17. Analysis: Geoprocessing

18. Area: Ha

19. Area: Ha

20. Area: Ha

21. Analysis: Statistical

25. Resources www.gis.state.ga.us