1. www.georgiawaterplanning.org

2. High Altitude View of ACF Regional Water Plans

3. Be careful what you ask for!

4. State Water Plan 2004 Comprehensive State-wide Water Management Planning Act 2004 Comprehensive State-wide Water Management Planning Act mandated development of state-wide water plan to support a far- reaching vision for water resource management: "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" (O.C.G.A. 12- 5-522(a)). EPD developed plan with Georgia Water Council oversight Plan adopted by 2008 General Assembly

5. Forecasts Resource Assessments Regional Planning Key State-wide Plan Action Items

6. 2008 Summary Schedule Regional Plan Development Capacity Analyses Data & Standards Resource Assessments Planning Guidance Population, Ag, M&I, & Energy Forecasting 2009201020112012 Plan Review Form Councils Implementation

8. Inputs and Planning Process

9. Population Forecast (OPB/UGA) MunicipalIndustrialAgricultureEnergy Council & Ad Hoc Inputs & Adjustments Water and Wastewater Forecasting What are current and future water and wastewater demands in each planning region?

10. Resource Assessments Surface Water Availability Groundwater Availability Water Quality (Assimilative Capacity) Develop and run simulation models Establish unacceptable impact criteria Evaluate current conditions for baseline assessment Apply future demand and management practices What are the capacities of the water resources on which each region relies?

11. Resource Assessments Surface Water Availability Ability of surface water resources to meet current needs without substantially altering hydrologic flow regime Groundwater Availability Surface Water Quality Determine sustainable yield of prioritized aquifers Capacity of surface waters to assimilate pollutants without unacceptable degradation of water quality

13. Surface Water Resource Assessment Results RegionCurrent ResultsFuture Results Middle Chattahooc hee No “gap” between availability and need in Chattahoochee Gaps in Tallapoosa and Little Tallapoosa No “gaps” in Chattahoochee; adequate storage available to offset reduced inflows during drought Significant gaps in Tallapoosa and Little Tallapoosa Upper Flint Small gap at Montezuma Lower Flint- Ochlockone e Significant gap at Bainbridge Gap remains at Bainbridge but no significant increase Region Current ResultsFuture Results Middle Chattahoochee No “gap” between availability and need in Chattahoochee Gaps in Tallapoosa and Little Tallapoosa No “gaps” in Chattahoochee; adequate storage available to offset reduced inflows during drought Significant gaps in Tallapoosa and Little Tallapoosa Upper Flint Small gap at Montezuma Lower Flint- Ochlockonee Significant gap at Bainbridge Gap remains at Bainbridge but no significant increase

15. Groundwater Resource Assessment Results RegionCurrent Results Future Results Middle Chattahooche e Within sustainable yield for Claiborne Upper Flint Within sustainable yield for Claiborne & Cretaceous; above sustainable yield for Upper Floridan in Dougherty Plain Within sustainable yield for Cretaceous; above lower limit of sustainable yield range for Claiborne; above sustainable yield for Upper Floridan in Dougherty Plain Lower Flint- Ochlockonee Within sustainable yield for South-Central Upper Floridan; above lower limit of sustainable yield range for Claiborne in dry years; above sustainable yield for Upper Floridan in Dougherty Plain RegionCurrent Results Future Results Middle Chattahoochee Within sustainable yield for Claiborne Upper Flint Within sustainable yield for Claiborne & Cretaceous; above sustainable yield for Upper Floridan in Dougherty Plain Within sustainable yield for Cretaceous; above lower limit of sustainable yield range for Claiborne; above sustainable yield for Upper Floridan in Dougherty Plain Lower Flint- Ochlockonee Within sustainable yield for South-Central Upper Floridan; above lower limit of sustainable yield range for Claiborne in dry years; above sustainable yield for Upper Floridan in Dougherty Plain

17. Water Quality Resource Assessment Results RegionCurrent Results Future Results Middle Chattahooche e Within sustainable yield for Claiborne Upper Flint Within sustainable yield for Claiborne & Cretaceous; above sustainable yield for Upper Floridan in Dougherty Plain Within sustainable yield for Cretaceous; above lower limit of sustainable yield range for Claiborne; above sustainable yield for Upper Floridan in Dougherty Plain Lower Flint- Ochlockonee Within sustainable yield for South-Central Upper Floridan; above lower limit of sustainable yield range for Claiborne in dry years; above sustainable yield for Upper Floridan in Dougherty Plain Region Current Results Future Results Middle Chattahoochee Most of region has DO assimilative capacity. Point sources contribute more nutrients than non- point. Some improvement needed in DO assimilative capacity. Nutrient increases will come from point sources. Upper Flint Most of region has DO assimilative capacity. Non-point sources contribute more nutrients than point sources. Some improvement needed in DO assimilative capacity. Nutrient increases will come from point sources. (except Lake Blackshear.) Lower Flint- Ochlockonee Most of region has DO assimilative capacity. Non-point sources contribute more nutrients than point. Improvement in DO assimilative capacity. Nutrient increases will come from point sources.

18. Vision Statements “Our vision is that our descendants have safe, clean and abundant water to meet their needs in the Middle Chattahoochee Region; seeking to accomplish that through reasonable efforts in cooperation, education, and preservation.” (Middle Chattahoochee) “The Upper Flint Regional Water Council’s purpose is to provide guidance, leadership and education on water resource utilization within the region….to manage the region's water resources in a sustainable manner, be supportive of public health and natural ecosystems, support the State's economy and enhance the quality of life for its citizens.” “The LOWER FLINT OCHLOCKONEE Water Planning Council will manage water resources in a sustainable manner to support the region’s economy, to protect public health and natural systems, and to enhance the quality of life for the region’s citizens.”

19. Priority Management Practices MCH Support Tier 1 and 2 conservation activities Encourage point source discharges for major facilities Study new and/or enhancement of existing storage reservoirs Implement new and/or enhance existing surface water storage Utilize and improve upon reservoir release operations Advocate for changes to the Corps Water Control Manual Improve water quality monitoring UFL Improve agricultural water use metering program Suspend irrigation only through Flint River Drought Protection Act Evaluate storage options in Upper Flint for supply and flow augmentation LFO Continue improving ag water use efficiency through innovation Evaluate reservoir storage options in Flint River Basin for flow augmentation Replace surface water withdrawals with groundwater withdrawals Continue enforcement of existing permits, regulations and implementation of existing plans and practices

20. ACF Council’s Joint Recommendations to State Recognize the critical need for more storage in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) System and recommend that a plan for additional storage be developed Urge EPD and those involved in the resource assessment modeling to improve upon existing models for future regional water planning Request that state and federal agencies reevaluate the scientific justification for the minimum flow requirements at Woodruff Dam that are intended to maintain healthy aquatic ecosystems.

21. Public Comments

22. www.georgiawaterplanning.org