Adopt-a-stream, Vol. 15, no. 6 (Nov./Dec. 2008)

GEORGIA
Adopt-A-Stream

Volume 15, Number 6 November/December 2008
Andrea Sarisky, Editor

Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division

Georgia State Water Plan to Address Local Water Issues

The Georgia Comprehensive State-wide Water Management Plan's (State Water Plan) purpose is to manage 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. The State Water Plan, which was adopted by the General Assembly in 2008, provides for:
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) to conduct water resource assessments to determine how much water we have in Georgia and how much pollution the waterways can handle before water quality unacceptably degrades;
The creation of regional water planning councils to prepare recommended Water Development and Conservation Plans to characterize the water needs for each region as those needs relate to the needs of adjacent regions and the preferred management practices to use in each region to close any "gaps" between water capacities and water needs. The Water Development and Conservation Plans are to be finalized and adopted by EPD by June 30, 2011. After adoption, all EPD permits and Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority grants and loans for water projects must be guided by the Plan;
Regional water planning guidance, including the development by major water use stakeholders of a Water Conservation Implementation Plan; and,
Water quality and water supply permitting decisions to be made by EPD in accordance with the State Water Plan.
For more information on the State Water Plan, visit www.georgiawaterplanning.org or contact Arnettia Murphy, arnettia_murphy@dnr.state.ga.us, (404) 656-4157.

Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Online
Georgia Adopt-A-Stream's website is full of resources and updates for volunteers. All manuals, newsletters and other publications by the state office are accessible through the website, as well as valuable resources and links covering topics pertinent to all of our monitoring programs. Volunteers can also find information on how to get started with water monitoring and PowerPoint presentations from workshops.
You can find the Adopt-A-Stream calendar on www.GeorgiaAdoptAStream.org, with up-to-date and accurate listings of upcoming workshops and events across the state. Check back frequently, as the calendar is continually updated with new events.
QA/QC volunteers can also access the Adopt-A-Stream database via the website.

Changes Made to the 2008 303(b)/303(d) List of Waters

EPD made a number of changes to the format of the 2008 305(b)/303(d) list of waters. The largest change was that EPD adopted a 5-part categorization of waters as required by US EPA. Each water in the State that has been assessed was placed in one or more categories.
Waters supporting their use were placed in Category 1. If a water was not supporting its use, it was put in Category 4 and/or 5. Category 4 is used when a total maximum daily load (TMDL) has been completed or if an action is in place other than a TMDL that should result in a water meeting its use. A water was placed in Category 5 if a TMDL still needs to be completed. Waters were placed in Category 3 if data was available, but the data was insufficient for determining use attainment. Waters were placed in Category 2 if data indicate that at least one designated use is being met, but there is insufficient evidence to determine that all uses are being met.
Another change that EPD made to its 2008 305 (b)/303(d) list of waters is that we stopped using the term "partially supporting". Waters assessed as "partially supporting" in the past are now

assessed as "not supporting". This change was made because the term "partially supporting" was causing confusion with the public and within EPD.
The difference between waters assessed as "partially supporting" or "not supporting" their use in previous lists was that waters assessed as "partially supporting" had a lower frequency of water quality violations than waters assessed as "not supporting". However, both "partially supporting" and "not supporting" waters were considered to be impaired and there was no difference between how the waters were treated under the Federal Clean Water Act.
For a more detailed description of the new five-part categorization system and of other formatting changes made to the 2008 305(b)/303(d) list of waters, please refer to the document labeled "Summary of Formatting Changes to the 2008 List of Waters" found on EPD's website at http://www.gaepd.org/ Documents/305b.html.
Contributed by Susan Salter, Environmental Specialist, Watershed Planning and Monitoring Program, EPD

Rivers Alive 2008
The Rivers Alive 2008 campaign was a great success, and we estimate that numbers for 2008 will top all previous years. With 80 percent of cleanups reporting, we've already seen record numbers with over 26,000 volunteers participating across the state. If you still have data to contribute, please contact us at (404)675-1636 or riversalive@gaepd.org. Thanks to everyone who organized for or participated in Rivers Alive 2008, and we look forward to working with you in 2009!
Annual Awards Nominations Now Due January 30th
Don't forget: the 2008 Adopt-A-Stream awards nominations are now due by January 30th, 2009. Nomination categories include: Volunteer of the year, Extraordinary Volunteer Watershed Effort, Red Flag Award, Outstanding Outreach and Partnership, Adopt-A-Stream in Action and Excellence in Data Collection. Municipalities and local governments can also apply for the Watershed Award that recognizes these organizations for exceeding standards in implementing the four goals of Adopt-A-Stream. All award entries should be e-mailed to andrea.sarisky@gaepd.org or mailed to Georgia Adopt-A-Stream, Environmental Protection Division 4220 International Pkwy. Suite 101, Atlanta, GA 30354.
Youth Environmental Symposium
The Youth Environmental Symposium is an annual event sponsored by The Georgia Conservancy that seeks to encourage and recognize 6th through 12th grade groups that work to create solutions to environmental problems in their communities. The symposium is an excellent opportunity for student Adopt-A-Stream groups to present their monitoring projects for the chance to win monetary prizes to support their programs. Entries are due by Wednesday, January 28th, 2009, and winners will be recognized at the symposium on February 27th at Zoo Atlanta. For more information about this contest along with entry rules and guidelines, visit The Georgia Conservancy website at www.georgiaconservancy.org.
Georgia Water Resources Conference
The biennial Georgia Water Resources conference will be held April 27th through 29th, 2009 at the UGA Center for Continuing Education in Athens. Preliminary topics for 2009 include: Watershed Level Planning, Pressures and Stakeholders; Water Resources Updates; Water Supply, Conservation and Efficiency; Hydrologic Alternation and Ecosystem Response; Energy and Water; and Legal Issues. Registration is currently open. To learn more, visit www.gwrc2009.com.

Tara Muenz Joins the Adopt-A-Stream Team
Tara Muenz joins the Adopt-A-Stream state office as its newest state coordinator beginning in January 2009. With a wealth of experience in environmental education as well as a background in conservation ecology and research, Tara's skills will be a valuable resource to the program.
Serving on the Adopt-A-Stream board since 2004, she looks forward to joining the program as a state coordinator noting, "Some of the main reasons I decided to join this group were because of the positive impact AAS makes by creating more awareness and strength in our communities, which, coupled with the thousands of dedicated volunteers, is extremely inspiring to me."
Tara's masters degree from UGA focused on aquatic ecology, and she spent two years as an environmental education coordinator at the Jekyll Island 4-H center. Most recently, she worked as the aquatic biology lead research technician at the Jones Ecological Research Center. She hopes to utilize her strengths, interacting with volunteers and bringing new ideas to Adopt-A-Stream in the future. Welcome, Tara!
For more information as well as the time and location of upcoming workshops visit www.GeorgiaAdoptAStream.org.
The Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Newsletter is published six times per year. For more information about the Georgia Adopt-A-Stream program or to contribute to the newsletter, call or write to:
Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Environmental Protection Division 4220 International Parkway, Suite 101 Atlanta, GA 30354 404.675.6240 www.GeorgiaAdoptAStream.org

Dragonfly

Riffle Beetle

Dobsonfly

Stonefly

Net Spinning Caddisfly