Water quality in Georgia, 2010/2011 [2010-2011]

WATER QUALITY IN GEORGIA 2010-2011
Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division

Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division 205 Butler Street, SE Floyd Towers East Atlanta, Georgia 30334

WATER QUALITY IN GEORGIA 2010-2011
Preface
This report was prepared by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division GAEPD, Department of Natural Resources, as required by Section 305(b) of Public Law 92-500 (the Clean Water Act) and as a public information document. It represents a synoptic extraction of the EPD files and, in certain cases, information has been presented in summary form from those files. The reader is therefore advised to use this condensed information with the knowledge that it is a summary document and more detailed information is available in the EPD files. This report covers a two-year period, January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2011. Comments or questions related to the content of this report are invited and should be addressed to:
Environmental Protection Division Georgia Department of Natural Resources Watershed Protection Branch 4220 International Parkway Suite 101 Atlanta, Georgia 30354
WATER QUALITY IN GEORGIA

WATER QUALITY IN GEORGIA

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

PAGE

Purpose.......................................................................................

1-1

Watershed Protection In Georgia.............................................................. 1-1

Watershed Protection Programs............................................................... 1-2

Background....................................... ................................

1-2

Comprehensive State-wide Water Management Planning................ 1-2

Watershed Projects................................................................. 1-2

Monitoring and Assessment..................................................... 1-2

Water Quality Modeling/Wasteload Allocation/TMDL Development..

1-2

TMDL Implementation...........................................................

1-3

Clean Water Revolving and Georgia Fund Loan Programs.................. 1-3

Metro District Planning ..........................................................

1-3

NPDES Permitting and Enforcement.......................................... 1-3

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations................................... 1-4

Zero Tolerance...................................................................... 1-4

Nonpoint Source Management Program..................................... 1-4

Stormwater Management......................................................... 1-4

Erosion and Sediment Control.................................................. 1-5

Major Issues and Challenges............................................................

1-5

CHAPTER 2 COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE WATER

MANAGMENT PLANNING

Legislation ...................................................................................

2-1

State Water Plan Development .. ......................................................

2-1

Statewide Water Plan Implementation.................................................

2-1

Introduction.........................................................................

2-1

Regional Water Planning Councils ................................................. 2-2

Forecasts of Water and Wastewater Demands ............................... 2-2

Water Resource Assessments ....... ........................................... 2-2

Regional Water Planning Highlights 2009-2011............................................. 2-3

Introduction........................................................................

2-3

Improving Information and Understanding Issues.............................. 2-3

Meeting Georgia's Water Resource Challenges................................. 2-4

CHAPTER 3 WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
Background................................................................................... Water Resources Atlas............................................................ Water Use Classifications and Water Quality Standards ................
Water Quality Monitoring.................................................................. Goals.................................................................................. Long-Term Ambient and Lake Tributary Monitoring...................... Intensive Surveys.................................................................. Biological Monitoring .............................................................. Lake Monitoring..................................................................... Fish Tissue Monitoring ......................................................... Toxic Substance Stream Monitoring.......................................... Aquatic Toxicity Testing..........................................................
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3-1 3-1 3-1 3-2 3-2 3-2 3-35 3-35 3-35 3-36 3-37 3-37

Coastal Monitoring................................................................. Facility Compliance Sampling................................................... Probabilistic Monitoring......................................................... Surface Water Quality Summary........................................................ Data Assessment.................................................................. Evaluation of Use Support .................................................... Assessment of Causes of Nonsupport of Designated Uses............ Assessment of Potential Sources of Nonsupport of Designated Uses.. Priorities for Action.................................................................

3-37 3-41 3-41 3-41 3-41 3-43 3-43 3-43 3-43

CHAPTER 4 WETLAND PROGRAMS

Extent of Wetland Resources............................................................

4-1

Wetland Trends in Georgia ........ ......................................................

4-3

Integrity of Wetland Resources..........................................................

4-3

Wetland Functions and Uses......................................................... 4-3

Wetland Monitoring................................................................ 4-6

Additional Wetlands Protection Activities.................................................. 4-6

Land Conservation.................................................................... 4-6

Education and Public Outreach................................................

4-7

State Wildlife Action Plan .................................................................... 4-7

Protection and Maintenance of Healthy Vegetated Stream Buffers...... 4-7

Protection of Isolated Wetlands..............................................

4-8

Protection of Headwater Streams............................................

4-8

Control of Invasive Species...................................................

4.8

Protection of Caves and Other Karst Environments........................... 4-9

Reducing Impacts from Development and Other Activities.................. 4-9

M.A.R.S.H. Projects........................................................................

4-9

CHAPTER 5 ESTUARY AND COASTAL PROGRAMS

Background...................................................................................

5-1

Georgia Coastal Management Program ..............................................

5-1

Public Health Water Quality Monitoring Program....................................

5-1

Shellfish Sanitation Program.............................................................

5-1

Beach Monitoring Program...............................................................

5-2

Nutrient Monitoring Program.............................................................

5-2

Coastal Streams, Harbors, and Sounds...............................................

5-3

Coastal Beaches............................................................................

5-3

Data Not Included in Assessment......................................................

5-3

Commercial and Recreational Fisheries Programs.................................

5-3

CHAPTER 6 PUBLIC HEALTH & AQUATIC LIFE ISSUES

Risk-Based Assessment for Fish Consumption............................................. 6-1

Fish Consumption Guidelines......................................................... 6-1

Mercury in Fish Trend Project .................................................

6-1

Evaluation of Fish Consumption Guidance for Use Support............ 6-2

General Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks................................ 6-2

Specific Waterbody Consumption Guidelines..............................

6-3

Special Notice for Pregnant Women, Nursing Mothers,

and Children......................................................................... 6-3

WATER QUALITY IN GEORGIA

Development of New Risk Communication Tools For Women of Child-bearing Age and Children................................................. 6-3 Recreational Public Beach Monitoring................................................... 6-3 Shellfish Area Closures....................................................................... 6-4 Cyanobacteria (Blue-Green Algae) Blooms............................................. 6-4

CHAPTER 7 WATESHED PROTECTION PROGRAMS
Program Perspective....................................................................... Comprehensive Statewide Water Planning........................................... Watershed Projects......................................................................... Water Quality Monitoring.................................................................. Water Quality Modeling/Wasteload Allocations/TMDL Development.......... TMDL Implementation................ ......................................... Clean Water State Revolving Loan and Georgia Fund Loan Programs ............ Metro District Planning...... ............................................................. Georgia's Land Conservation Program................................................ National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Program.. Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations............................................... Combined Sewer Overflows.............................................................. Compliance and Enforcement........................................................... Zero Tolerance.............................................................................. Storm Water Management................................................................. Erosion and Sedimentation Control.................................................... Nonpoint Source Management Program.............................................
Agriculture........................................................................... Silviculture ........................................................................... Urban Runoff........................................................................ Outreach Unit................................................................................ Georgia Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) Program............... Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Program..................................................... Emergency Response Network......................................................... Environmental Radiation..................................................................

7-1 7-2 7-2 7-2 7-3 7-3 7-4 7-4 7-5 7-5 7-6 7-6 7-6 7-7 7-7 7-9 7-10 7-12 7-13 7-15 7-16 7-17 7-18 7-20 7-20

CHAPTER 8 GROUNDWATER AND SURFACE WATER

SUPPLIES

Groundwater.................................................................................

8-1

Ground and Surface Water Withdrawals.............................................

8-19

Ground and Surface Drinking Water Supplies.......................................

8-21

LT2 And Stage 2 Issues .................................................................

8-22

Public Water Supervision Program ...................................................

8-22

CHAPTER 9 MAJOR ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

Comprehensive State and Regional Water Planning...............................

9-1

Nonpoint Source Pollution................................................................

9-1

Toxic Substances...........................................................................

9-2

Nutrients........................................................................................

9-2

Public Involvement..........................................................................

9-2

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TABLE 3-1 TABLE 3-2
TABLE 3-3
TABLE 3-4 TABLE 3-5 TABLE 3-6
TABLE 3-7 TABLE 3-8 TABLE 3-9 TABLE 3-10 TABLE 3-11 TABLE 3-12
TABLE 3-13
TABLE 3-14
TABLE 3-15
TABLE 3-16
TABLE 5-1 TABLE 6-1 TABLE 6-2 TABLE 6-3 TABLE 6-4
TABLE 8-1 TABLE 8-2 TABLE 8-3A TABLE 8-3B TABLE 8-4 TABLE 8-5

LIST OF TABLES

PAGE

Water Resources Atlas.................................................. 3-1

Water Use Classifications and Instream Water

Quality Standards for Each Use...................................... 3-2

Georgia Instream Water Quality Standards For All

Waters: Toxic Substances.............................................. 3-3

Water Quality Standards For Major Lakes.......................... 3-7

USGS Stream Gages Funded by GAEPD.......................... 3-10

Statewide Trend Monitoring Network (Core): Rivers/Streams 3-13

Lakes/Reservoirs Standard Tributary Stations

Georgia Trend Monitoring Network 2010........................... 3-16

Georgia Trend Monitoring Network 2011........................... 3-25

Major Lakes Ranked by Sum of Trophic State Index Values...... 3-36

Mercury in Fish Trend Monitoring Stations.....................

3-37

Beaches Monitored by CRD in 2010-2011.....................

3-38

Stations Monitored by CRD Under the Shellfish Sanitation

and Nutrient Monitoring Programs in 2010-2011.................. 3-39

Contributors of Water Quality Data For Assessment of

Georgia Waters............................................................ 3-42

Evaluation of Use Support by Waterbody Type and

Assessment Category 2010-2011.................................

3-43

Causes of Nonsupport of Designated Uses By Waterbody Type

2010-2011...........................................................

3-44

Potential Sources of Nonsupport of Designated Uses by

Waterbody Type 2010-2011............................................ 3-45

Location and Size of Areas Approved for Shellfish Harvest... 5-2

Parameters for Fish Tissue Testing.................................. 6-1

No Consumption Restrictions 2010................................ 6-5

Fish Consumption Guidance for Lakes 2010.................... 6-6

Fish Consumption Guidance for Rivers, Creeks and Estuarine ... 6-7

Systems2010

Major Sources of Ground Water Contamination.................. 8-3

Summary of State Ground Water Protection Programs......... 8-4

Summary of Ground-Water Monitoring Results CY2010......... 8-7

Summary of Ground-Water Monitoring Results CY 2001...... 8-7

Ground-Water Monitoring Data For CY2010..................... 8-8

Ground-Water Monitoring Data for CY2011...................... 8-8

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE 3-1 Georgia Trend and Lake Tributary Monitoring

Network (USGS & CWW) Station Locations 2010-2011............. 3-12

FIGURE 8-1 Hydrologic Provinces of Georgia....................................... 8-5

FIGURE 8-2 Ambient Groundwater Monitoring Network, 2010-2011........... 8-6

FIGURE 8-3 Insecticide/Herbicide Use in Georgia, 1980........................... 8-11

FIGURE 8-4 Areas Susceptible to Natural High Dissolved Solids

and 24 County Area Covered by the Interim Coastal

Management Strategy..................................................

8-12

FIGURE 8-5 Areas Susceptible to Natural and Human

Induced Radiation........................................................

8-14

WATER QUALITY IN GEORGIA

FIGURE 8-6 Generalized Map of Significant Groundwater Recharge Areas of Georgia.........................................................

8-18

APPENDICES
APPENDIX A WATERS ASSESSED FOR COMPLIANCE WITH DESIGNATED USES

WATER QUALITY IN GEORGIA

CHAPTER 1
Executive Summary

partners to protect water resources across the State.

Purpose
This report, Water Quality in Georgia, 20102011, was prepared by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GAEPD) of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The DNR Coastal Resources Division (CRD) and Wildlife Resources Division (WRD), the Georgia Forestry Commission, the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority, and the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission also contributed portions of the report. In addition, water quality data was provided by a number of governmental agencies, environmental groups and universities.
This report is often referred to as the Georgia 305(b) Report as portions of the report are prepared to comply with this section of the Federal Clean Water Act. The report describes water quality conditions of navigable waters across the State. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) uses the individual State reports to develop a national water quality inventory report, which is transmitted to the Congress of the United States.
This report provides an assessment of the water quality conditions of surface and groundwater in Georgia and includes a description of the nature, extent, and causes of documented water quality problems. This assessment of water quality problem areas serves as the basis for lists required by Sections 303(d), 314, and 319 of the Clean Water Act. The report also includes a review and summary of ongoing statewide water planning efforts; wetland, estuary, and coastal public health/aquatic life issues; and water protection, groundwater, and drinking water program summaries.
In addition to complying with the Federal Clean Water Act, the major objective of this report is to provide Georgians a broad summary of information on water quality and the programs being implemented by the GAEPD and its

Watershed Protection In Georgia
The GAEPD is a comprehensive environmental agency responsible for environmental protection, management, regulation, permitting, and enforcement in Georgia. The GAEPD has for many years aggressively sought most available program delegations from the USEPA in order to achieve and maintain a coordinated, integrated approach to environmental management. Today the GAEPD administers programs for planning, water pollution control, water supply and groundwater management, surface water allocation, hazardous waste management, air quality control, solid waste management, strip mining, soil erosion control, geologic survey activities, radiation control, underground storage tanks, and safe dams.
The Watershed Protection Branch of the GAEPD, in cooperation with many local, state, and federal agencies, coordinates programs to address most aspects of drinking water supply and water pollution control including: comprehensive statewide water planning; monitoring; water quality modeling to develop wasteload allocations and total maximum daily loads (TMDLs); TMDL implementation; the continuing planning process; water quality standards; local watershed assessment and watershed protection plans; nonpoint source management; erosion and sedimentation control; stormwater management; Clean Water State Revolving and Georgia Fund Loan programs; the NPDES permit and enforcement program for municipal and industrial point sources; water withdrawal and drinking water permits; water conservation; source water protection; industrial pretreatment; land application of treated wastewater; regulation of concentrated animal feedlot operations (CAFOs); and public outreach including Georgia Project Wet and Adopt-A-Stream programs.
The GAEPD has designated the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission as the lead agency for dealing with water quality problems caused by agriculture. The Georgia

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Forestry Commission has been designated by the GAEPD as the lead agency to deal with water quality problems due to commercial forestry operations.
Watershed Protection Programs
Background. Georgia is rich in water resources. The State has approximately 44,056 miles of perennial streams, 23,906 miles of intermittent streams, and 603 miles of ditches and canals for a total of 70,150 stream miles. The State also has 4.8 million acres of wetlands (9% tidally affected), 425,582 acres of public lakes and reservoirs, 854 square miles of estuaries, and 100 miles of coastline. This rich water heritage is often taken for granted. However, unusual events such as the flood in the summer of 1994 and drought conditions experienced throughout Georgia in 1986, 1988, 1999-2002, and 2007-2008 serve as reminders that water resources cannot be taken for granted and sound regulatory programs are necessary to protect these resources.
In 2010-2011, the GAEPD placed emphasis on comprehensive statewide water management planning, monitoring and assessment, water quality modeling and TMDLs, TMDL implementation, State revolving and Georgia Fund loan programs, NPDES permitting and enforcement, nonpoint source pollution abatement, stormwater management, erosion and sediment control and public participation projects.
Comprehensive State-wide Water Management Planning. In 2004 the Georgia General Assembly passed new water planning legislation to take the place of river basin planning. The 2004 Comprehensive State-wide Water Management Planning Act calls for the preparation of a comprehensive statewide water plan and provides fundamental goals and guiding principles for the development of the plan. The Statewide Water Plan was completed in 2008 and the Regional Water Councils completed plans in 2011. This work is discussed in Chapter 2.
Watershed Projects. The GAEPD is working with USEPA and South Carolina on several Savannah River projects; with the USEPA and the Alabama Department of Environmental

Management (ADEM) on water quality issues in the Coosa River and Lake Weiss; and with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Suwannee River Water Management District to coordinate water protection efforts in the Suwannee River Basin. Georgia is also working with Alabama and Florida, in cooperation with the Corps of Engineers, to develop agreements regarding the use of waters in the ACF and ACT River systems. This work is discussed in Chapter 7.
Monitoring and Assessment. Georgia's waters are currently designated as one of the following water use classifications: drinking water, recreation, fishing, coastal fishing, wild river, or scenic river. Specific water quality standards are assigned to support each water use classification. The quality of Georgia's waters is judged by the extent to which the waters support the uses (comply with standards set for the water use classification or designations) for which they have been designated. Water quality standards, monitoring programs, and information on assessments of Georgia's waters are discussed in Chapter 3. GAEPD's wetland monitoring program is discussed in Chapter 4 and estuary and coastal programs are discussed in Chapter 5.
Water Quality Modeling/Wasteload Allocation/TMDL Development. The GAEPD conducted a significant amount of modeling in 2010-2011 in support of the development of wasteload allocations and total maximum daily loads (TMDLs). In 2009, TMDLs were developed for segments on the Georgia 2008 303(d) list for the Ogeechee and Savannah River Basins and these TMDLs were finalized and submitted to EPA and approved in early 2010. In 2010, TMDLs were developed for segments on the Georgia 2010 303(d) list for the Ochlockonee, Satilla, St. Marys, and Suwannee River Basins. These TMDLs were finalized and submitted to EPA and approved in early 2011. In 2011, TMDLs were developed for segments on the 2010 303(d) list for the Altamaha, Ocmulgee, and Oconee River Basins. Over the 2010-2011 period, more than 46 TMDLs were developed. To date more than 1450 TMDLs have been developed for 303(d) listed waters in Georgia. This work is discussed in Chapter 7.

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TMDL Implementation. As TMDLs are developed, plans are needed to guide implementation of pollution reduction strategies. TMDLs are implemented through changes in NPDES permits to address needed point source improvements and/or implementation of best management practices to address nonpoint sources of pollution. TMDL implementation is discussed in Chapter 7.
Clean Water Revolving and Georgia Fund Loan Programs. In 2010-2011 more than 334 million dollars were obligated to communities for a variety of wastewater infrastructure and pollution prevention projects through the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) in the form of low-interest, SRF and Georgia Fund loans. The loan programs are discussed in Chapter 7.

local government in the District to issue, modify, or renew a permit, if such permit would allow an increase in the permitted water withdrawal, public water system capacity, or waste-water treatment system capacity of such local government, or any NPDES Phase I or Phase II General Stormwater permit; unless such local government is in compliance with the applicable provisions of the plan, or the Director certifies that such local government is making good faith efforts to come into compliance. This work is discussed in Chapter 7.
NPDES Permitting and Enforcement. Significant resources were allocated to wastewater discharge permit reissuance activities in 2010-2011. NPDES permits were modified or reissued to 164 municipal/private dischargers and to 115 industrial dischargers.

Metro District Planning. The Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District (District) was created on April 5, 2001 as a planning entity dedicated to developing comprehensive regional and watershed-specific plans to be implemented by local governments in the District. The enabling legislation required the District to develop plans for watershed management, wastewater treatment, and water supply and conservation in its 15-county area that includes Bartow, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Paulding, and Rockdale Counties and all the municipalities within the District. These plans are designed to protect water quality and public water supplies, protect recreational values of the waters, and to minimize potential adverse impacts of development on waters in and downstream of the region. These plans were updated in May, 2009.
Limited water resources combined with the region's growth places the District in a unique position relative to other areas in Georgia. With a finite water resource and a population of nearly 4 million and growing, the need to carefully and cooperatively manage and protect Metropolitan Atlanta's rivers and streams is a priority.
The EPD is charged with the enforcement of the District plans. State law prohibits the Director from approving any application by a

Compliance and enforcement activities continued to receive significant attention in 2010-2011. By the end of 2011, of 164 major municipal discharges, 159 facilities were in general compliance with limitations. The remaining facilities are under compliance schedules to resolve the noncompliance or implementing infiltration/ inflow strategies. Enforcement action has been taken by the GAEPD to insure problems are alleviated. Of 39 major industrial discharges, all facilities were achieving permit compliance at the end of 2011.
The GAEPD utilizes all reasonable means to attain compliance, including technical assistance, noncompliance notification letters, conferences, consent orders, and civil penalities. Emphasis is placed on achieving compliance through cooperative action. However, compliance cannot always be achieved in a cooperative manner. The Director of the GAEPD has the authority to negotiate consent orders or issue administrative orders. In 2010-2011, 357 Orders were issued and a total of $2,192,634 in negotiated settlements was collected. This includes enforcement actions for all aspects of the water protection program including violations of the Georgia Water Quality Control Act, the Federal Clean Water Act and NPDES permits, with the exclusion of stormwater violations. In 2010-2011 a total of 168 stormwater Orders were issued and a total of

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$954,616 in negotiated settlements was collected. Permitting, compliance and enforcement work is discussed in Chapter 7.
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations. Georgia adopted rules for swine feeding operations in 1999. Rules were adopted for animal (non-swine) feeding operations in 2001. During 2002 and 2003, rules were developed and implemented for large chicken feeding operations. Revisions of those rules, designed to reflect changes in the federal regulations and recent court decisions, are planned for 2012. Work was continued in 2010-2011 to implement this program. This process is discussed in Chapter 7.
Zero Tolerance. In response to a resolution adopted in 1998 by Georgia Department of Natural Resources that directed EPD to provide the "best quality of effort possible enforcing Georgia's environmental laws", a "zero tolerance" strategy was adopted for certain high growth areas of the state requiring enforcement action on any and all noncompliance issues. Significant work was conducted in 2010-2011 to implement this strategy. This process is discussed in Chapter 7.
Nonpoint Source Management Program. Nonpoint source management programs have allowed the GAEPD to place increasing emphasis on the prevention, control and abatement of nonpoint sources of pollution. The GAEPD is responsible for administering and enforcing laws to protect the waters of the State, defined to include surface and ground water and has been designated as the lead agency for implementing the State's Nonpoint Source Management Program. This program combines regulatory and non-regulatory approaches, in cooperation with other State and Federal agencies, local and regional governments, State colleges and universities, businesses and industries, non-governmental organizations and individual citizens.
Georgia's nonpoint source goals and implementation strategies are delineated in the State's Nonpoint Source Management Program. The Program is an inventory of the full breadth of current nonpoint source management activities (regulatory and nonregulatory) in Georgia.

The State's Nonpoint Source Management Program focuses on the comprehensive categories of nonpoint sources of pollution identified by the USEPA: Agriculture, Silviculture, Construction, Urban Runoff, Hydrologic/Habitat Modification, Land Disposal, Resource Extraction and Other Nonpoint Sources.
Under Section 319(h) of the Federal Clean Water Act, the USEPA awards a Nonpoint Source Implementation Grant to the GAEPD to fund eligible projects, which support the implementation of the State's Nonpoint Source Management Program. Section 319(h) Grant funds for the prevention, control and/or abatement of nonpoint sources of pollution of are made available annually to public agencies in Georgia. In FY10 FY11, Georgia's Section 319(h) grant project funded 50 new projects for over $9 million. The nonpoint source programs are described in Chapter 7.
Stormwater Management. The GAEPD developed its Storm Water Permitting Strategy in February 1991, and revised it in February 1997. Georgia's Phase II Storm Water Permitting Strategy was approved by USEPA in May 2000, and Phase II designation criteria was developed by GAEPD in July 2002. In 1994-1995 a total of 58 NPDES permits were issued to large and medium municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s). The 45 NPDES permits covering the Atlanta metro area were reissued in 1999, 2004, and 2009. The 13 NPDES permits for medium MS4s were reissued in 2000, 2005, and 2010. In December 2007, GAEPD reissued the NPDES General Permit for Phase II MS4s, and this permit currently regulates 87 cities and counties. In 2009, a General NPDES Permit was issued to seven Department of Defense (DOD) facilities. Two of the bases closed in 2011, reducing the number of permitted DOD facilities to five. In 2011, GAEPD issued a Phase II MS4 General Stormwater Permit to the Georgia Department of Transportation, which is applicable to post-construction runoff in jurisdictions with MS4 permits.
In 1993, a general NPDES permit for storm water associated with industrial activity was issued. This permit was most recently reissued in 2006, with approximately 2900 facilities

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retaining coverage. In addition, 600 industrial activity facilities have submitted an Industrial No Exposure Exclusion Certification Form.
Erosion and Sediment Control. The Georgia Erosion and Sedimentation Act was signed into law in 1975, and has been amended several times. The legislative intent of the Act was to establish a comprehensive and statewide soil, erosion and sedimentation control program to protect and conserve air, land and water resources through the adoption and implementation of local ordinances and programs which regulate certain land disturbing activities generally associated with urban development. EPD implements the program where there is no local ordinance.
The Act requires an erosion and sedimentation control plan and a land disturbing activity permit for sites 1 acre and greater. Erosion, Sedimentation & Pollution Control Plans must be reviewed and approved by the Soil and Water Conservation District or by the local issuing authority before the land disturbing activity permit can be issued. Buffers of 25 feet for warm water streams and 50 feet for trout streams are required by the Act for the protection of water quality. The Act provides for a variance from these buffers under certain circumstances. Variances can only be issued by EPD. Procedures and criteria for obtaining a stream buffer variance are outlined in DNR's Erosion and Sedimentation Control Rules and Regulations and become part of the Land Disturbing Activity Permit. The Act provides for monetary penalties of up to $2,500 per day, enforced by EPD or by the local issuing authority.
After several years of legal challenges, the NPDES General Permit for storm water from construction activities was successfully issued on June 12, 2000 and became effective on August 1, 2000. The permit was reissued on August 13, 2003 as three distinct permits; Stand alone, Infrastructure and Common Development, and required coverage for projects disturbing one acre or more. The permits were most recently reissued by GAEPD on August 1, 2008. The 2008 permits added additional requirements for projects that discharge to impaired stream segments and for projects that disturb 50 acres of more at

one time. The three general permits expire on July 31, 2013.
The Act was amended by House Bill 285 in 2003 to create an integrated permitting program for erosion and sedimentation control for land disturbing activities of one acre or greater, thereby standardizing the requirements for local Land Disturbing Activity Permits and the NPDES Construction Storm Water Permits. HB 285 also established a new, mandatory training and certification program for all individuals involved with erosion and sediment control. This program, continues to be administered by the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Since 2005, 68,660 individuals have been certified and 25,505 have been recertified. The third major component of HB 285 was to authorize the first NPDES permit fee program in Georgia. The bill authorized a fee of up to $80 per disturbed acre, with half of that amount to go to the local issuing authority. The Act was amended by Senate Bill 460 in 2004 to add three new criteria under which the EPD director can consider stream buffer variances. The Georgia Board of Natural Resources adopted amendments to the Erosion and Sedimentation Control Rules to implement the new criteria effective January 10, 2005. The Act was again amended in 2007 to give subcontrators an additional year to become certified under the mandatory training and certification program. The E&S Rules were amended in 2011 to add a new stream buffer variance criteria for projects that pipe or reroute waterways that are not jurisdictional waters of the U.S., and for new infrastructure projects that impact only the buffer and not the stream. Storm water management and erosion and sediment control are discussed in Chapter 7.
Major Issues and Challenges
Water Planning. Georgia is one of the fastest growing states in the nation. Between 2000 and 2010, Georgia gained 1.5 million new residents, ranking 4th nationally. The increasing population places considerable demands on Georgia's ground and surface water resources in terms of water supply, water quality, and assimilative capacity.

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In 2004 the Georgia General Assembly passed the "Comprehensive State-wide Water Management Planning Act", O.C.G.A. 12-5522, which called for the development of a statewide water management plan. Work was completed on the Statewide Water Plan and the plan was approved by the General Assembly and Governor Perdue in February 2008. In the three years since the adoption of the State Water Plan, more than 30.000 volunteer hours have been contributed and the State has invested $30 million in technical work and activities to support regional water planning. The Councils submitted initial recommended plans to the GAEPD in May 2011. The plans were publicly noticed and comments received were thoroughly reviewed. Appropriate revisions were made to the initial plans and final recommended regional water plans were submitted to the GAEPD in September 2011. On November 15, 2011, by action of Director Barnes, the GAEPD officially adopted all ten Regional Water Plans.
The regional water plans are not themselves an end. The plans present solutions identified by a cross-section of regional leaders, drawing on regional knowledge and priorities. The plans are based on consistent, statewide forecasts of needs and reflect the best available information on the capacities of Georgia's waters. The tools used to assess the capacities have been tested and refined, and will be further refined as the information for planning and management is improved. The process and results of regional planning, taken together, provide solid footing for plan implementation and the five-year review and revision required by the State Water Plan. It is now time to put the regional water plans into action, building on the progress made through collaboration within and among the Water Planning Councils and the Metro Water District. Water users, water providers, local governments, state agencies, and elected leaders all have an important role in actions to ensure that Georgia's waters are sustainably managed to support the state's economy, protect public health and natural systems, and enhance the quality of life for all citizens.
Nonpoint Source Pollution. The pollution impact on Georgia streams has radically shifted over the last several decades. Streams are no longer dominated by untreated or

partially treated sewage discharges which resulted in little or no oxygen and little or no aquatic life. The sewage is now treated, oxygen levels have returned and fish have followed. However, another source of pollution is now affecting Georgia streams. That source is referred to as nonpoint and consists of mud, litter, bacteria, pesticides, fertilizers, metals, oils, detergents and a variety of other pollutants being washed into rivers and lakes by stormwater. Even stormwater runoff itself, if rate and volume is unmitigated, can be extremely detrimental to aquatic habitat and hydrologic systems. Nonpoint source pollution, although somewhat less dramatic than raw sewage, must be reduced and controlled to fully protect Georgia's streams. Structural and nonstructural techniques such as green infrastructure, pollution prevention and best management practices must be significantly expanded to minimize nonpoint source pollution. These include both watershed protection through planning, zoning, buffer zones, and appropriate building densities as well as increased use of stormwater structural practices, low impact development, street cleaning and perhaps eventual limitations on pesticide and fertilizer usage.
Toxic Substances. Another issue of importance, the reduction of toxic substances in rivers, lakes, sediment and fish tissue. This is extremely important in protecting both human health and aquatic life. The sources are widespread. The most effective method to reduce releases of toxic substances into rivers is pollution prevention, which consists primarily of eliminating or reducing the use of toxic materials or at least reducing the exposure of toxic materials to drinking water, wastewater and stormwater. It is very expensive and difficult to reduce low concentrations of toxic substances in wastewaters by treatment technologies. It is virtually impossible to treat large quantities of stormwater and reduce toxic substances. Therefore, toxic substances must be controlled at the source.
Nutrients. Nutrients serve a very important role in our environment. They provide the essential building blocks necessary for growth and development of healthy aquatic ecosystems. However, if not properly managed, nutrients in excessive amounts can have detrimental effects on human health and

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the environment, creating such water quality problems as excessive growth of macrophytes and phytoplankton, harmful algal blooms, dissolved oxygen depletion, and an imbalance of flora and fauna. In Georgia, site specific nutrient criteria have been adopted for several major lakes and their tributaries. Some of these lakes are currently listed for chlorophyll a, which is the primary biological indicator in lakes for nutrient overenrichment. TMDLs, based on watershed modeling, have been completed or are in development to address the nutrient issues for these lakes. Currently, the GAEPD is in the process of collecting the necessary data and information for use in developing nutrient standards for rivers, streams and other waterbodies in Georgia. Determining the relationship of nutrient levels and biological response is necessary in order to develop appropriate nutrient criteria.
Public Involvement. It is clear that local governments and industries, even with wellfunded efforts, cannot fully address the challenges of toxic substances and nonpoint source pollution control. Citizens must individually and collectively be part of the solution to these challenges. The main focus is to achieve full public acceptance of the fact that what we do on the land has a direct impact on water quality. Adding more pavement and other impervious surfaces, littering, driving cars which drip oils and antifreeze, applying fertilizers and other activities and behaviors all contribute to toxic and nonpoint source pollution. If streams and lakes are to be pollutant free, then some of the everyday human practices must be modified. The GAEPD will be emphasizing public involvement; not only in decision-making but also in direct programs of stream improvement. The first steps are education and adopt-a-stream programs.

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CHAPTER 2
Comprehensive State-wide Water Management Planning
Legislation
Georgia's future relies on the protection and sustainable management of the state's water resources. In 2004 the Georgia General Assembly passed the "Comprehensive State-wide Water Management Planning Act", O.C.G.A. 125-522, which called for the development of a statewide water management plan. The legislation assigned the responsibility for developing the draft plan to the Georgia Environmental Protection (GAEPD) and established a planning oversight committee, the Georgia Water Council, composed of legislators, legislative appointees, and state agency heads with water related responsibilities. The legislation called for the GAEPD to submit an initial draft plan to the Water Council for review no later than July 1, 2007 and for the Water Council to provide input and modify the draft plan as necessary and approve and recommend a final draft plan no later than the first day of the regular session of the 2008 General Assembly.
State Water Plan Development
The process used to develop the draft statewide water plan provided for meaningful stakeholder participation. A Statewide Advisory Committee (SAC) was convened to provide statewide perspectives on water policy options. Technical Advisory Committees (TACs) provided early input, when needed by answering specific technical questions needed to inform water policy options. Seven Basin Advisory Committees (BACs) were appointed to provide a regional perspective on proposed policy options and management practices.
The initial draft of the statewide water plan, "Georgia's Water Resources: A Blueprint for

The Future" was submitted to the Water Council by the EPD on June 28, 2007. The Water Council approved the release of the initial draft and established a portal for public input at its website. The Council discussed and approved a number of revisions to the initial draft plan and a second draft of the plan was prepared and noticed for public input on September 13, 2007.
The Water Council hosted thirteen public meetings across Georgia in November 2007 and received significant public comment on the draft plan. The input was thoroughly reviewed and each change approved by the Council was made in the draft plan. A third draft of the plan was completed and noticed for public comment on December 5, 2007. The Water Council hosted six public meetings to discuss the revised water plan. Public input was reviewed and changes approved by the Water Council were made and a final draft of the plan was approved by the Water Council. This proposed plan, "Georgia Comprehensive State-wide Water Management Plan", was transmitted to the Georgia General Assembly for consideration on January 14, the first day of the 2008 regular session.
The Georgia General Assembly debated the provisions of the draft water plan and both chambers approved the plan. Governor Perdue signed HR1022, the Statewide Water Plan, on February 6, 2008. A copy of the plan is available at www.georgiawaterplanning.org.
State Water Plan Implementation
Introduction. The State Water Plan ushered in a new era of comprehensive regional water planning for Georgia. Isolated regional water planning efforts aimed at addressing localized water challenges had been attempted in several regions in Georgia since the early 1970s, but not until

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the 2004 directive from the Governor and Legislature had Georgia embarked upon statewide comprehensive regional water planning. The State Plan included several innovative concepts. One concept was the idea of appointing regional water planning councils whose responsibility would be to develop regional water plans. A second concept was the development of regional forecasts of water supply and assimilative capacity demands based on forecasts of population and employment for a region. A third concept was the development of water resource assessments to provide information to each Council on available water supply and assimilative capacity.
Regional Water Planning Councils. The regional water planning councils (Councils) represent regions in Georgia as designated in the State Water Plan and adjusted by approved petition. Each Council consists of individuals appointed by the Governor, Lt. Governor, and Speaker of the House. The Metropolitan North Georgia Regional Water Planning District, a separate water planning entity created by the legislature in 2001 will participate in the planning process consistent with the State Water Plan and its enabling legislation. A map of the water planning regions is shown below.

The role of the Councils is to prepare recommended Water Development and Conservation Plans (Regional Water Plans). These long-term regional water resource management plans will include resource assessments, estimates of current and future water needs, and those management practices necessary to meet the region's needs within the capabilities of the resources. More detailed information on each individual regional water planning council can be found at www.georgiawaterplanning.org.
Forecasts of Water and Wastewater Demands. In order for the Councils to produce regional water plans, forecasts of regional water and wastewater needs were required. Long-range population and employment projections were necessary inputs in order to forecast demand for regional municipal and industrial water and wastewater. Population and employment projections were provided to the regional water councils by the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget (OPB). Local governments and Councils were provided an opportunity to comment on the forecasts and the methodologies, assumptions, and data sources used to produce the projections. This input was considered prior to the use of the projections in the planning process. The information was then used in the preparation of water and wastewater demand forecasts for the following water use sectors: Municipal, Industrial, Agricultural, and Energy. The Councils received draft forecasts developed in10 year increments through 2050 for consideration and use in management practice selection. More detailed information on the population and employment projections and on the water and wastewater demand forecasts can be found at www.georgiawaterplanning.org.
Water Resource Assessments. Water resource assessments are also one of the foundational building blocks for regional water planning. The assessments included the compilation and analysis of data and modeling to evaluate the capacity of water resources to meet current and future demands for water supply and wastewater discharge without unreasonable impacts.

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The Georgia Environmental Protection Division, with the assistance of other state agencies, the University System of Georgia and other research institutions, the U.S. Geological Survey and contractors conducted water resource assessments to determine Surface Water Availability, Groundwater Availability, and Surface Water Quality (Assimilative Capacity).
In January and February 2010, assessments using current conditions for water use and wastewater discharge were provided to the regional water planning councils as a starting point for the development of recommended Regional Water Plans. More detailed information on the water resource assessments can be found at www.georgiawaterplanning.org.
Regional Water Planning Highlights 20092011
The following paragraphs are excerpted from the December 2011 report, "Georgia's Water Future in Focus: Highlights of Regional Water Planning 2009-2011" compiled by the GAEPD; full text available at www.georgiawaterplanning.org.
Introduction. In the three years since the adoption of the State Water Plan, more than 30.000 volunteer hours have been contributed and the State has invested $30 million in technical work and activities to support regional water planning. The Councils and the District have developed regional water plans that together provide a roadmap for sustainable use of Georgia's water resources. The Councils submitted initial recommended plans to the EPD in May 2011. The plans were publicly noticed and comments received were thoroughly reviewed. Appropriate revisions were made to the initial plans and final recommended regional water plans were submitted to the GAEPD in September 2011. On November 15, 2011, by action of Director Barnes, the GAEPD officially adopted all ten Regional Water Plans.
Local governments, utilities, industries, and other water users in each region will

implement the plans, and plan contents will help guide state agency decisions on water permits and loans for water-related projects. The following paragraphs provide highlights from the eleven regional water plans. The full plans contain more in-depth information and can be reviewed at www.georgiawaterplanning.org.
Improving Information and Understanding Issues. Homes, schools, businesses, and farms all require water, and the wastewater generated by some water uses has to be safely discharged. Understanding the demands on our water resources is a critical first step in managing Georgia's waters for the future. Forecasts of water and wastewater demand were prepared to support regional water planning, providing this information on a consistent. Statewide basis for the first time. Understanding the capacities of water resources to meet the demands placed on them is also critical to managing water for the future. Over the past three years, the GAEPD led the development of groundwater sustainability models for the most-heavily used aquifers in the state, surface water availability models for the State's major river basins, and water quality models for many streams and most of the large lakes in the state.
Building on prior investments in monitoring and assessment of Georgia's waters, this technical work filled critical information gaps. Results were tested against the knowledge of the Council members who live and work in each region, providing feedback used to refine the tools. The Councils and other participants also identified additional improvements to enhance the models for future use.
Results of these assessments show that, in most regions, additional groundwater is available to meet current and future groundwater needs. Two areas do face limitations on the availability of groundwater, the first is Southwest Georgia, where demand for groundwater exceeds the amount that can be sustainably withdrawn from the region's principal aquifer. The second area lies along the coast, where

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groundwater availability is limited by movement of saltwater into the principal aquifer. In these areas, additional demand for water will have to be met from surface water or from other aquifers.
For surface waters, results indicate that much of the state has sufficient water to meet future demands. In river basins with large reservoirs, existing surface water storage would help meet future needs if agreements allowing that use can be made with reservoir owners (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and power companies).
In some other river basins, however, there may not be enough water during dry periods to meet demands for water and have stream flows above minimum thresholds. These results provide a warning that water consumption may impact uses that rely on water within the banks of streams, rivers, and lakes, such as boating and recreation. Actions to increase water conservation and water supply will be particularly important in these areas.
Most of the surface waters studied will be able to handle additional discharges of treated wastewater. Some discharges, however, may have to provide higher levels of wastewater treatment in order to protect water quality.
In all water planning regions, assessments identified water bodies that currently have poor water quality, often due to the pollutants carried by stormwater. Results also identify areas where pollutants carried in stormwater runoff may cause water quality problems in the future. Actions are needed to protect or restore water quality in these streams, rivers, lakes, and estuaries.
Meeting Georgia's Water Resource Challenges. The regional water plans highlight issues specific to individual regions. Examples include operation of federal reservoirs, protection of recreational uses on lakes, wastewater discharges in waters shared with neighboring states, and water quality issues associated with low levels of dissolved oxygen. Where applicable, the plans recognize the

complementary activities that are underway to address these issues.
The regional water plans identify a range of actions or management practices to help meet the state's water challenges. In regions facing challenges with availability of surface water and groundwater, the plans recommend actions such as increasing water conservation and efficiency of use, master planning for local water systems, expanding or optimizing use of existing reservoirs, construction of new reservoirs where need and feasible, and shifting to alternate sources of water.
To address water quality challenges, some or all of the plans call for higher levels of wastewater treatment, master planning for local wastewater systems, improved floodplain management, and stream buffer protection, among other actions. The plans also identify strategies to address water quality problems that result from stormwater carrying pollutants into water bodies, including a funded nonpoint source management project in each region.
Implementing these plans is critical to meeting Georgia's water resource challenges. Local governments and others who develop water infrastructure and apply for permits, grants, and loans have a central role in plan implementation. State government also has an important role in supporting implementation, and, as emphasized in the plans, the success of implementation will rest, in large part, upon funding at state and local levels.
Continuing to improve data and information will also be important in meeting our water resource challenges. Over the past few years, the State made substantial investments in modeling tools and monitoring networks. However, information gaps and uncertainties still affected the Councils' ability to plan. The regional water plans all include specific actions necessary to improve the tools and information used in water planning and management.
An on-going regional voice in water planning will be another key to meeting Georgia's

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water resource challenges. Given the progress and needs identified to date, all plans recommend State actions to support on-going activity by the Water Planning Councils.
Finally, the regional water plans recognize the activities underway to promote water conservation, improve operations of federal reservoirs, address water quality in waters shared with other states, resolve interstate disputes over water supply, and meet a number of other region-specific challenges. The strategies in the plans reflect these complimentary activities and will be implemented in concert with them.
In summary, the regional water plans are not themselves an end. The plans represent solutions identified by a cross-section of regional leaders, drawing on regional knowledge and priorities. They are based on consistent, statewide forecasts of needs and reflect the best available information on the capacities of Georgia's waters. The tools used to assess the capacities have been tested and refined, and will be further refined as the information for planning and management continues to improve. The process and results of regional planning, taken together, provide solid footing for plan implementation and the five-year review and revision required by the State Water Plan.
The investment in these assets will continue to pay off over time, advancing management of Georgia's water to support the state's economy, protect public health and natural systems, and enhance the quality of life for all citizens.
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