Protect
Tools for River Protection
Federal and State Laws
Riparian Buffers
Riparian Buffers and Streambank Stabilization
Life at the Water’s Edge – A Guide to Stream Care in Georgia – This publication reviews simple stream care practices targeted at homeowners.
Field Guide for Determining the Presence of State Waters That Require a Buffer – September, 2006 (Scroll down the page and find this pdf under “Erosion and Sedimentation”)
Water Conservation
Learn ways to conserve water through the Clean Water Campaign at http://northgeorgiawater.org/conserve-our-water/
Alliance for Water Efficiency – Water efficiency information
Georgia Water Wise Council – The Georgia Water Wise Council encourages water conservation in every sector including manufacturing, the green industry, agriculture, commercial businesses, government, and the general public. Click here.
EPA Water Conservation Resources Click here
EPD Water Conservation Website – This site includes links to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), Water Conservation Requirements, Water Use and Conservation Facts, and Educational Tools.
Water Conservation Throughout the Home – Water conservation at home information Need Water Conservation Photo
Metro North Georgia Water Planning District – http://northgeorgiawater.org/
Check out Terrapin Beer Company’s efforts to conserve water – https://www.terraprint.beer/
Remove Dams and Impoundments
Clean Water Act and Permitting – For a general overview of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, click here! For a description of the 404(q) process (the process that kicks in when the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers disagree over issuing a permit), click here! Have you heard the term 401 certification? This is the process by which the State of Georgia gives water quality certification for a proposed permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. For more info, click here!
American Rivers has a dam removal data base that is now available to the public.
River Network has a great online tutorial to help you learn the ins-and-outs of the Clean Water Act.
Land Development
How to Win Land Development Issues (PDF)
A Landowners Guide to Conservation Incentives: Click here
EPA Report – Protecting Water Resources with Higher-Density Development – The U.S. Census Bureau projects that the U.S. population will grow by 50 million people between 2000 and 2020. Many communities are asking where and how they can accommodate this growth while maintaining and improving their water resources. This report helps guide communities through this debate to better understand the impacts of high- and low-density development on water resources. For free hard copies of any of these publications, please send an e-mail to ncepimal@one.net. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call (800) 490-9198. Electronic versions of these publications are available here.
Pollution
Sewage Spills – The Environmental Protection Division (EPD) provides information on municipal and industrial sewage spills reported to EPD. The spills report is posted at https://epd.georgia.gov/sewage-spills-report.
Visit the Clean Water Campaign’s website for residential and business solutions to make a difference for clean water.
http://cleanwatercampaign.org/protect-our-water/#residential-solutions
Watershed Management
Watershed Management
Wetlands
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has lots of great information and fact sheets about wetlands in general at: https://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands. As most (if not all) reservoir projects in Georgia have some impact on wetlands, the regulatory system related to wetlands applies as part of the reservoir permitting process.
126 South Milledge Avenue, Suite E3, Athens, Georgia 30605 | (706) 549-4508 (phone) | info@garivers.org