Principal Investigator: James L. Cooley (University of Georgia)
Principal Investigator: Gail M. Cowie (University of Georgia)
Sponsor: GWRI
Start Date: 1989-04-01; Completion Date: 1989-04-01;
Keywords: watershed protection, watershed management, land use, planning, municipal water, water supply, water quality, water quality management
Description:
In Georgia, recent years have seen an increasing emphasis on watershed protection as a critical component of water supply planning. Effective watershed management requires significant action at the local level. However, many local officials have limited understanding of water quality protection techniques and methods for planning watershed management programs. The objective of this research was development of guidelines, clearly useful to local officials, for watershed protection planning at the local level. Development of guidelines began with a survey of existing watershed protection programs in the Southeast. Preliminary elaboration of a planning process was based on evaluation of thirteen proposed water supply watersheds in Northeast Georgia. The planning process was further refined through detailed analysis of three of these watersheds. Results for the study watersheds are presented with specific discussion of considerations in watershed protection planning.
As defined through this research, the planning process has seven distinct portions: 1) preliminary statement of objectives; 2) watershed assessment; 3) highlighting of areas that require particul~ attention in the management program; 4) refining objectives with public input; 5) definition of alternative watershed protection packages; 6) screening to select the preferred alternative; and 7) planning for implementation and evaluation of program effectiveness. Several components are fundamental to this planning process and make it adaptable to water supply watersheds across north Georgia. First, the process needs to be individually applied to specific watersheds. Second, a variety of technical solutions to watershed protection problems exist. For a watershed protection program to be effective, specific solutions for particular watersheds must be defined by citizens and officials from the locality. Finally, public education and participation is integral to successful application of the watershed protection planning process.