Department of Community Affairs Office of Environmental Management Oversees solid waste management planning, recycling, household hazardous waste, the Keep Georgia Beautiful Program, and provides education, assistance and technical support for water quality and quantity issues
A Community Based Water Initiative
What is the WaterFirst Community Program? A partnership between local governments, state agencies and other organizations led by DCA, working together to increase the quality of life in communities through wise management and protection of water resources A proactive approach to water resources that emphasizes the connection between land use and water quality and quantity Recognizes and rewards communities pursuing environmental excellence beyond what is required by law
The WaterFirst designation process includes a rigorous committee review and assessment of a community s water management programs for: 1. Watershed Assessment; 2. Stormwater Master Planning; 3. Water Supply Planning; 4. Water Supply Protection; 5. Water Conservation; 6. Wastewater Master Planning; 7. Water Reclamation and Reuse.
Designated WaterFirst Communities Cobb County and Cobb-Marietta Water Authority Gwinnett County City of Savannah Clayton County and Clayton Water Authority City of Hartwell Columbus Consolidated Government and Columbus Water Works City of Tybee Island Town of Braselton
Benefits offered through the WaterFirst Program 1. Statewide recognition as a WaterFirst Community 2. 1% interest rate reduction on GEFA state funded loans 3. Ability to apply every year for Community Development Block Grants for water related projects 4. Receive priority on 319 Grant Applications 5. Resources and tools to help meet community goals 6. Assistance to help link land use and water protection strategies, prioritize community water related needs and find finances to support those needs
Georgia Growth Readiness Program Part of a larger Urban Nonpoint Source Reduction Program to develop the capacity of local governments to address urban water quality issues on a watershed basis The goal is to help local governments identify and implement changes to their codes and ordinances to encourage environmentally-friendly development practices
Georgia Growth Readiness Program Growth Readiness pilot program in north Georgia is a joint effort of DCA, Tennessee Valley Authority and the Southeast Watershed Forum North Georgia mountains are attracting vacation and retirement homes, land prices are soaring, and development is increasing The beauty and natural resources that attract people are the very things at risk from poorly planned growth
NW GA Counties Dade Walker Catoosa Chattooga Watersheds Upper Coosa Oostanaula Guntersville Lake Middle Tenn Chickamauga NE GA Counties Fannin Union Towns Rabun Watersheds Tugaloo Hiwassee Ocoee Upper Little Tennessee
What can communities do? Consider land use effects on water quality when: planning for community growth designing development guidelines implementing projects Narrower streets with no curb and guttering reduce runoff and encourage infiltration
Model Development Principles Streets and Parking 1. Street Width 2. Street Length 3. Right-of-Way Width 4. Cul-de-sacs 5. Vegetated Open Channels 6. Parking Ratios 7. Parking Codes 8. Parking Lot Design 9. Structured Parking 10. Parking Lot Runoff Lot Development 11. Open Space Developments 12. Setbacks and Frontages 13. Sidewalks 14. Driveways 15. Open Space Management 16. Rooftop Runoff Natural Areas 17. Aquatic Buffers 18. Buffer Maintenance 19. Clearing and Grading 20. Tree Conservation 21. Conservation Incentives 22. Storm water Outfalls Center for Watershed Protection
Next Steps Follow-up activities to assist participants with presenting their recommendations to local government decisionmakers and other interested parties Growth Readiness workshops are being planned for the Etowah Habitat Conservation Plan area north of Atlanta
Keep Georgia Beautiful organizes the annual Winning Water Children s Water Festival In 2004, over 1,300 students and teachers and 250 presenters and volunteers from the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, and Flint River Basins met in Columbus for the first watershed-based children s festival in Georgia 2005 Festival in Dalton for the Coosa, Tallapoosa and Tennessee River Basins attended by 1,600 students and teachers and 200 presenters and volunteers. 2006 Festival in Athens for the Upper Oconee and Upper Savannah River Basins attended by 1,100 students and 200 presenters and volunteers The 2007 Festival will be held March 22 in Macon for the Lower Oconee and Ocmulgee River Basins
A variety of hands-on activities teach students about groundwater, surface water, drinking water, and water quality
Litter impacts our waterways by destroying the state's natural beauty, harming or killing wildlife and diminishing water quality
Georgia Phase II Stormwater Program Development Meetings DCA helped prepare Phase II cities and counties to meet EPD s municipal stormwater management permit requirements for: Public Education & Outreach Public Participation & Involvement Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination Construction Site Runoff Control Post-Construction Runoff Control Pollution Prevention & Good Housekeeping
DCA also provided funding to Regional Development Centers to assist local governments with GPS location and GIS mapping of stormwater outfalls
A charrette is a tool to provide decision makers and citizens alike with a menu of concepts for sensitive change For three days students, practitioners and faculty from the University of Georgia and DCA converged on Tybee for this intensive process Looked at existing conditions and environmental regulations to identify areas for improvement
Provided planning and design of stormwater management solutions at 11 sites
Department of Community Affairs Office of Environmental Management - Resources Local Government Water Resources Toolkit CD and online Wide variety of water quantity and quality topics Statewide distribution to elected officials Land-Water Link: GIS Resources Water Quality Information Community Facilities Watershed Awareness
For more information, go to the DCA web site at www.dca.state.ga.us