Regional Water Councils and Implementation Actions

June 17, 2008

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Agenda

Regional Water Planning Councils

Implementation Actions

Regional Water Planning Councils

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Regional Water Planning Policy

Characteristics vary significantly in differing regions across Georgia

Protecting water resources to meet needs will require: – regional, resource-based plans

– that identify the management practices

– appropriate to the resources and users in each region

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Regional Water Planning Actions

Delineation of Water Planning Regions

Assessments

Designations of Councils

Rules and Guidance

Regional Water Development and Conservation Plans

Art by: Brittany ThomasGeorgia Winner

2005 River of Words

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Major Regional Planning Responsibilities

State Responsibilities

Promulgate planning rules

Provide planning guidance & technical assistance

Contract for professional services that support regional planning

Review & approve plans

Regional WPC Responsibilities

Oversee development of water development & conservation plans (WDCP)– Regional water needs forecasts

– Selection of mix of management practices

Adopt plan for submission to EPD

Periodic revisions to plan

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Planning Council Formation

Finalize geographic boundaries

Develop member qualifications

Call for nominations

Pre-qualification process

Appointments by Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker

Art by: Grace Wilhiotel2007 River of Words

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Geographic Reassignment

April 4, 2008 letter

Petitions due June 16, 2008

Justification factors– Current and future water source(s)– Current and future discharge location(s)– Split of long-standing water-related partnership– Documentation of consultation with other local

governments

Considerations– Geographic continuity of water planning regions– Consistency with hydrologic boundaries– Boundaries of other sub-state regions

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Water Planning Regions

25 Member Regional Water Planning Councils for each Water Planning Region

Gov., Lt. Gov., and Speaker to select Council members

MNGWPD boundaries set by state law

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Council Nominees

Collected by:– Environmental Protection Division

– Department of Agriculture

– Department of Community Affairs

– Department of Economic Development

State agencies will identify desired qualifications and experience

Nominees from business, agriculture, forestry, local government, educational, environmental, and other groups

Art by: Andrew Henderson

2007 River of Words

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Appointments

Appointments to each Council:– Governor: 13 members, 1 alternate

– Lt. Governor: 6 members, 1 alternate, 1 non-voting ex officio member from the Senate

– Speaker: 6 members, 1 alternate, 1 non-voting ex officio member from the House

4 shall be mayors or city council members

4 shall be elected officials of a county governing authority

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Council/EPD Memorandum of Agreement

Decision-making procedures

Provision of public sector involvement

Provision for an advisory body of local elected officials for input

Specifications for other advisory bodies, including meaningful public participation

Provision for consultation with local governments located outside the boundary

Procedures for coordination with DCA to ensure coordination with regional and local planning

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Rules and Guidance

Procedures for forecasting

Minimum requirements for public participation

Criteria for review of plans

Procedures and criteria for future review and revision

Procedures for providing state water plan funds to contractors to assist in plan development

Art by: Roxanne Addison2007 River of Words

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Plan elements (1 of 2)

Local governments, areas at the periphery

Major water users

Water sources and their conditions

Forecasts

Comparisons of forecasts with assessments

Recommendations for appropriate management practices

Art by: Heather Rutt2007 River of Words

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Plan elements (2 of 2)

State Energy Strategy consideration

Proposals for addressing data and information needs

Benchmarks for assessment of plan effectiveness

State actions

Other

Art by: Chieh Yin2007 River of Words

Implementation Actions

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2008 2010 2011

State Water Plan Implementation

2009State Fiscal Years

Resource Assessments

Regional Planning

Water Development and Conservation Plans

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2008

Phased Implementation of Water Plan

State Fiscal Years

Wat

er R

esou

rce

Ass

essm

ents

Reg

ion

al

Pla

nn

ing

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Regional Planning

Water Resources Assessments

Regional Planning

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Water Resource Assessments

What are the capacities of our water resources?

Resource Assessments

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2008 2010 2011

Water Resource Assessments

2009

Capacity Analyses

State Fiscal Years

Data and Standards

Status and Condition Assessments

Surface water qualitySurface water quantityGroundwater

Data managementDissolved oxygen standardsFecal coliform standard

Surface water qualitySurface water quantityGroundwater

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Regional Planning

What are our needs?

What best practices do we want to employ to close the gap between capacities and needs?

Regional Planning

Water Development and Conservation Plans

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2008 2010 2011

Regional Planning

2009

Regional Plan Development

State Fiscal Years

PlanningGuidance

Economic/PopulationForecasts

Form RegionalCouncils

Population EmploymentWater /wastewater

Planning GuidanceManagement Practices

Water Development and Conservation Plan DevelopmentPlan review and approval

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2008 2010 2011

Summary Schedule

2009

Regional Plan Development

Capacity Analyses

State Fiscal Years

Data and Standards

Status and Condition Assessments

PlanningGuidance

Economic/PopulationForecasts

Form RegionalCouncils

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Key Near-term Activities

Water Resource Assessments

Data management

Status and condition field measurements

Guidance Document preparation

Forecasting

Regional Water Planning Council formation

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How can I get involved?

Water Planning Council member

Technical advisory groups (ad hoc)– Various technical topics (monitoring plan,

aquifer storage and recovery are examples)

Review of documents– Will be posted on web

Plan review

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