Georgia Flint River Basin Plan
Stakeholder Advisory Committee, Permitting Recommendations, Final as of November 14, 2005 (PDF)
The
Flint River Regional Water Development and Conservation
Plan, announced on October 23, 1999, will be completed in
December 2005. The Plan will involve a comprehensive review
of water development, conservation, and sustainable use
and will be based on detailed scientific analysis. It will
also serve to promote the conservation and reuse of water,
guard against a shortage of water, and promote efficient
use of the water resource. (OCGA 12-5-31)
Flint River Basin - Baker County, Georgia |
The Flint River
Plan was launched in response to hydrogeologic studies that
suggested a severe impact on flows in the Flint River and
its tributaries due to agricultural irrigation. In response
to these studies, EPD placed a moratorium on new agricultural
withdrawal permits from the Floridan aquifer in southwest
Georgia and on all agricultural surface water withdrawal permits
for the entire Flint River Basin.
One of the major goals of the Flint River Plan will be to
address the moratorium to determine whether it can be lifted
in whole or in part, if at all. Another major goal of the
Plan will to establish a “safe yield” for the
stream-aquifer system of the lower Flint River Basin. |
As required by State law, the Flint River Plan must be based on
detailed scientific analysis. The Flint River Plan will involve
the input of a Technical Advisory Committee made up of scientists
and specialists who have been working extensively in the Flint River
Basin. This committee will provide technical assistance to a Stakeholder
Advisory Committee composed of farmers and other stakeholders from
southwest Georgia who have a
strong interest in sustainable water management of the Flint River
Basin. The Stakeholder Advisory Committee will, in turn, give input
to EPD in the development of water management policy for the Flint
River Basin.
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