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Know Your
LAKE LANIER
Economic Stimulus +
Water Quality Protection
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NPDES + WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
International Erosion Control Association
US Drought Monitor
Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District
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Order Your Field Manual Today! |
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DUCKS UNLIMITED
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION THAT MAKES SENSE!
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Let Us Not Forget!
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GEORGIA's WATER UPDATE
Just in case you don't know.....
 On July 17, 2009, Judge Magnuson issued a 95 page ruling that is considered as favorable for Alabama and Florida. In a strict interpretation of the law, Magnuson ordered that Lake Lanier was not built for water supply, based on the Congressional Authorization issued in the 1940s. He did not address water allocation. Instead, Congress intended for water supply to be an "incidental" benefit. In other words, Metro Atlanta and downstream communities could make use of the water released by Buford Dam for water supply - not by withdrawing water directly from Lake Lanier. Further, releases from Buford Dam could not occur for the sole purpose of meeting water supply needs downstream.
Water is released from Buford Dam for a variety of purposes including hydroelectric power generation, flood control and navigation. The Judge also ordered that the Water Supply Act, (another legal instrument controlling the Corps' actions), does not allow the Corps to reallocate storage that "seriously affect" other project purposes...yet "seriously affect" was not defined in the ruling. MORE
---------------------------------------------------- Stormwater education provided in a way that makes sense for protecting our creeks, rivers, lakes and coastal areas, AND for a permittee trying to make a profit, is what we at the NPDES Training Institute are all about. We work hard to give you the best educational and motivating training experience that you will find anywhere! Call us at 678-469-5120 or signup on our new website at www.npdestraining.com | |
"The Instructor Promoted Construction and Water Quality Protection....how refreshing!"
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The City of Cumming and the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Settle Lawsuit
On February 10, 2010, the City of Cumming and the Upper Chattahoochee  Riverkeeper (UCR) settled a lawsuit filed against the city of Cumming for its violations of the federal Clean Water Act and the Georgia Erosion and Sedimentation Act. UCR filed the lawsuit after observing violations on the site of the city's future Aquatic Center.
The source of the dispute was the city's clearing of approximately 22 acres of land located less than 400 yards from Lake Lanier for a competitive aquatic center in 2008. While clearing the site, the city destroyed the vegetated buffer and stream channel of an 812-foot section of an unnamed tributary to Sawnee Creek, which flows into Lake Lanier, without adhering to the requirements of state and federal permitting programs. Currently, Lanier is the primary source of drinking water for metro Atlanta.
As a certified Local Issuing Authority (LIA), the city is responsible for administering and enforcing the same laws it failed to follow at the Aquatic Center site. "It's essential for local governments to serve as good examples of best practices and to follow the letter of the laws they are supposed to enforce," said a spokes person for UCR's technical programs.
Under the terms of the settlement the following measures will be taken on-site:
(1) The cleared site, which has been sending plumes of sediment downstream into the lake with every rain, will be completely stabilized.
(2) On each side of a 260 linear foot section of the tributary to Sawnee Creek, a 50-foot stream buffer will be restored and re-planted.
(3) The Aquatic Center site parking lot will be constructed of pervious paving materials over at least 60% of its square footage to allow storm water to infiltrate into the ground.
(4) Sediment will be removed from the tributary and Sawnee Creek.
(5) UCR will inspect the site every two weeks to ensure that all water quality regulations are adhered to during future construction.
In addition, the following environmental projects will benefit the community:
(1) The city will pay up to $100,000 to restore a degraded stream in Cumming City Park located on Pilgrim Mill Road with the installation of educational kiosks regarding the importance of streams and vegetated stream buffers. This project will improve water quality in the Chattahoochee River watershed and will offer a great educational opportunity for all park visitors.
(2) The city will pay $40,000 to the Sawnee Mountain Foundation to support environmental education tuition and programming at the nature center for approximately 1,500 elementary school students of Forsyth County with an emphasis on four Title I Elementary schools to ensure that underserved populations are afforded an opportunity to connect with the natural world.
(3) The city will pay $10,000 to the Turner Environmental Law Clinic of Emory University School of Law to support the representation of the public interest environmental community on water quality protection matters in Georgia.
 Water volume and water quality issues plague the metroAtlanta region. How Georgia's manages it's water issues will either encourage or discourage a strong future economy. Water is what it's all about! We all hope that the City of Cumming will also volunteer itself as a leader when it comes to preserving stormwater quality and ultimately it's stewardship of Lake Lanier! The City of Atlanta offers a great example, and has become a national leader regarding it's actions to preserve stormwater quality! |
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EPA and State of Georgia to Recognize $8.5 Million Recovery Act Wastewater Infrastructure Project in Lula, GA
Agree with it or not....updating our water treatment facilities is absolutely needed! Although we must also remember that our children will have to pay for projects like this. All that being said, we need to ensure these dollars are spent as wisely as possible!
 (ATLANTA - Feb. 16, 2010) On the year anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources will join the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA) to recognize an $8.5 million project funded through the ARRA in Lula, Ga. The wastewater infrastructure project is helping create green jobs, boost the local economy, improve aging water infrastructure and protect human health and the environment.
The President signed the ARRA on Feb. 17, 2009, and directed that the Recovery Act be implemented with transparency and accountability. To that end, the American people can see how every dollar is being invested at www.Recovery.gov
WHO: Stanley A. Meiburg, EPA Acting Regional Administrator; Mayor Milton Turner, City of Lula;
Dennis Bergin, City Manager; Phil Foil, Executive Director, Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA); and
Mark Beebe, Sr. Environmental Engineer, Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division.
WHAT: Wastewater Infrastructure Recovery Act Funds to the City of Lula
WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010, 1 p.m. EST |
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Looking outside of the Georgia world of water, you will find the CHATTACHOOCHE isn't the only river having some challenges! Canals and aqueducts that bring Colorado River water to Southern California are a key component of the state's backbone water infrastructure and an integral part of California's water supply. Water agencies that rely on the Colorado have committed billions of dollars to develop water management programs as part of California's overall strategy to live within its legal entitlement of 4.4 million acre-feet of Colorado River water per year.
In recent years, California has used as much as 5.37 million acre-feet (MAF) per year, even though its entitlement is only 4.4 maf plus 50% of any declared surplus. Growth in Nevada and Arizona are causing these states to use their full allotments of water, decreasing the surplus water available to California and putting more pressure on the state to live within the 4.4 MAF allotment. Programs to this end range from canal linings to water transfers to new groundwater storage projects, and are essential to achieving the region's long-term goal of maintaining a reliable supply from the Colorado River.
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APS Anionic POLYACRYLAMIDE
Soil Stabilization
Applied Polymer Systems, Inc.
Great Products by a Great Company with Great People!
 Most agree that the drought is over...NOW what are we going to do about it? In a fast-paced storm season, you need stabilization that works as soon as you put it on the ground, something that can hold up to every storm, all season long! Proper application of APS Silt Stop with conventional stabilization BMPs, from mulch and matting to seeding and sod, can provide superior stabilization on any soil type. Even beach sands can be stabilized for a hurricane force waves. These soil-specific polymers are designed to start working as soon as they hit the ground, so you know they will hold up, no matter when the storm is coming.
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Georgia EPD Enforcement
Facility: Cobb County Sewer System
Cause of Order: Major spill/fish kill to Sweetwater Creek State Park and into Sweetwater Creek tributary
Requirements of Order: Continue proper stream monitoring program for major spill, including sampling upstream/downstream of affected waters for appropriate parameters; samples collected, as required, are to be reported on 15th day following sampling period; submit copies of standard training procedures for staff training regarding handling of the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system and the programmable logic computer(PLC) communication problems; submit plan/schedule to reconfigure the PLC at Six Flags lift stations; provide plan/schedule to update the PLCs in all other lift stations
Date Posted: February 1, 2010
Settle Amount: $50,000 | |
Finding agreement on how stormwater dollars and enforcement is performed may be impossible, BUT although times can be tough, we all have an amazing life when compared to what most of the world faces every day. Let's not forget our US military men and women for the sacrifice they give daily! The next time you go driving, hiking, fishing or hunting, think a grateful thought, make a difference somewhere with someone, and give thanks and honor to our past and present military men and women!
This Newsletter is intended to be a useful tool for all individuals involved stormwater management, especially those on construction sites.
There is a lot happening now with water regulations! If you have areas of interest you would like to discuss, or areas of concern you would like included in this newsletter, please contact me at 678-469-5120.
Sincerely, 
President, GeoLOGIC Environmental Solutions, Inc.
Director, NPDES Training Institute
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