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Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Interbasin Transfers but Were Afraid to Ask Schemes for Grand Theft Water

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Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Interbasin Transfers but Were Afraid to Ask Schemes for Grand Theft Water Everything you ever wanted to know about interbasin transfers but were afraid to ask Schemes for Grand Theft Water Lake Burton Transfer:50 MGD to Raper Creek to Soque River to Chattahoochee River to Treatment Facility for Gwinnett County. Cost: $363 Million Lake Hartwell Transfer: 100 MGD to treatment facility for Gwinnett County Cost: $1.1 billion Tennesee River Transfer: 250 MGD to Metro Atlanta Cost: $2.1 billion South Georgia Wells Transfer: 200 MGD to Metro Atlanta Cost: $2.6 billion Interbasin Transfers in Georgia 2006 River Basin Water Gained (mgd) Water Lost (mgd) Net (+/- mgd)** Chattahooche e 24.1 79.5 -55.4 Coosa 1.3 24.1 -22.8 Flint 8.6 13.3 -4.7 Ocmulgee 73.6 0.0 73.6 Oconee 7.0 0.0 7.0 Tallapoosa 2.3 0.0 2.3 Source: Georgia Environmental Protection Division Interbasin Transfers in Georgia 2008 River Basin Water Gained (mgd) Water Lost (mgd) Net (+/- mgd)** Chattahoochee 20.6 67.3 -46.7 Coosa 6.9 16.6 -9.7 Flint 1.6 13.3 -11.7 Ocmulgee 61.8 0.0 61.8 Oconee 5.0 0.0 5.0 Tallapoosa 3.6 0.0 3.6 Tennessee 0.0 2.3 -2.3 Source: Georgia Environmental Protection Division % of flow at Rome Transfer in MGD during drought 25 MGD 5 % (Current Average Transfer) 35 MGD 6.7 % (highest daily during 2007) 70 MGD 13 % (proposed by Metro District at 2030) 150 MGD 29 % (permitted under last ACT agreement) **Flow is regulated by Allatoona and Carters Dams, so actual flows depend on releases from these dams. The Law: How Georgia Regulates Interbasin Transfers 391-3-6-.07 (14) Interbasin Transfer Permits In the consideration of applications for permits which if granted would authorize the withdrawal and transfer of surface waters a cross natural basins, the Director shall be bound by the following requirements: 1. The Director shall give due consideration to competing existing uses and applications for permits which would not involve interbasin transfer of surface water and, subject to subsection 391-3- 6-.07(6), shall endeavor to allocate a reasonable supply of surface waters to such users and applicants. (b) Public Notification. 1. A press release regarding the proposed issuance of a permit for interbasin transfer of surface water shall be given to newspapers of general circulation in the area which would be affected by such issuance. 2. The press release shall be issued at least seven (7) days before issuance of the permit. 3. If the Director determines sufficient public interest exists, he shall hold a hearing somewhere within the area affected prior to the issuance of the permit. The Director shall provide reasonable public notice of such meeting. Other IBT Regulation Interbasin Transfer Restriction in Law Creating Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District O.C.G.A 12-5-584 (f) reads: The district shall neither study nor include in any plan any interbasin transfer of water from outside the district area. Summary of IBT Regulations Summary of IBT Regulations 1. No Additional Regulations Beyond Regular Surface Water Withdrawal except… 2. Press Release in area impacted seven days prior to issuing permit 3. Prohibition Against Transfers into Metro Atlanta (loophole: nothing to prevent adjacent counties from joining the District) What we need in IBT Regulations EPD should consider the following questions when issuing an IBT Permit: 1. Has the Receiving Basin Met Conservation Goals? 2. Is the Receiving Basin Using Reclaimed or Recycled Water? 3. What are the alternative supplies? 4. What are the instream impacts? 5. Is the transfer cost effective vs. alternatives? 6. Is the transfer economically feasible vs. alternatives? 7. Are there environmental impacts? When & where are Interbasin Transfers Appropriate? The Aral Sea on June 4, 1977, Sept. 17, 1989, and May 27, 2006. Image courtesy of USGS. Australia’s Snowy River below diversion scheme that sends water out of the basin. Los Angeles Aqueduct with Owens Valley in the background The former bed of Owens Lake. LA plans to restore the lake. www.nowatergrabs.com Sign the Petition Now! .
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