ACF STAKEHOLDERS: OVERVIEW AND PANEL DISCUSSION

Georgia Environmental Conference Savannah, GA August 2012 ACF – The Issue Can the diverse users of the ACF Basin act cooperatively to create sustainable solutions among stakeholders that balance economic, ecological, and social values in the sharing of this natural resource? MISSION

To change the operation and management of the ACF Basin to achieve:

— Equitable solutions among stakeholders that balance economic, ecological, and social values

— Viable solutions that ensure that the entire ACF Basin is a sustainable resource for current and future generations

ACF STAKEHOLDERS Working Together to Share a Common Resource GOALS

1. Ensure adequate water supplies for municipal uses

2. Promote water availability for future economic interests

3. Promote the optimization of water use for agriculture

4. Determine the extent of commercial navigation

5. Protect natural systems

ACF STAKEHOLDERS Working Together to Share a Common Resource grassroots group representing ALL water users in the river system

56 Members – 14 Interest Caucus Representaves per sub-basin Consensus is crical. ACFS members seek to understand one another’s interests as they work together, but accept that their interests will differ. Consensus ensures no stakeholder interest is le out. PROGRESS

• People continue to show up at meetings • Selection of Facilitation Support • Consensus on a scope of work and contractors for developing a Sustainable Water Management Plan and In-stream Flow Assessment • Formation of Technical Oversight Work Group • $950,000 of $ 1.5 Million Raised • Research on Institutional Options for Basin- Wide Management ACF STAKEHOLDERS Working Together to Share a Common Resource Sustainable Water Management Plan

— Development of SWMP Work Plan — Developing model inputs (unimpaired flows data, water demands data) — Tailoring model for SWMP — Identifying performance metrics by which to evaluate model outputs

ACF STAKEHOLDERS Working Together to Share a Common Resource In-Stream Flow

• Selected contractor for IFA • Completed literature and data review • Recommended approaches to in-stream flow analysis for riverine and estuarine parts of ACF System • Identifying target riverine resources and their flows needs

ACF STAKEHOLDERS Working Together to Share a Common Resource Where are we now?

OVERALL SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN TASKS 1. Work Plan

2. Problem Definion/Performance Indicators

3. Tailoring of Models to Indicators (ACF-DSS and ResSim)

4. Data and Informaon

5. Development of Water Management Alternaves

6. Conduct Iterave Basin Assessments 7. Seek Consensus

8. Report and Study Disseminaon

NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB Next Steps

— Incorporate riverine in-stream flow needs into SWMP model performance metrics — Select approach to evaluate in-stream flow needs for estuarine ecology — Agree on model inputs including unimpaired flows and water demands (UIF Workshop: September 10) — Explore innovative Water Management Alternatives (Sept. 13 expert panel) — Conduct baseline model runs and describe system current conditions Please join us today! Become an ACFS member.

www.acfstakeholders.org Issues of Concern to the Upper Chattahoochee ACF Stakeholders

Jerri Russell, P.E. City of Upper Chattahoochee Basin

• Headwaters of Chattahoochee almost to • Rural and metro areas • Lake Lanier • Upstream end of the basin • 5.3 percent of the ACF Basin land area • 60 percent of the federal reservoir storage • Small watershed • Slow to refill http://www.lawrencevilleweather.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/102207.jpg Everyone has the Same Desires

• Mother Nature to provide water • Water available in desired quantity • Water available at desired time

www-math.ucdenver.edu

coloring-pages.ws The Balancing Act

• Within our Basin • Up and Down the River • Taking Water Out vs. Leaving Water In • Quantity & Timing Taking Water Out

• Water Supply • Local Government • Industry and Manufacturing • Hydro Power • Thermal Power • Business/Economic Development • Farming and Urban Agriculture

chriskresser.com • Peak flows • Current needs • Growth and development Keeping Water In

• Environmental and Conservation • Recreation • Water Quality • Hydro Power • Local Government • Business/Economic Development

• Peak flows Lake Lanier Small Watershed = Slow Refill & High Vulnerability

• Nobody wants the reservoir to run dry

• Some parties are impacted a whole lot sooner than others Perception vs. Reality

• Much of the time adequate water is available • Metro Atlanta is not using up all of the water • Billions are being spent to improve our resource utilization • Major conservation is occurring • There are better ways to operate the river Acknowledgments

• The Upper Chattahoochee Basin Members • The Chattahoochee Riverkeeper • Laura Hartt • Joe Cook • Tom Wilson • Glenn Page

Sustainability in the Basin

A delicate balance between the ability of humans to improve lifestyles and prosper while being good stewards of our natural resources and environment now, and as a legacy for future generations Flint Basin Landscapes and Hydrology North South

Middle ’s Populaon Is Now More than 12 Million People In The Flint Basin, Agricultural Use Of Water Has Drascally Changed

More than 1,000,000 acres in crop production Water Resources Challenges In The Flint

• N. Ga expansion and need for more water

• Agricultural land expansion & irrigation overdevelopment

• Changing climate and recurring drought

• Loss of aquatic habitat

• State line flows

Apalachicola Subbasin Caucus Apalachicola- Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) River Basin

• 19,600 Sq Mi Basin • - Corps operates 5 Federal Reservoirs • Flint River - Breadbasket of the SE • Uses include: Hydropower, Flood Control, Water Supply, Navigation, Ag, M&I, Water Quality, Cooling, Recreation and Floodplain

Largest forested floodplain in (112,000 acres)

Highest Species Diversity of any River System in North America

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

Outstanding Florida Water (OFW) Productivity/Harvest Ø $200,000,000 Local Seafood Industry, 90% of Florida Oysters, 10% of US oysters, + Shrimp, Crab and Finfish.

Ø In 1994, Five Million lbs. of Seafood were produced from the Apalachicola Bay region.

Ø 90% of all harvested species must spend some part of their life cycle inshore on the marsh and seagrass environment, even the grouper caught offshore must rely on this healthy environment. 2007 Flow in relation to Average Flow Apalachicola River at Chattahoochee, FL

45,000

40,000

35,000

30,000

25,000

20,000 Average flow 15,000 1922-2007

10,000 2007 flow Flow, in second cubicper feet 5,000

0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Summary of Major Impacts: DECLINING RIVER STAGE Down cutting & Widening Woody debris removal Loss of Fish Habitat Reduced flow

DRYING OUT OF FLOODPLAIN FOREST Decrease in Forests Density Loss of 4 million trees Disconnected Sloughs

DECLINING SEAFOOD HARVEST River functions drives the Bay Loss of Nutrients and increased Salinity Chain reaction thru Food Chain

ACF In-stream Flow Assessment

A Downstream Perspective

ACF STAKEHOLDERS: OVERVIEW AND PANEL DISCUSSION

Georgia Environmental Conference Savannah, GA August 2012