WATER QUALITY IN GEORGIA 2004-2005 Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 – EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PAGE Purpose…………………………………………………………………………… 1-1 Water Protection In Georgia………………………………………………….…. 1-1 Water Protection Programs...…………………………………………………… 1-3 Background………………………………… ………………………….. 1-3 Comprehensive Statewide Water Management Planning..……..…... 1-3 Watershed Projects...………………………………...………………….. 1-3 Monitoring and Assessment…………………………………………….. 1-3 Water Quality Modeling/Wasteload Allocation/TMDL Development.. 1-4 TMDL Implementation Plan Development..……………..…………….. 1-4 State Revolving Loan Fun...…………………………………………….. 1-4 GEFA Implementation Unit...…………………………………………… 1-4 NPDES Permitting and Enforcement….……………………….………. 1-5 Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations…………………………….. 1-6 Zero Tolerance....………………………………………………………… 1-6 Nonpoint Source Management Program………………………………. 1-6 Stormwater Management...……………………………………………... 1-7 Erosion and Sediment Control……………………………….…………. 1-8 Major Issues and Challenges…………………………………………………… 1-9 CHAPTER 2 – COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE WATER MANAGMENT PLANNING Background ……………………………………………………………….…….. 2-1 Major Water Management Planning Objectives …………………..……..…... 2-3 Minimize Withdrawals..………………………………………………….. 2-3 Maximize Returns..………………………………………………………. 2-3 Meet Instream and Offstream Demands...…………………………….. 2-4 Protect Water Quality.…………………………………………………… 2-5 Stakeholder Participation...……………………………………………………… 2-6 The Water Council..……………………………………………………… 2-6 Statewide Advisory Committee..……………………………………….. 2-7 Technical Advisory Committees..………………………………………. 2-8 Basin Advisory Committees..…………………………………………… 2-8 Tasks and Milestones..………………………………………………………….. 2-8 CHAPTER 3 – SURFACE WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT Background……………………………………………………………………….. 3-1 Water Resources Atlas…...……………………………………………... 3-1 Water Use Classifications and Water Quality Standards ....………… 3-1 Water Quality Monitoring………………………………………………………... 3-4 WATER QUALITY IN GEORGIA Goals…………………………………………………………………….… 3-4 Trend/River Basin/TMDL Monitoring…………………………………… 3-4 Intensive Surveys………………………………………………………… 3-16 Biological Monitoring …..…………………………………………………3-16 Lake Monitoring……...…………………………………………………… 3-16 Fish Tissue Monitoring ………………………………………………… 3-31 Toxic Substance Stream Monitoring…………………………………… 3-31 Aquatic Toxicity Testing…………………………………………………. 3-32 Coastal Monitoring……………………………………………………….. 3-32 Facility Compliance Sampling……………………………………….….. 3-32 Surface Water Quality Summary……..………………………………………… 3-33 Data Assessment………………………………………………………… 3-33 Fecal Coliform Bacteria………………………………………………….. 3-33 Metals……………………………………………………………………… 3-35 Toxicity Testing/Toxic Substances…..…………………………………. 3-35 Dissolved Oxygen, pH, Temperature………………………………….. 3-35 Fish/Shellfish Guidelines………………………………………………… 3-36 Biotic Data………………………………………………………………… 3-36 Evaluation of Use Support ……………………………………………. 3-36 Assessment of Causes of Nonsupport of Designated Uses………… 3-37 Assessment of Potential Sources of Nonsupport of Designated Uses……………………………………………………… 3-37 Priorities for Action……………………………………………………….. 3-37 CHAPTER 4 – WETLAND PROGRAMS Introduction...……………………………………………………………………... 4-1 Extent of Wetland Resources…………………………………………………… 4-2 Wetland Trends in Georgia………………………………………………………4-3 Integrity of Wetland Resources…………………………………………………. 4-4 Wetland Use Support……………………………………………………. 4-4 Wetland Monitoring………………………………………………………. 4-8 Additional Wetlands Protection Activities.……………………………………... 4-8 Land Acquisition………………………………………………………….. 4-8 Education and Public Outreach………………………………………… 4-9 State Protected Species in Wetlands...………………………………... 4-9 Managing Wetlands on State Owned Properties……………………... 4-10 Assessment of DNR Managed Wetlands……………………………… 4-11 CHAPTER 5 – ESTUARY AND COASTAL PROGRAMS Background……………………………………………………………………..… 5-1 Water Quality Monitoring………………………………………………………... 5-1 Shellfish Sanitation Program……………………………………………………. 5-2 Beach Monitoring Program …………………………………………………….. 5-3 WATER QUALITY IN GEORGIA Nutrient Monitoring Program……………………………………………….…… 5-5 National Coastal Assessment…………………………………………………... 5-5 Comprehensive Monitoring/Assessment Study for Georgia Coastal Wetlands…………………………………………………... 5-6 Commercial and Recreational Fisheries Programs…………………………... 5-6 Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve………………………... 5-10 Coastal Zone Management……………………………………………………... 5-10 CHAPTER 6 – PUBLIC HEALTH/AQUATIC LIFE ISSUES Fish Consumption Guidelines…………………………………………………... 6-1 Background……………………………………………………………….. 6-1 Fish Monitoring Program ……………………………………………… 6-1 Evaluation of Fish Consumption Guidance for Use Support………… 6-2 Risk-Based Assessment For Fish Consumption……………………… 6-3 General Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks………………………….. 6-3 Specific Waterbody Consumption Guidelines………………………… 6-4 Special Notice for Pregnant Women, Nursing Mothers, and Children………………………………………………………………. 6-4 Development of New Risk Communication Tools……………………..6-4 Bathing Area Monitoring………………………………………………………… 6-9 Shellfish Area Closures…………………………………………………………. 6-9 Pollution Related Fish Kills……………………………………………………… 6-10 CHAPTER 7 – WATER PROTECTION PROGRAMS Program Perspective…………………………………………………………….. 7-1 Comprehensive Statewide Water Planning…………….………………………7-2 Watershed Projects……………………………………………………………….7-3 Water Quality Monitoring………………………………………………………... 7-3 Water Quality Modeling/Wasteload Allocations/TMDL Development…….… 7-3 TMDL Implementation Plan Development ………………………………….. 7-4 State Revolving Loan/Construction Grants …………………………………… 7-4 Georgia’s Land Conservation Program…………………………………………7-6 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Program…………………………………………………………………... 7-7 Concentrated Animal Feeding Program……………………………………….. 7-8 Combined Sewer Overflows…………………………………………………….. 7-9 Compliance and Enforcement………………………………………………….. 7-10 Zero Tolerance…………………………………………………………………… 7-11 Stormwater Management……………………………………………………….. 7-12 Erosion and Sedimentation Control……………………………………………. 7-15 Nonpoint Source Management Program……………………………………… 7-17 Agriculture………………………………………………………………… 7-21 WATER QUALITY IN GEORGIA Silviculture ………………………………………………………………... 7-25 Urban Runoff………………………………………………………………7-27 Georgia Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) Program…………… 7-31 Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Program…………………………………………….. 7-34 Emergency Response Program………………………………………………… 7-36 Environmental Radiation………………………………………………………… 7-37 CHAPTER 8 – GROUNDWATER AND SURFACE WATER SUPPLIES Groundwater……………………………………………………………………… 8-1 Ground and Surface Water Withdrawals……………………………………… 8-21 Ground and Surface Drinking Water Supplies…………………………….….. 8-24 CHAPTER 9 – MAJOR ISSUES AND CHALLENGES Comprehensive Statewide Water Management Planning……………………9-1 Nonpoint Source Pollution………………………………………………………. 9-1 Toxic Substances.……………………………………………………………….. 9-2 Public Involvement……………………………………………………………….. 9-2 APPENDIX A – WATERS ASSESSED FOR COMPLIANCE WITH DESIGNATED USES……………………………………………………A-1 APPENDIX B – WATERS ADDED TO THE GEORGIA 303(d) LIST BY THE USEPA………………………………………………………………. ……..B-1 APPENDIX C – FISH CONSUMPTION GUIDELINES………………………….. C-1 LIST OF TABLES PAGE TABLE 3-1 Water Resources Atlas………………………………………….. 3-2 TABLE 3-2 Georgia Water Use Classifications and Instream Water Quality Standards for Each Use……………………………….. 3-3 TABLE 3-3 Georgia Instream Water Quality Standards For All Waters: Toxic Substances………………………………………. 3-5 TABLE 3-4 Water Quality Standards For Major Lakes………………….…. 3-9 TABLE 3-5 Georgia Trend Monitoring Network 2004……………………… 3-19 TABLE 3-6 Georgia Trend Monitoring Network 2005……………………… 3-23 TABLE 3-7 Major Lakes Ranked by Trophic State Index…………………. 3-29 TABLE 3-8 Contributors of Water Quality Data For Assessment of Georgia Waters…………………………………………………... 3-34 WATER QUALITY IN GEORGIA TABLE 3-9 Evaluation of Use Support by Waterbody Type 2004-2005…. 3-38 TABLE 3-10 Causes of Nonsupport of Designated Uses By Waterbody Type 2004-2005………………………………………………….. 3-39 TABLE 3-11 Potential Sources of Nonsupport of Designated Uses by Waterbody Type 2004-2005…………………………………….. 3-39 TABLE 4-1 Assessment of DNR Lands (1990)…………………………….. 4-11 TABLE 5-1 Location and Size of Areas Approved for Shellfish Harvest… 5-2 TABLE 6-1 Parameters for Fish Tissue Testing……………………………. 6-1 TABLE 6-2 No Consumption Restrictions – 2005………………………….. 6-5 TABLE 6-3 Guidelines for Limiting The Fish You Eat – Lakes – 2005…... 6-6 TABLE 6-4 Guidelines for Limiting The Fish You Eat – Rivers –2005…… 6-7 TABLE 6-5 Pollution-Caused Fish Kills 2004-2005………………………… 6-11 TABLE 7-1 Municipal Facility Sources of Investment 2004-2005…….….. 7-5 TABLE 8-1 Major Sources of Ground Water Contamination……………… 8-3 TABLE 8-2 Summary of State Ground Water Protection Programs……… 8-4 TABLE 8-3 Aquifer Monitoring Data for CY2004…………………………… 8-9 TABLE 8-3 Aquifer Monitoring Data for CY2005…………………………… 8-10 LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 2-1 Basin Advisory Committee……………………………………...2-9 FIGURE 2-2 Comprehensive Water Planning-Tasks and Milestones ..……2-10 FIGURE 3-1 Georgia Trend Monitoring Network Station Locations 1994... 3-14 FIGURE 3-2 Georgia Trend Monitoring Network Station Locations 2000-2004……………………………………………………….. 3-15 FIGURE 3-3 Georgia Trend Monitoring Network Station Locations 2004... 3-17 FIGURE 3-4 Georgia Trend Monitoring Network Station Locations 2005... 3-18 FIGURE 8-1 Hydrologic Provinces of Georgia………………………………. 8-6 FIGURE 8-2 Ambient Groundwater Monitoring Network……………………