Water Reflections Water 2018 Calendar 2018 Water Reflections 2018 Calendar The Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District (Metro Water District) Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District is a division of the Atlanta Regional Commission and manages a comprehensive, www.northgeorgiawater.org integrated plan for water supply and water conservation, wastewater and watershed management for the 15-county metro Atlanta region. @NorthGAWater Starr’s Mill During Drought Conditions – Harry Hyaduck, Jonesboro, GA (Photo location: Starr’s Mill) The little amount of water spilling over the dam is nothing compared to Starr’s Mill’s usual conditions. During a normal season, water would spill over almost the entire dam. In this photo, the drought has gone on so long plants are flourishing across the top of the dam. About the Water Reflections Calendar Photo Contest Metro Atlanta is home to many beautiful waterways like Lake Lanier, Allatoona Lake and the Chattahoochee, Flint, Yellow and Etowah Rivers. These lakes and rivers provide metro Atlantans with more than just recreational and photo opportunities. They are our region’s water supply! The 2017 Water Reflections Calendar Photo Contest participants were asked to capture the beauty, heritage, activities and character of metro Atlanta’s water resources and to describe what the water resource in their photo meant to them. Forty professional and amateur photographers participated in the contest, with more than 120 photo entries taken at locations all over the region. The cover photo, Storm Rolls Through by Marilyn Nieves of Decatur is our Grand Prize winner and is also featured for the month of October. A special “Thank you” to Georgia River Network for providing two free tickets to a Hidden Gem Adventure in 2018 as part of the prize package for our Grand Prize winner. We greatly appreciate the work Georgia River Network does to empower everyone to enjoy, connect with, and advocate for economically vital and clean flowing rivers. Thank you to all our participants in the 2017 Water Reflections Calendar Photo Contest. Drought Awareness and Wise Water Use Habits Average rainfall in metro Atlanta is 50 inches a year, however drought is cyclical. At the end of 2016 and beginning of 2017, all Metro Water District counties experienced drought conditions and were under a Level 2 Drought Response. Exceptionally dry conditions along with water supply concerns and record low flows in various streams prompted Georgia Environmental Protection Division to declare a Level 2 Drought Response in November of 2016. At this level, water conservation was strongly encouraged, outdoor watering was limited to two days a week and other outdoor water use restrictions were in place. Heavy rainfall in the spring and summer of 2017 helped alleviate much of these drought conditions and the response levels were adjusted accordingly throughout the year. More information on current drought status for the region can be found at gadrought.org. This year, a prize was awarded for the best photo that highlighted drought awareness or wise water use habits. Starr’s Mill During Drought Conditions by Harry Hyaduck is our winner and is featured above. See his caption and remember - whether it is raining every day or we are experiencing drought conditions, it is essential to practice water conservation and wise water use habits in our daily lives. Every Drop Counts Find out how much water you use and how you can use less at mydropcounts.org. Lanier Drought at Browns Bridge – Bob Kelley, Canton, GA (Photo location: Gainesville, GA) I love photographing the lakes of northeast Georgia. The water resources of Georgia not only allow for unlimited recreational JANUARY opportunities, they also provide great places to photograph. SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3 4 5 6 New Year’s Day Kwanzaa Ends 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Martin Luther King, Jr Day 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 DECEMBER 2017 FEBRUARY 28 29 30 31 S M T W TH F S S M T W TH F S 1 2 1 2 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 25 26 27 28 31 Sunrise Fishing – John Behr, McDonough, GA (Photo location: Clayton County Water Authority’s Lake Blalock) FEBRUARY Lake Blalock is my preferred place to relieve the stresses of teaching and life. I love the native birds found at this reservoir. SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3 World Wetlands Day Groundhog Day 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Valentine’s Day Mardi Gras Chinese New Year Ash Wednesday 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Presidents’ Day JANUARY MARCH 25 26 27 28 S M T W TH F S S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 28 29 30 31 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 A Beautiful Predator – Danielle Bunch, Jonesboro, GA (Photo location: Newman Wetland Center, Clayton County) Without a healthy watershed, nature’s wonders like this humped bladderwort would cease to exist. The importance of a place like Newman Wetland MARCH Center that educates visitors about Georgia’s wetlands is indescribable. SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY FEBRUARY APRIL S M T W TH F S S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 25 26 27 28 29 30 World Wildlife Day 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Daylight Savings Time Begins St. Patrick’s Day 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Metro Water District Water Drop Dash 5K Race and Water Festival, EPA’s Fix a Leak Week Begins Vernal Equinox International Day of Forests World Water Day Chattahoochee Nature Center 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Passover Begins Palm Sunday Passover, Second Night Good Friday Electric Moonrise – Tommy Meyer, Gainesville, GA (Photo location: Lake Lanier in Gainesville) APRIL The beauty of the lake is a daily inspiration for me as a person and as an artist. SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Easter Sunday 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Earth Day Administrative Professionals’ Day Arbor Day MARCH MAY 29 30 S M T W TH F S S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 27 28 29 30 31 Etowah River from Riverside Park – Audrey Andersen, Cartersville, GA (Photo location: Riverside Park in Cartersville) This is exemplary of the multiple purposes our shared water resources serve – Allatoona Dam provides generation of electricity and flood control, and the river below MAY the dam provides a habitat for abundant wildlife and for recreation. SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY APRIL JUNE S M T W TH F S S M T W TH F S 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 29 30 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Cinco de Mayo 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Water Professionals World Migratory Bird Day Appreciation Day in Georgia 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Mother’s Day Ramadan Begins at Sundown 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Memorial Day After the Storm – Cris Hoskins, Lithia Springs, GA (Photo location: Sweetwater Creek State Park) JUNE It is important to have preserved areas like Sweetwater Creek State Park for our environment and for citizens to learn about the area’s wildlife and history. SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY MAY JULY S M T W TH F S S M T W TH F S 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 27 28 29 30 31 29 30 31 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 World Oceans Day 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Flag Day Eid al-Fitr Begins 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Father’s Day World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought Summer Solstice 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Last Leap of Summer – Christian Murillo, Atlanta, GA (Photo location: Chattahoochee River in Atlanta) When I moved to Atlanta, this river made me feel at home.