Table of Contents 1. Description of the conservation issue 2. Background and history 3. Science and research 4. Conflicts and debate 5. Relevant legislation.

Table of Contents1. Description of the conservation issue2. Background and history3. Science and research4. Conflicts and debate5. Relevant legislation6. Legislative effectiveness7. Resources8. References9. Glossary10. Appendix

Water use in the Chattahoochee River

AbstractThe Chattahoochee River originates in Northern Georgia, flows south into Alabama and Florida, and empties into the Gulf of Mexico.

Currently, navigation in the lower reaches of the river is maintained by water release from upstream reservoirs. This release also maintains the appropriate freshwater/saltwater mix in the Apalachicola Bay, which houses an economically important oyster fishery

and provides habitat for the endangered Gulf Sturgeon. Recently, the Atlanta metro area has been experiencing rapid population growth and the demand for water by its residents has put increasing pressure on the Chattahoochee River. Conflicts over water use have been exacerbated by a recent drought in the Southeast and misuse (overuse) of water by Atlanta residents. Atlanta residents want to use the water for their consumption rather than maintain downstream flows (located in Florida), while downstream users want Atlanta residents to ration their use of water and maintain the fisheries and navigation in the lower reaches. This water use

issue is also in addition to historical industrial pollution of the Chattahoochee River. Rain alone won’t solve the current issues in the Chattahoochee River as all parties must work together to optimize water use and maintain critical habitat for Gulf Sturgeon and the

Florida oyster fishery.

Introduction History Science ConflictsRelevant

LegislationLegislative

Effectiveness

Description of the conservation issue

The Chattahoochee River provides drinking water for the Atlanta metro area as well as other uses downstream. The

growth of the Atlanta metro population and inefficient use of water by its people have led to conflicts over an ever-

diminishing water supply. These conflicts threaten economically and ecologically important oyster and fish

populations.



Effectiveness

What happened to create this issue?Conflicts over water pollution and water use have been an issue in the Chattahoochee River basin for decades. Within the last three years, a drought in the Southeastern states has exacerbated problems, leading to a renewed and intensified

battle over water.

1956 Ongoing (since at least 1956–present)

1991 2000-2006 Dec 2005 – Jan 2006

Sept 2007 May 2008

Buford dam completed. Lake Lanier

created.

River pollution

Gulf Sturgeon

listed under Endangered Species Act

Atlanta population

growth

Faulty water gauge at Lake Lanier causes

problems

State of emergency declared in Northern

Georgia due to drought

Spring rainfall

provides some relief, but does not

fix all problems



Effectiveness


battle over water.

1956 Ongoing (since at least 1956-present)

1991 2000-2006 Dec 2005 – Jan 2006

Sept 2007 May 2008


created.

River pollution

Gulf Sturgeon


Atlanta population

growth


problems

State of emergency declared in N. Georgia

due to drought

Spring rainfall


fix all problems

The construction of Buford dam created Lake Lanier. Lake Lanier is a water storage reservoir providing hydro-power and drinking water for the city of Atlanta.



Effectiveness


battle over water.


1991 2000-2006 Dec 2005 – Jan 2006

Sept 2007 May 2008


created.

River pollution

Gulf Sturgeon


Atlanta population

growth


problems


due to drought

Spring rainfall


fix all problems

The Chattahocchee River is polluted by discharges from sewage treatment plants. Secondary treatment processes are bypassed into the river during high volume periods. A deal was put in place in 1989 to reduce phosphorous and E. coli levels near discharges, however it has had little success.



Effectiveness


battle over water.


1991 2000-2006 Dec 2005 – Jan 2006

Sept 2007 May 2008


created.

River pollution

Gulf Sturgeon


Atlanta population

growth


problems


due to drought

Spring rainfall


fix all problems

Gulf sturgeon are listed under the Endangered Species Act. This legally requires a minimum annual discharge of water from Lake Lanier to prevent saltwater intrusion into freshwater streams that provide spawning habitat for Gulf Sturgeon.



Effectiveness


battle over water.


1991 2000-2006 Dec 2005 – Jan 2006

Sept 2007 May 2008


created.

River pollution

Gulf Sturgeon


Atlanta population

growth


problems


due to drought

Spring rainfall


fix all problems

The Atlanta metro area grows by 20.5%. The area is now home to more than 5.6 million residents. Water withdrawals from Lake Lanier and the Chattahoochee must keep up with demand.



Effectiveness


battle over water.


1991 2000-2006 Dec 2005 – Jan 2006

Sept 2007 May 2008


created.

River pollution

Gulf Sturgeon


Atlanta population

growth


problems


due to drought

Spring rainfall


fix all problems

A new water gauge is installed at Lake Lanier. It is improperly calibrated, leading to an additional discharge of 22 billion gallons of water along with the legal minimum required for discharge for Gulf Sturgeon habitat. This upsets Atlanta residents as water restrictions had been in place due to low rainfall.



Effectiveness


battle over water.


1991 2000-2006 Dec 2005 – Jan 2006

Sept 2007 May 2008


created.

River pollution

Gulf Sturgeon


Atlanta population

growth


problems

State of Emergency declared in Northern

Georgia due to drought

Spring rainfall


fix all problems

Georgia governor Sonny Perdue declares a State of Emergency in Northern Georgia due to drought conditions. All outdoor watering is banned.



Effectiveness


battle over water.


1991 2000-2006 Dec 2005 – Jan 2006

Sept 2007 May 2008


created.

River pollution

Gulf Sturgeon


Atlanta population

growth


problems


due to drought

Spring rainfall


fix all problems

Water levels in Lake Lanier rise due to generous spring rainfall. Outdoor watering restrictions are partially relaxed. Atlanta’s population continues to grow and demand for water increases.



Effectiveness

Gulf Sturgeon

Saltwater intrusion:• Saltwater intrusion is the movement of saltwater from the ocean into freshwater streams due to the greater density of saltwater.

• Saltwater intrusion can negatively affect Gulf Sturgeon if water in their spawning habitat is too salty. Saltwater intrusion is prevented by releasing ample quantities of freshwater from upstream reservoirs.

Gulf Sturgeon facts:• Hatch in freshwater streams; migrate to Gulf of Mexico (saltwater) to mature; return to same stream to spawn• Historical commercial fishery led to overharvest; initial species decline• Spawning habitat degradation (due to dam construction) has led to further species decline • Listed as threatened under Endangered Species Act in 1991



Effectiveness

Florida oystersOyster facts:• Are economically and ecologically important•10% of the Nation’s oysters and 90% of Florida’s oysters come from Apalachicola Bay • Usually the keystone1 species in a marine ecosystem

Freshwater/saltwater mix:

Oysters require a specific mix of freshwater and saltwater to satisfy their habitat requirements. Apalachicola Bay oysters can be negatively affected if too little water is released from upstream reservoirs, making the water in Apalachicola Bay too salty.

1 A keystone species is the most important species in an ecosystem. It helps maintain the function of the ecosystem even though it is usually in low abundance



Effectiveness

Conflicts

Drinking Water Barge Traffic

Oyster Fishing Lakefront Property

Habitat



Effectiveness

Relevant Legislation

Water Law:

Water laws are state specific (however most eastern states have very similar laws) and assist in governing rights to water. Water laws help determine who has rights to the water and to how much water. Withdrawal permits are required in the state of Georgia. When a body of water crosses state lines (such as the Chattahoochee River) each state gets an equal share of the water.

Endangered Species Act:

The Endangered Species Act provides special protection for species listed under the act. Protection includes designation of “critical habitat” necessary for the recovery of the species.

Clean Water Act:

The Clean Water Act sets water quality regulations, protecting waters from discharges of pollutants (mostly from industrial sources). The act states that water bodies must be clean enough for human sport and recreational uses.



Effectiveness

There have been some success in litigation for the protection of the Chattahoochee River. Some laws, however, have been part of the source of the recent conflict over water.

Litigation under the Water Law:

The Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (UCR) organization challenged a permit application submitted by the Georgia Power Company that would have doubled their withdrawal amount from the river. The judge initially ruled in favor of UCR by denying the increase in withdrawal amount, but then later reversed its decision and granted the new permit. Although the end result of this litigation was unfavorable, this shows that a group of concerned citizens can challenge companies and other entities threatening their local environment.



Effectiveness


Litigation under the Endangered Species Act:

When the Gulf Sturgeon was listed under the ESA in 1991, the lower reach of the Chattahoochee River was designated as critical habitat. This required an annual release of freshwater from Lake Lanier (and other reservoirs) to prevent saltwater intrusion (see science slide) into the Gulf Sturgeon’s spawning habitat. Although good for the Gulf Sturgeon, this release of water from Lake Lanier is opposed by Atlanta residents as they have been subjected to strict water restrictions due to drought conditions in the Southeast.



Effectiveness


Litigation under the Clean Water Act:

Pollution in the Chattahoochee River has been an ongoing problem for decades. Discharges from water treatment plants have been targeted by river watchdog groups such as the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper organization (UCR). During times of high volume (including, but not limited to, storm events), some sewage treatment plants will overflow or bypass secondary treatment and discharge untreated or partially-treated wastewater into the Chattahoochee River.

UCR has challenged water treatment plants under the Clean Water Act and has been successful, including a ruling that required a $2 billion overhaul of Atlanta’s sewer system to prevent all overflows.

Restart the Presentation

Resources References Appendix About FCF



Effectiveness

End the Presentation

The End





Effectiveness


Conflict – Drinking Water• The Atlanta metro area has grown

by 20% since 2000

• This growth has put an increasing demand for drinking water on the Chattahoochee River

• There is a conflict over the water because Atlanta residents want to use the water that is currently being released from Lake Lanier for Gulf Sturgeon habitat

• Atlanta residents view the release of water as “waste” when they could “use” the water for drinking Atlanta metro area

populationSource: US Bureau of the Census

Return to previous slide





Effectiveness


Conflict – Barge Traffic• The Army Corps of Engineers

maintain a navigation channel on the lower reaches of the Chattahoochee River for barge traffic

• This channel requires a certain depth, which is maintained by upstream releases of water

• There is a conflict because this navigation channel is rarely used anymore

• Water users upstream would rather “use” this water for drinking or other uses and view the navigation channel as “waste”






Effectiveness


Conflict – Oyster Fishermen

• Water from the Chattahoochee River draining into Apalachicola Bay provides the correct saltwater/freshwater mix to support a successful oyster fishery

• As upstream uses increase, less water enters Apalachicola Bay

• There is a conflict because oyster fishermen view the upstream use of water as threatening to the oyster fishery and their livelihood






Effectiveness


Conflict – Lakefront Property

• As the Atlanta area continues to grow, so does the water withdrawal from the Chattahoochee River

• The city draws the allowed maximum amount of water from the river, but demand is still not fulfilled

• This has led to the city drawing water from Lake Lanier

• There is a conflict because the lake cannot recharge fast enough to meet withdrawal demand, leading to the lake level dropping precipitously

• Lakefront property owners have to build longer docks and access to the remaining portion of the lake is restricted






Effectiveness


Conflict – Habitat• Gulf sturgeon spawn in freshwater

streams that drain into the Gulf of Mexico

• Releases of water from reservoirs prevent saltwater intrusion into these streams, including the lower reaches of the Chattahoochee River

• There is a conflict because the upstream users view this water as a “waste” because it is maintaining in-stream flows. These upstream users would rather “use” this water for drinking and other municipal uses






Effectiveness


Other References

Demographia United States Metropolitan Areas 2000–2006 (County Based)" (PDF). Demographia (2007-03-23). Retrieved on 2008-12-1.

Apple, Jr., R.W. (February 25, 2000). "ON THE ROAD: A City in Full: Venerable, Impatient Atlanta", The New York Times. Retrieved on 1 December 2008

Table of Contents 1. Description of the conservation issue 2. Background and history 3. Science and research 4. Conflicts and debate 5. Relevant legislation.

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