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University of GeorgiaCollege of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences • Department of Crop and Soil Sciences

www.cropsoil.uga.edu

Water Resources Outreach



Issues

• Water quantity– Irrigation for agricultural production– Urban water use

• Golf courses• Onsite and land application wastewater

management systems• Residential

– Conservation and wastewater reuse



Issues

• Water quality– TMDL’s for lakes and streams

• Bacteria• Sediment• Nutrients

– Agricultural production • Animal waste

– Urban • Storm water runoff, wastewater management

systems, golf courses



Clients

• Federal, state and local agencies– USDA, USEPA – DNR (EPD), DHR, Department of Agriculture,

Soil and Water Conservation Commission– County planning and regulatory

• Industry– Agricultural producers, golf course

superintendents, environmental consultants

• Public



Water Quantity

• GIS-based agricultural water use inventory and management system for EPD

• GIS database of more than 6,000 irrigation wells and over 750,000 acres of irrigated land– Data for water policy and planning

discussions



Water Quantity

• Development and implementation of – Flint River Basin Water Development and

Conservation Plan– Coast Zone Plan for prevention of Salt Water

Intrusion• Revised criteria for agricultural water withdrawal permitting • Required water conservation methods for new irrigation

systems

• White Paper on consumptive water use by onsite and land application systems– Statewide water planning efforts



Water Conservation/Reuse

• BMPs for water conservation on golf courses • Symposium on wastewater reuse for golf course

irrigation• Continuing education sessions and seminars on

water conservation• Web page, publications, and popular articles• Online course



Water Quality – TMDL’s

• TMDL Technical Assistance Group (TAG) – Scientists and stakeholders

• 3 TMDL forums

• 2 white papers: – "A Protocol for Establishing Sediment TMDLs" – "Scientific Basis for Bacterial TMDLs in

Georgia“



Water Quality - OSWM

• Management Measures for Onsite Disposal Systems – Coastal GA N-limited waters

• Public and continuing education – Homeowner meetings– Workshops for State, Federal, and local

agency personnel– Contractor training sessions

• Regulation development and revision– DHR and EPD

• Demonstration projects– P removal technologies



The Challenge

• Getting the job done with limited human resources– Cooperative programs with BAE and FANR

• 2 faculty with appreciable public service appointments– Hard-funded turfgrass water use specialist

• Other responsibilities in addition to water

– Soft-funded Public Service Assistant• Salary from fee-based continuing education sessions • Emphasis on onsite system outreach• Sustainable?

• Retirement of Extension water quality coordinator – Position not refilled – Title transferred to BAE extension specialist



Questions?

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