the etowah initiative:
spring 2003
hcp - technical and legal assistance
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| Luke Baine |
Ansley Campbell |
Mack McGuffey |
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| Colby Mecham |
Adam Miles |
Will Summer |
Abstract
The Etowah Watershed: A Venue for Supplemental Environmental Projects (PDF)
The Etowah River and its tributaries are being threatened by the rapid
growth of the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Etowah Watershed reaches
across ten counties and supports fifteen imperiled aquatic species, including
three federally protected fishes. Some community stakeholders in the Etowah
Watershed are interested in developing a regional Habitat Conservation
Plan (HCP) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for the protection of
these imperiled aquatic species.
HCP planning began in 2002, and it is estimated that HCP implementation
will begin in the end of 2005. At the beginning of 2003, a steering committee,
consisting of one representative from each of the local governmental entities,
was formed. The steering committee also includes advisory and non-voting
members, and its main tasks will be to develop and implement the HCP.
Working through advisory steering committee members from the University
of Georgia Institute of Ecology, our group will provide technical assistance
to the HCP steering committee. Our group prepared several memoranda for
the February 20, 2003 meeting of the steering committee on issues including:
mitigation; funding for HCP implementation; Incidental Take Permits (ITPs)
under the ESA; and the protective tools already in place for each county
and city in the Etowah Watershed. In addition, our group will write several
other memoranda for the May 1, 2003 meeting of the steering committee
on issues yet to be determined.
Draft Work Plan
(MS Word)
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