topic |
recommendation |
case study tool |
TMDL Implementation |
Create a TMDL Implementation Guidance Manual for GA with the assistance of groups like the UGA River Basin Center & 319 funds |
Virginia's TMDL implementation plan guidance manual |
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Create Urban bacteria TMDL implementation plans that assign responsibility & accountability for implementation actions to show measurable water quality improvements |
North Carolina's Mecklenburg County SWIM program and TMDL IP for Sugar, Little Sugar, and McAlpine Creeks |
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Provide more technical support & guidance to assist stakeholder coordination efforts by using river basin coordinators to compliment GAEPD's TMDL Implementation Program & the Georgia River Network water quality outreach efforts; also use lessons from the VA Tech Center for TMDL & Watershed Studies |
Alabama's Clean Water Partnership; and VA Tech Center for TMDL & Watershed Studies |
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Increasing use of qualitative reporting to show water quality improvements will supplement quantitative data reporting to USEPA |
South Carolina Coneross & Beaverdam Creek TMDL Implementation project |
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Create statewide technical (approved QAPP) volunteer monitoring network to provide usable data for TMDL development & implementation, aligned with GAEPD's River Basin Schedule. Can complement & focus existing efforts by Adopt-A-Stream and other volunteer groups |
Alabama Water Watch |
Bacteria Standard |
Follow federal guidance and consider switch to use of E. coli as indicator bacteria; or consider using a combination of indicator bacteria depending on site conditions and other factors |
Scientific Basis for Bacterial TMDLs in Georgia (TAG white paper) |
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Use guidance and advice from other states to guide bacteria standard change |
Virginia DCR;
VA Tech Center for TMDL & Watershed Studies & North Carolina DENR DWQ |
NPS 319 Program |
Program revision to determine the appropriate allocation of funds to meet water quality improvement goals |
South Carolina DHEC NPS 319 Program |
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Increased coordination between the TMDL Implementation Program and the NPS 319 grant program |
South Carolina DHEC Watersheds & Planning Department |
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State-supported 319 match assistance to reduce the 40% requirement for communities unable to meet it |
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Funding |
Constitutional dedication of environmental trust funds |
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Legislation (HB 550) providing for the establishment of NPDES permitting fees to fund water quality improvements |
North Carolina & Virginia |
Outreach & Education |
increasing the attention, time & weight given to the impact of education & outreach in TMDL implementation is a central element to measurable water quality improvements |
South Carolina: "faith-based" outreach project, and Coneross & Beaverdam Creek outreach project |
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providing ownership to citizens & stakeholders through methods such as stream naming & watershed boundary signs |
Alabama outreach tools (Troy State University report) |
Onsite Wastewater Control Strategies & Alternatives |
creative outreach methods to increase awareness of septic systems and maintenance needs |
South Carolina: "faith-based" outreach project, and Coneross & Beaverdam Creek outreach project |
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alternative systems to replace failing conventional septic systems |
South Carolina: sub-surface constructed wetland project |
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encourage municipal adoption of creative regulatory enforcement controls |
Metro Planning District Issues Working Paper; and Scientific Basis for Bacterial TMDLs in Georgia (TAG white paper) |
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creative options for financing septic systems repairs |
Funding Septic System Repairs in Gwinnett County through the Clean Water Act State Revolving Fund, 2006, Amanda Worthington Masters Thesis (pdf) |
Pet Waste Programs |
installation of dog parks to create social mechanisms for further enforcement & behavior changes among pet owners |
Virginia models: Four Mile Run Project;
Upper Roanoke River Roundtable pet awareness project |
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using creative outreach materials to increase awareness among pet owners |
other outreach resources |
Agriculture |
encouraged installation of water quality BMPs such as exclusionary fencing, alternative shade & water sources, poultry composting & stack houses through cooperative 319 projects; combined with creative outreach tools & qualitative reporting of agricultural efficiency & water quality improvements |
South Carolina: Coneross & Beaverdam Creek TMDL Implementation Project |
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creating more technical support & guidance for horse farmers |
North Carolina REINS program; the Georgia Equine-A-Syst pilot |
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initiating a State-funded cost-share program for Georgia |
financial incentive programs in North Carolina & Virginia |
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using the extension agent template to provide support to agricultural producers in water quality improvement practices |
UGA River Basin Center's IWE pilot "watershed agent" |
