Useful Wetland,
Stream Buffer and Land Conservation Web sites, and More
Wetland Web Sites
The Georgia
Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Coordinated Planning Program has
responsibility for overall management of the planning process for local
governments created by the Georgia Planning Act, including environmental
planning criteria for wetlands, water supply watersheds, groundwater recharge
areas, protected river corridors and mountain protection. For rules, current implementation and other
information, go to http://www.dca.state.ga.us/, then click on Planning & Codes.
The Georgia Wetlands Trust Fund provides an alternative strategy for meeting wetlands mitigation requirements under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Upon approval by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, permittees can meet some or all of their mitigation requirements by contributing a fee to the Georgia Wetlands Trust Fund. Information on the Fund is provided on the Georgia Environmental Policy web site at: http://www.gepinstitute.com/wetlands.about.asp
US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
Savannah District site provides information on wetlands regulatory and
permitting programs under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, including
Georgia-specific wetlands information and guidance documents on wetlands
mitigation and mitigation banking in
US Environmental
Protection Agency (USEPA) Region 4 (Southeast) Wetlands Section web site
provides extensive wetlands information, including education and technical
materials, landowners information, grant programs, wetlands assessment
procedures, state and local programs, additional web site links and much more: http://www.epa.gov/region4/water/wetlands/
USEPA
Wetlands Program national site provides extensive information on all aspects of
wetlands protection activities, permitting requirements and much more: http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/wetlands/
The US Fish & Wildlife Service National Wetlands
Inventory (NWI) provides information on the characteristics, extent, and status
of the Nation’s wetlands and deepwater habitats. The
The US Fish and Wildlife Service also administers
a variety of natural resource assistance grants to governmental, public and
private organizations, groups and individuals. Their Grants at a Glance web
site provides links to information about available grants, including wetland
conservation grants: http://grants.fws.gov/
The North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) of 1989
provides matching grants to private or public organizations or to individuals
who have developed partnerships to carry out wetlands conservation projects in
the
National Wetlands Conservation Alliance has a web site
dedicated to furthering wetland restoration, enhancement and conservation on
private lands. The
The US Geological Survey (USGS)
The Society of Wetland Scientists is a non-profit organization founded in 1980 to promote wetland science and the exchange of information related to wetlands.
Stream Buffer and Riparian Protection Web Sites
Citizen Riparian Network provides access to technical
information and assistance to citizens in
The Georgia
Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Coordinated Planning Program has
responsibility for overall management of the planning process for local governments
created by the Georgia Planning Act, including environmental planning criteria
for wetlands, water supply watersheds (including stream buffer and setback
requirements), groundwater recharge areas, protected river corridors and
mountain protection. For rules, current
implementation and other information, go to http://www.dca.state.ga.us/,
under Planning & Codes. Also
available on the DCA web site is the useful guidance document entitled
“Protecting River Corridors”, under Publications (scroll down to Tools).
The Georgia Stream Buffer Initiative is a project working
with selected buffer demonstration sites in
Information on the Metropolitan River Protection Act and the Chattahoochee River Corridor Protection Plan is available on the Atlanta Regional Commission Web site at http://www.atlantaregional.com/water/
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Buffer Strips site provides specific information on the benefits of buffers, protecting and preserving stream buffers and other types of buffers, as well as information on the National Conservation Buffer Initiative, state contacts for buffer protection programs, additional web site links, and much more: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/buffers/
The Ocmulgee Heritage Greenway is an ongoing project
originally planned as an eight-mile attractive and functional river walk and
park system in
Stream Corridor Restoration: Principles, Processes and
Practices: This document was produced by the collective experience, skills, and
technology of 15 agencies of the
The
Land Conservation and Protection Web
Sites
The American Farmland Trust is a nationwide nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting agricultural resources. Founded by a group of concerned farmers in 1980, AFT's mission is to stop the loss of productive farmland and to promote farming practices that lead to a healthy environment. Their web site offers a variety of information on protecting and conserving farmland, including a Farmland Protection Toolbox:
The Conservation Fund forges partnerships to protect
The Georgia Conservancy is a statewide environmental
organization working to ensure that Georgians have healthy air, clean water,
unspoiled wild places and community green space now and in the future.
Information on smart growth, land conservation and much more is provided at: http://www.georgiaconservancy.org
Georgia Department of Natural
Resources Greenspace Program site has information on the Georgia
Greenspace Program, by which developed and rapidly developing counties, and
their municipalities, can preserve community greenspace. It provides for awards
of formula grants to eligible counties if they develop and implement plans to
permanently protect at least 20 percent of the county's geographic area as
natural, undeveloped greenspace: http://www.ganet.org/dnr/greenspace/
Georgia Department of Natural
Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, Non-Game Program has extensive summary
information on land protection, conservation and enhancement programs for
wetlands, agricultural, forestry and other areas, posted online as the Georgia
Landowner’s Guide to Conservation Options (note: some information in the Guide
may not be current, so check with the indicated programs for updates) as well
as many other wildlife and land protection and conservation programs, including
the Georgia Natural Heritage Program and Endangered Species Program: http://georgiawildlife.dnr.state.ga.us/
Georgia EPD’s Land
Development Provisions To Protect Georgia Water
Quality document was prepared by the UGA School of Environmental Design
in 1997, and is still a useful, easy to read document. It is intended to serve
as a menu from which each community can select appropriate provisions and adapt
them to local conditions, and covers overall development measures, streets and
pavements, drainage, and construction processes. Although out of print, it is
available online on the EPD web site at http://www.georgianet.org/dnr/environ/
under Engineering and Technical Support
Georgia Department of
Natural Resources also has web sites for the Parks & Historic Sites Division
and Historic Preservation Division, which provide information on how they can
assist in the acquisition and preservation of public recreation lands and
historic sites by providing technical and financial assistance, and much more: http://www.dnr.state.ga.us/
The Georgia Environmental Policy Institute provides
extensive information and publications on land trusts, conservation easements
and other conservation options, including the Georgia Wetlands Trust Fund. The
Institute also works with the
Georgia Forestry Commission provides leadership, service,
and education in protection, management, and wise use of
Georgia Forest Legacy Program is a voluntary program that will allow the state to acquire conservation easements or title to forest lands having significant environmental values and that are threatened with conversion to other nonforest uses. Information on the program is posted at:
http://www.gfc.state.ga.us/Services/RuralForestry/legacy/
The Georgia Land Trust is a private, non-profit organization started in 1994 by conservation-minded citizens as a means for protecting and preserving the state's pristine open space, natural habitat and rich historic values. The Trust works with various partnerships and community projects statewide and their web site provides information on land trusts, conservation easements and other activities: http://www.galandtrust.org/
The Georgia Quality Growth Partnership (GQGP) is a
collaboration among diverse public and private entities that seeks to provide
local governments and citizens with the tools and knowledge to transform the
way we define, create, and sustain high quality Georgia communities. The GQCP web site has an on-line Toolkit containing a number of
relevant conservation fact sheets, model ordinances, and other tools for
agricultural buffers, conservation easements, conservation subdivisions,
preserving open space, purchase of development rights, transferable development
rights, and much more: Go to http://www.georgiaqualitygrowth.com
and click on Toolkit.
The Land Trust Alliance is a national leader of the private
land conservation movement, promoting voluntary land conservation across the
country and providing resources, leadership and training to the nation's
1,200-plus nonprofit, grassroots land trusts, helping them to protect important
open spaces. The LTA web site provides links to specific southeastern
activities and a list of land trusts in
The Nature Conservancy is a national organization that works with communities, businesses, governments, partner organizations, and people to protect the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. The national home page is: http://nature.org
The Nature Conservancy has
protected more than 200,000 acres of critical natural lands in
The Trust for Public Land
(TPL) is a national nonprofit organization working to protect land for human
enjoyment and well-being. TPL's legal and real estate specialists work with
landowners, government agencies, and community groups to create urban parks,
gardens, greenways, and riverways, set aside open space in the path of growth,
conserve land for watershed protection, and much more. TPL pioneers new ways to finance parks and
open space; helps generate federal, state, and local conservation funding; and
promotes the importance of public lands, and can also assist with Georgia
Greenspace planning efforts through it Greenprints program. National and
Georgia-specific information is located at: http://www.tpl.org
The University of Georgia Institute
of Ecology, Office of Public Service and Outreach site has extensive
information on education, research, publications, tools, and community services
related to land conservation and protection, quality growth, greenspace
planning, riparian protection, habitat preservation, watershed studies and much
more: http://outreach.ecology.uga.edu/index.html
The
The
The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) site provides information on the Conservation Reserve Program, Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, Emergency Conservation Program, links to the Farm Bill web site, and other farmland conservation activities at: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/pas/services.htm Georgia FSA offices and contacts are provided on http://www.fsa.usda.gov/ga/
The USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Programs site provides extensive
information and links to all NRCS land conservation programs, both cost-share
and non-cost share, for agricultural and forestry lands, wetlands, and
watershed protection, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program,
Wetlands Reserve Program, Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, updated Farmland
Protection Program information, and much more: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/
The Georgia NRCS site provides specific information on
Resource Conservation and Development, better known as
RC&D, is a unique program
administered by the NRCS, that helps people initiate, sponsor, plan and implement projects that will make their communities
better places in which to live. NRCS provides a coordinator, and gives other
support to each RC&D area. The local Councils make each RC&D area
unique by defining goals and objectives to meet local needs. A state map with
links to the various RC&D Councils at: http://www.ga.nrcs.usda.gov/rcd/default.htm
US Fish and
Wildlife Service Endangered Species program site provides information on the
Endangered Species Act, lists of endangered species, habitat conservation
activities, grants and other assistance programs for landowners, and much more:
http://endangered.fws.gov/
Extensive information on the
Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and Bonds Swamp NWR, is available on US
Fish and Wildlife site at: http://piedmont.fws.gov/
Local Government Planning Information
The Georgia Chapter of the American Planning Association is
an organization comprised of 650 practicing planners, planning officials,
students, teachers, interested citizens and others from all parts of
The Georgia
Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Coordinated Planning Program has
responsibility for overall management of the planning process for local
governments created by the Georgia Planning Act, including environmental
planning criteria for wetlands, water supply watersheds, groundwater recharge
areas, protected river corridors and mountain protection. For rules, current implementation and other
information, go to http://www.dca.state.ga.us/, then click on Planning & Codes.
The Georgia Department of
Community Affairs (DCA) Georgia Planning web site provides a variety of
assistance to local governments designed to strengthen their planning efforts,
including guidance in developing local comprehensive plans consistent with
state planning requirements and providing technical and financial assistance
for implementing the plans: http://www.georgiaplanning.com
Information and
links to
Useful Forestry
Related Web Sites
Georgia Forestry Commission provides leadership, service,
and education in protection, management, and wise use of
The
USDA Forest Service site provides information on forest management, conservation and protection, landowner and community assistance programs, and much more: http://www.fs.fed.us/
Useful Agriculture
Related Web Sites
The Farm Bill Network site contains detailed information relating to the development and implementation CRP, WRP, WHIP and other US Department of Agriculture Farm Bill conservation programs and related programs benefiting fish and wildlife habitat, water quality and other resources. The information is designed for use by personnel of state natural resource agencies, conservation and environmental non-governmental organizations, and landowners. http://www.fb-net.org/index.html
Georgia FACES
(Family, Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences) site of the UGA
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences provides current news
information on a variety of environmental activities, including water resources
management: http://georgiafaces.caes.uga.edu/
Georgia Farm*A*Syst Program provides technical assistance, on-site assessments, and publications to address agricultural pollution prevention and other topics http://www.engr.edu/service/extension/programs.html
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) site provides information on its many conservation programs, including contacts for technical assistance and links to other useful sites and state-specific information: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/
The Georgia NRCS site provides specific information on
NRCS Soils provides information on soil quality, assessments, and land management: http://soils.usda.gov
The
The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) National Water Quality Program website builds upon the 10 Regional Water Quality websites funded through the National Integrated Water Quality Program (NIWQP). Also available through the website are links to the existing four National Facilitation projects funded through NIWQP. The CSREES National Water Quality Program website offers a unique opportunity to access information about existing water quality programs and activities across the States and associated territories, at: www.usawaterquality.org
Georgia-specific information is located at: http://srwqis.tamu.edu/states/georgia/
NESPAL, National Environmentally Sound Production Agriculture Laboratory provides information on agricultural water use and sustainable agriculture practices: http://nespal.cpes.peachnet.edu/Water/
The
has recently updated its prototype database of
freely available online documents related to water and agriculture. You can now access 1,442 documents through
the database. The database is located at
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/wqdb/esearch.html
Other useful
watershed and water protection web sites
The Altamaha Riverkeeper is a grassroots organization
dedicated to the protection, defense and restoration of
Center for Watershed Protection site has comprehensive information on nonpoint source pollution control, storm water and land development issues, best management practices, on-line articles and publications, workshops and more. A wide variety of water-related publications are available from this nonprofit organization and may be ordered online at: http://www.cwp.org/
Georgia Adopt-A-Stream program
works to increase public awareness of nonpoint source and water quality issues,
provide citizens with tools and training to evaluate and protect their local
waterways, encourage partnerships between citizens and local governments and
much more. Program and technical
information is posted at: http://www.riversalive.com/aas.htm
Rivers Alive is
Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) site
provides water-related state regulatory information, as well as general
information on water quality, river basin planning and watershed related
information, at http://www.ganet.org/dnr/environ/. Information is mainly in the
Georgia GIS Data Clearinghouse provides access to free downloadable Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping and database files, including the Georgia Environmental Atlas and various water-related databases: http://gis.state.ga.us/
GaH2O Web site provides information on various water quality issues, including Powerpoint presentations by EPD and DCA on the Phase II Storm Water Permitting Program: http://www.gah2o.com
Georgia River Network is a statewide nonprofit environmental
organization solely dedicated to the conservation of
The Georgia Stormwater Management
Design Manual is an extensive stormwater policy and technical guidance document
developed by the Atlanta Regional Commission with the assistance of nationally
recognized stormwater experts and statewide stakeholders, and is available for
download at: http://www.georgiastormwater.com/
The Georgia Summit to the Sea
program is dedicated to informing the general public, educators, students and
policy makers about the importance of
Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission
works to protect, conserve and improve soil and water resources by providing
workshops and technical assistance on water quality issues, and publishes the
Georgia Erosion and Sediment Control Manual, available on-line at: http://gaswcc.org
The Joint Comprehensive Water Plan Study Committee and Water
Plan Advisory Committee were created by the Georgia Legislature in 2001, in
response to the water resource challenges facing
Know Your Watershed site is part of the Watershed Information Network (WIN), with watershed guides, resources, TMDL facts, a registry of locally led watershed partnerships and more: http://www.ctic.purdue.edu/KYW/
Metropolitan North Georgia Water
Planning District was created by the Georgia Legislature in 2001 as a planning
entity dedicated to developing comprehensive regional and watershed-specific
plans to be implemented by local governments in the
National Stormwater Best Management Practices
(BMP) Database provides access to BMP performance data in a standardized format
for over 90 BMP studies conducted over the past fifteen years. The database may
be searched and/or downloaded on this Web site, and is also available on
CD-ROM: http://www.bmpdatabase.org/
National Menu of BMPs for NPDES Storm Water Phase II contains over 100 fact sheets describing both structural and nonstructural management practices that can be used to fulfill the 6 minimum measures outlined in the Storm Water Phase II Rule. The fact sheets are also provided in .pdf format for convenient downloading at: http://www.epa.gov/npdes/menuofbmps/menu.htm
The National NEMO Network is a group of affiliated projects that educate
local land use decision-makers about the relationship of land use to natural
resource protection. NEMO Network projects are adapted from the
NRCS Homeowners web site provides extensive information on how homeowners can prevent soil erosion, keep water clean and plentiful, create and preserve green spaces, reduce the impacts of floods and much more, including various tip sheets on various homeowner practices such as backyard ponds and wetlands, terracing, wildlife habitat and more: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/partners/for_homeowners.html
National Association of Conservation Districts Backyard Conservation web site provides information on activities that can be done by individuals and families, and many practices can be adapted to community gardens, schools and other public places. Also lesson plans for teachers, a Backyard Conservation Starter Kit, and more: http://www.nacdnet.org/pubaff/backyard.htm#order
The Southeast Watershed Forum is a nonprofit organization
dedicated to enhancing local watershed initiatives through education, training
and regional dialogue. The Forum strives to be a regional clearinghouse for
successful case studies in watershed protection, restoration and management in
a nine-state region: http://www.southeastwaterforum.org/index.cfm
Topozone site allows access to
USGS topographical quadrangle maps. Very useful for watershed delineation and
other mapping purposes: http://topozone.com/
Terraserver site shows aerial
photographs from many areas of the
UGA River Basin Science and
http://www.rivercenter.uga.edu/
USEPA Surf Your Watershed site allows you to find your watershed based on location, zip code and other methods, and to access a wide variety of water quality data, maps, ongoing watershed activities and other useful information: http://www.epa.gov/surf/
USEPA Watershed Protection site
provides information on funding, databases, publications, outreach, the
USEPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans
and Watersheds site has information on watersheds, wetlands, polluted runoff,
water quality and training programs: http://www.epa.gov/owow/
Specific Water Resources of Georgia information is located
at: http://wwwga.usgs.gov/
The Water Quality Information Center at the National Agricultural Library,Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture is found at:
Useful Statewide Organizations
Georgia Municipal Association provides information on
many of
Carl Vinson Institute of Government provides information
on
The Georgia
Water & Pollution Control Association (GW&PCA) is dedicated to
education, dissemination of technical and scientific information, increased
public understanding, and promotion of sound public laws and programs in water
resources and related environmental fields: http://www.gwpca.org/
Georgia Association of Stormwater Management Agencies provides
information on storm water utilities, best management practices, educational
workshops, and more: http://www.gasma.org