"Even though Georgia is one of the wettest states in the US, it is on the cutting edge of new eastern water law."

This quote captures why over 120 people gathered in Rome, Georgia, on November 19, 2002, to learn more about and to discuss water resource issues in the 15 county northwest region of Georgia. This, the first annual Northwest Georgia Regional Water Resources Roundtable, facilitated a dialog and exchange among water resource experts, citizens, state, federal, and local water program managers, business, industry, conservation groups, and government on issues common to all: water.

Roundtable Themes
The Roundtable provided an overview of watershed processes and ways that growth and development are affecting those processes. The unique biological diversity and significance of north Georgia streams were emphasized. In addition, the Roundtable addressed water management challenges on the horizon related to statewide assessments, growth readiness of communities, source water assessments, stormwater management, total maximum daily load implementation, water utility providers, and water conservation. True to the "Roundtable" approach, the program broke into facilitated discussions by watershed to gain feedback from participants about major issues of concern and better ways to address those issues in "their" watershed. The program concluded with a panel discussing funding opportunities for local initiatives.

Roundtable Summary
A key session of the Roundtable was the facilitated watershed breakout sessions to gain feedback from those living and working in the region's watersheds. Six major watersheds of the region served as the focus for participants: Tennessee, Conasauga, Coosa, Oostanaula, Coosawattee, and Etowah River basins. The following three questions were addressed.

1. What key water resource issues are facing your watershed?
   Topping the breakout groups' lists are concerns about: water quantity (withdrawals, instream flows, ability to meet increasing demands); water quality (sedimentation, nutrients, habitat losses); and urban sprawl and growth pressures (failing septic systems, increased sedimentation, increased water distribution). The groups recognize the interconnectedness of water quantity, water quality, and growth. Education of the public, developers, and elected officials was cited also in order to raise awareness of water resources, and the need for cooperative and comprehensive planning.

2. How can we more effectively work across jurisdictional boundaries to address water issues?
   The call is for regional approaches for: comprehensive planning to solve water and wastewater issues; uniform enforcement of regulations; coordinated and targeted education of homeowners, developers, and elected officials; clarification of (local) governmental roles; "roundtables and forums" at various levels in the watersheds; and more citizen advisory groups (number and involvement).

3. What do you want the Northwest Georgia Regional Water Resources Partnership to do to help?
   Roundtable participants see roles for the Partnership as: voice and advocate to advance northwest Georgia water resource issues; representative and facilitator for the Comprehensive Water Plan for Northwest Georgia; clearinghouse of information, contacts, regional meetings, water training and workshops; agent to foster cooperative relationships between local communities; and sponsor of cross-jurisdictional efforts.

Contacts:
Jerry Jennings, 706-290-2665 jjennings@berry.edu
David Howerin, 706-295-6485 dhowerin@cvrdc.org
Larry Vanden Bosch, 706-272-2300 www.ngrdc.org