EPA http://www.epa.gov/epahome/topics.html
Abstract: The above address is the homepage for the EPA. It is easiest to begin here when searching for water-related sites, since the EPA’s site is quite a maze, and it’s often true that “you can’t get there from here…” From the main homepage, click on “water.” That takes you to the Office of Water page from which you can access other areas including the Index of Watershed Indicators, Surf Your Watershed etc. These sites allow you to focus on the health of Georgia’s watersheds in terms of specific conditions and vulnerability. Information is presented in easy-to-read graphs. They also show how watershed health scores are calculated – very helpful. Other topical areas accessible from the main homepage include, drinking water, ground water, stormwater, surface water, wastewater, water pollution, water pollution control, effects, legal aspects of, and water quality monitoring. EPA’s pages provide the best overall picture of the various aspects of water quality, however you must spend considerable time searching the site for it to divulge its secrets!

United States Geological Service (USGS) http://www.usgs.gov/
Abstract: As for the EPA, it is best to begin with the USGS homepage. This site, while not quite as extensive as the EPA’s, still contains a bounty of water quality material that ranges from general to highly scientific information. The site allows users to focus on specific watersheds, rivers or counties in their home state. Streamflow conditions, annual average discharge of major Georgia streams, water use on a county-by-county basis, major land usage, phosphorus loads, data and trends are some of the specific areas covered. The site also has numerous publications (e.g., “Water Quality in the Georgia-Florida Coastal Plain…1992-1996”), color maps and 3-D graphics available on-line as downloads. You can also order anything they have as hard copy, much of which is free-of-charge. A “Water Science for Schools” section provides a template for educating students young and old about the precious nature of our water resources.

Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) http://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/lter/
This site presents the research of a long-term research project that examines the role of water transport in the ecological linkages between Georgia’s upland areas and coastal zone. Collaborating scientists use a multi-disciplinary approach including environmental monitoring, mathmatical modeling, direct experimentation and GIS analysis to study the various ways in which surface and ground water facilitate these linkages. Among other things, this research examines the influence of river flow and groundwater discharge variablility on: transport and exchange processes in tidal creeks, salt marshes and the surficial aquifer; sediment and groundwater nutrient dynamics; salt-marsh production and trophic structure; bacterial and fungal diversity and productivity; and invertebrate population dynamics. Datasets are available to the public and may be downloaded. This site is very technical – not for the lay reader – but for the research scientist it contains much useful data. The site will continue to be developed as the research progresses.

Georgia’s Groundwater Resources (UGA Cooperative Extension Service) http://www.ces.uga.edu/pubcd/b1096-w.html
This site presents a cogent overview of Georgia’s groundwater resources. It discusses basic concepts such as the hydrologic cycle, aquifers and groundwater movement. It also covers Georgia’s majors aquifers; groundwater use; water level trends; and how best to protect and insure the quality of our groundwater resources here in Georgia. References also are provided. This site is useful to readers of all levels and offers an excellent analysis of ground water in Georgia.

Learning to Use Water Wisely (Savannah Chatham County Water Conservation Program http://www.thempc.com/waterresources/
Site describes Savannah-area water conservation educational efforts including an explanation of the Groundwater Guardian Group. A home water use survey is designed to show how much water we use and teaches about how to conserve it. This site contains general information and has links to other relevant sites such as the Groundwater Foundation. We include it here inasmuch as it relates specifically to Savannah.

Georgia Water Wise Council (Georgia Chapter of the American Water Works Association – AWWA) http://www.griffin.peachnet.edu/water/
The AWWA is an international non-profit scientific and educational society dedicated to improving the quality and supply of drinking water. It helps create public awareness of water resources and conservation issues. This site is specific to Georgia, although you can access the main AWWA site as well. Georgia Water Wise has a series of publications designed for students (the Water Sourcebook Series) that covers surface and ground water; drinking water/wastewater treatment; wetlands and coastal waters. The site also promotes and explains Xeriscapes – a method of landscaping that features frequent use of indigenous plants - as a means of conserving water and protecting the environment. Xeriscaping has seven basic principles which are outlined and explained on the site.

Broad River Watershed Association http://www.uga.edu/brwa.html
The Broad River Watershed Association is a good example of a citizen action group’s efforts to monitor and encourage the protection of a river’s resources. This site was created by a regional non-profit land trust dedicated to the preservation of Georgia’s Broad River as a free-flowing river system. Further, they support land-use patterns that are compatible with overall water quality goals. The site includes a watershed glossary; describes various threats to the river system; and also has an atlas of the Broad River watershed that includes extensive recharge areas.

Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD – a division of Georgia Department of Natural Resources) http://www.dnr.state.ga.us/dnr/environ/
The above address is for the GA EPD home page which is the best place to start your search for water resources on this labrynthine site. The site is very helpful and is organized along the following topical breakdown: Georgia’s Environment; Rules and Laws; Implementation Plans; Outreach; the Regulated Community; EPD forms; Technical Guidance; Enforcement; and News. Each topic is sub-divided into specific areas of interest and most of the general topics have at least one water-related application. For example, under the topic “Regulated Community,” you will find all pertinent state regulations that apply to wastewater, well-drilling, water withdrawal and drinking water. Another of the site’s features is River Care 2000. Compiled by over 70 specialists from various fields, this initial assessment is the first comprehensive study of the quality of Georgia’s rivers. Readers can find the text of various watershed protection plans, download GIS databases and maps, search for spills, access the state toxic release inventory and much more. However, as with other large government-run sites, you must be prepared to spend some time on this site in order to grasp all its possibilities. To the patient go the rewards!

Georgia Adopt-a-stream Program http://www.riversalive.org/aas.htm
Georgia Adopt-a-stream is a volunteer citizen action group whose goals are: 1)raise public awareness of non-point source pollution and water quality issues in the state; 2)give citizens requisite tools and training that enable them to evaluate and protect local waterways; 3) encourage partnerships between citizens and local governments; and 4) to collect baseline water quality information. Over 36 community/watershed programs have organized Adopt-a-Stream groups for their area. Funded in part by grants, counties, cities and non-profit groups, the Adopt-a-Stream program gets training, manuals and technical support from Georgia EPD. The program itself, however, is not a government ogranization. The website shows how interested citizens can get involved in water quality issues in their area. It lists available resources and educational materials,discusses how to build a watershed alliance and has appropriate links to helpful sites. The site also tells you what tools you will need for monitoring and where you can aquire them. Collected Adopt-a-Stream newsletters are available on-line, and a list of contact persons is also provided. The Adopt-a-Stream site is a good example of how the internet serves to facilitate cooperation and focus efforts that have a net positive effect on the health of our state's watersheds. If you’re looking to get involved, check out this site.

NEMO Homepage (Non-point Education for Municipal Officials)
http://www.nemo.uconn.edu/
The following statement appears on each page of this website reminding readers of NEMO’s purpose as: “an educational program for local land use officials that addresses the relationship of land use to natural resource protection.” During 1991-92, NEMO began as a collaborative pilot project to address non-point pollution in three small CT. tcoastal towns. Collaborators included the University of Connecticut, Cooperative Extension Service, Connecticut Sea Grant and the State’s Natural Resource Management Department. Since that time it has evolved into a highly successful training program. Their new website is much improved and provides a wealth of information about NEMO’s educational materials, workshops and training. It also describes local projects and how to identify and educate local officials about how land use affects water quality. This is an excellent site if you have an interest in environmental activism or policy-making. Be sure to check out their “Supernumerary Policy Panel…”