Water Center: Water Quality River Basin Information

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!

UGA River Basin Science and Policy Center http://www.rivercenter.uga.edu/
Abstract: UGA River Basin Science and Policy Center (www.rivercenter.uga.edu) A recent addition to the rapidly expanding on-line world of water quality information, the University of Georgiaís River Basin Science and Policy Center is an exciting nexus of research, policy, education and information. The Center seeks to combine the University of Georgia's multi-faceted research and outreach expertise to aid in the development of sound water-resource policies on local, state and national and international levels.

The Center not only conducts and analyzes research and policy related to water quality management, but also sees to it that managers, policymakers, stakeholders and the general public have access to such information. As would be expected from such a diverse group of contributing scientists, research is available on many distinct areas throughout Georgia's watershed ? from the trout streams of North Georgia to the life-giving estuaries of the Georgia coast. The Center also sponsors various educational projects that target the next generation of Georgia's water stewards.

While many sites have similar missions, the UGA River Basin Science and Policy Center is a very active organization and the site provides a wealth of white papers, research documents, news of upcoming water conferences and meetings and links to other water-resource sites.

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.

Land Margin Ecosystem Research (LMER) http://wiegert.marsci.uga.edu/
Abstract: This site presents the on-going results of a collaborative project that examines the interactions between Georgia’s coastal wetlands and rivers and their adjacent oceanic ecosystems. Cooperating partners include scientists at University of Georgia’s School of Marine Programs, Marine Institute on Sapelo Island and Insitute of Ecology, and the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography. This site has extensive scientific databases on Georgia rivers including information on secondary bacterial production, dissolved organic carbon, dom flourescence, microbial respiratory rates and GIS imagery. Also featured are land-use and land-cover maps of all five of Georgia’s coastal river watersheds. This site, while not for the lay reader, offers extensive scientific data that is essential for scientists looking at eocsytem interactions.

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 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!