5.0 A State-wide Effort

Georgia's continued prosperity and quality of life are tied to how we collectively manage our water resources.

As the state’s population and economy grow, demands on the state’s waters grow as well. Over the past several decades, decisions about water management in Georgia were made largely in response to specific issues or needs. Meeting future water challenges will require a more proactive, comprehensive, and cooperative approach.

To that end, Georgia’s 2008 State Water Plan calls for on-going water planning that incorporates local and regional perspectives to ensure that the state’s water resources are sustainably managed.

In February of 2009, the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker of the House appointed the 300 members of the ten new Water Planning Councils. The Councils spent the next two and a half years learning about their region’s water resources, developing a regional vision and goals, refining assessments and forecasts, and identifying strategies for water management. Using this information and working with a range of stakeholders including neighboring Councils, the Councils prepared the plans described in this document.

With the plans already completed by the Metro District, Georgia now has a state-wide base of regional water plans that build on local and regional perspectives to identify the most appropriate ways to meet water needs through 2050.

Photo credit: Georgia Department of Economic Development

Photo caption: Coastal Boating, Coastal Georgia