August 03, 2026
Meeting Summary: Altamaha Council February 3, 2026
Meeting Summary
Memorandum
To: Altamaha Regional Water Planning Council
From: Dr. Laura Rack, Georgia Water Planning and Policy Center Date: July 24, 2026
Subject: Altamaha Regional Water Planning Council Meeting Summary
This memorandum provides the meeting summary of the Altamaha Regional Water Planning Council Meeting, held at the Broomsedge Rod & Gun Lodge (6311 GA-86, Soperton, GA 30457) on February 3, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
Welcome, Introductions, and Council Business
Chairman Ed Jeffords called the meeting to order at 10:00 am. Chairman Jeffords welcomed council members and observers to the meeting and expressed the importance of the planning work done since 2008 to manage water in the state and reiterated the mission of the council to protect and utilize water resource via listening, developing, and planning.
Chairman Jeffords introduced Council Member Phillip Jennings, to welcome everyone to the Lodge. Mr. Jennings expressed he was glad to be a council member and the sentiment of leaving the land better than we found it.
Chairman Jeffords asked council members and observers to go around the room and share their name and affiliation, then turned the meeting over to Laura Rack of the Georgia Water Planning and Policy Center (GWPPC).
Dr. Rack reviewed the agenda and invited Mr. Clete Barton of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GAEPD) to share updates.
EPD Updates & State Water Planning Council Update
Mr. Barton, GAEPD and Council liaison, provided updates on GAEPD, the State Water Planning Council, Seed Grants, and the Coastal Permitting Strategy.
Seed Grants are to be announced in February 2026.
The recommended revisions to the State Water Plan were approved by the State Water Planning Council on December 9th, 2025. The next step is submittal to
the Georgia General Assembly for approval during the legislative session.
Mr. Barton provided an update on the Coastal Permitting Strategy and the formation of the Coastal Permitting Advisory Council (CPAC) by the Coastal Regional Water
Planning Council. Mr. Mark Masters, GWPPC, added that GWPPC is supporting EPD in this process by holding listening sessions to gather input.
Chairman Jeffords requested that an Altamaha council member be appointed as a liaison to the CPAC.
Georgia Water Planning & Policy Center Update
Dr. Rack, GWPPC, announced the next webinar on February 10th. She also shared registration was open for the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint Waters Conference on April 28-30, 2026.
Chairman Jeffords requested an overview of the regional water planning process since there were many observers present that may not be familiar with the process. Dr. Rack gave an overview of the 5-year regional water planning cycle and the focus over the next two years on updating the Altamaha Regional Water Plan for submission by June 2028.
Fireside Chat with Water Providers in the Region
Mr. Chris Morton of ClearWater Solutions, water and wastewater contractor for the City of Swainsboro and Mr. Scott Fowler of ESG/Inframark, water and wastewater contractor for the City of Vidalia spoke about their system operations.
The floor was opened for council members or observers to ask questions about their systems or operations. The following topics were discussed:
- Boundaries of service
- Septic pump out frequency and accepting biosolids
- Responsibilities of the city and contractor – the city secures funding (i.e., grant funding, etc.) and the contractors are responsible for operations and maintenance
- Both contractors perform water audits for their systems and have challenges that come with aging infrastructure
- Upgrading water meters
Mr. James Fletcher of Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) noted that funding is available from GEFA to address some of the aging infrastructure challenges.
Implementation Assessment
Dr. Rack, GWPPC, provided an overview of the implementation assessments that will be submitted to EPD by June. She will follow up with Chairman Jeffords in late February about volunteers to review the assessment document.
Council Priorities Discussion
The Council Priorities Discussion was led by Dr. Laura Rack. She provided an overview of the goals of the activity: to reflect on the past, present, and future needs or concerns for the region. Council members and observers all received a handout with three visioning questions to individually brainstorm.
Chairman Jeffords called for a break for lunch and reconvened the meeting at 12:20 p.m.
Dr. Rack facilitated an exercise including table conversations and full-room discussions.
Table conversations focused on past lessons, what “success” would look like in the future, and what water related issues will be most impactful short-term. Conversations covered the following topics:
- Data availability and understanding of water resources
- Impact of more severe weather events
- Improvements in wastewater treatment and water quality
- Surface water versus groundwater use
- Water efficiency and incentives
- Water availability for growth in future and protecting water resources
- Aging water infrastructure
- Development in neighboring regions, e.g., Coastal Georgia
- Education and awareness
Then there was a full group discussion about areas of focus for the next regional water plan update. The following topics were discussed by council members and observers:
- Utilizing surface water resources
- Addressing aging infrastructure but recognizing this happens at a local scale
- Water quality and septic system management
- Education and outreach
- Questions about who to connect with at a local level and how – is it council meetings? Is it another forum?
- Emphasis on the importance of education
- Direct support from the state for conservation projects (agricultural focus – e.g., farm ponds)
- Water quality at the tap (household)
- Contribution of diverse perspectives to support water planning
- State grant opportunities
Public Comment
There were no public comments.
Adjourn
Before adjourning, Chairman Jeffords called for a motion to approve the joint council meeting minutes from September 24, 2025. Minutes were approved with a motion by Mr. Rahn Milligan, seconded by Mr. Phillip Jennings, and unanimously approved by attending voting members.
Chairman Jeffords thanked everyone for their attendance and participation. The meeting was adjourned.
Council Members
Ed Jeffords (Chairman)
Phillip Jennings
Rahn Milligan
Others Present
Anthony Crawford, City of Jesup
Patrick Martin, City of Jesup
Dell Keith, Wayne County Industrial Development Authority
Scott Fowler, Inframark / Viadlia Water and Sewer
Frank Kastl, Heart of Georgia Regional Commission (HOGARC)
James Fletcher, Georgia Environmental Finance Authority
Jay Foskey, Georgia Forestry Commission
Coleman O’Quinn, Heart of Georgia Regional Commission (HOGARC)
Anna Weaver, Heart of Georgia Regional Commission (HOGARC)
Maggie VanCantfort, Altamaha Riverkeeper
Paul A. Drawdy, Wayne County
Alice Keyes, One Hundred Miles
Carla Coley, City of Cochran
Chris Morton, ClearWater Solutions / City of Swainsboro
Taylor Davis, Georgia Farm Bureau
Chris Moore, GA Department of Natural Resources
Hannah Mullins, Candler County Industrial Authority
Tim Thoms (Virtual)
Jason Mallard, University of Georgia
EPD and GWPPC staff
Clete Barton, GAEPD
Sarah Skinner, GWPPC (virtual)
Tim Fields, GAEPD (virtual)
Laura Rack, GWPPC
Parris Maguire, GAEPD (virtual)
Caitlin Sweeney, GWPPC
Russell Nix, GAEPD
Mark Masters, GWPPC
Wei Zeng, GAEPD (virtual)