This report presents highlights of regional water planning conducted from 2009 to 2011, following the 2008 adoption of Georgia’s State Water Plan. The State Water Plan established ten new Water Planning Councils that, with the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District, have now completed plans for the state’s 11 water planning regions.

In the three years since adoption of the State Water Plan, over 30,000 volunteer hours have been contributed and the State has invested $30 million in technical work and activities to support regional water planning. The Councils and District have developed regional water plans that together provide a roadmap for sustainable use of the Georgia’s water resources. Local governments, utilities, industries, and other water users in each region will implement the plans, and plan contents will help guide state agency decisions on water permits and grants and loans for water-related projects.

To prepare this report, we selected highlights from the eleven regional water plans. The full plans contain more in-depth information and should be consulted for details. The water plan for your region(s) can be downloaded from www. georgiawaterplanning.org or requested by contacting the Environmental Protection Division.

This report has four main sections, each addressing a different component of regional water planning. Sections 2 and 3 describe forecasts of water needs and the capacities of Georgia’s water resources. Section 4 provides an overview of the water management approaches presented in each regional plan. The final section outlines Georgia’s water planning process and steps following adoption of the regional water plans.