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Soque River Watershed
Partnership
PRESENTATIONS
PROTECTION,
PLAN, POLICY
Perhaps one
of the Association’s most important roles is to proactively address the
degradation of water resources caused by poor planning, inadequate policy,
and inadequate protection in the form of compliance procedures. These
are the three P's necessary to preserve the
Soque Basin.
WATERSHED ASSESSMENT
Water resources are vital to the long
term success and sustainable growth of Habersham County and associated
localities. Residents of our area depend on the Soque River and its
tributaries to serve as water supplies and waste receiving streams for
domestic, agricultural, and industrial uses. The health of the Soque
watershed is vital to the future character of our economy and the quality
of our lives.
Segments of the river have been regularly listed as impaired due to nonpoint sources (NPS) of pollution (primarily sedimentation and the
presence of fecal coliform bacteria). The latest list of impaired
streams (Georgia’s
2008 Integrated 305(b)/303(d) Report)
is available from the Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia
Department of Natural Resources. The most effective way to locate
streams within the Soque River watershed, is to search for the word 'habersham'
within the 'Rivers/Streams' document.
All streams and rivers derive their
characteristics from the lands from which they drain (cumulatively
referred to as the watershed). In an effort to better understand the
sources and nature of NPS pollution in our watershed,
the Soque River
Watershed Partnership (SRWP) seeks to undertake a comprehensive assessment
of the biological, chemical, and physical state of the Soque
River system. The primary objectives of
this assessment are to identify NPS inputs in the watershed
and use the data collected to develop a management strategy that
will meet the needs of the Soque community while improving the overall
quality of the land and water on which we all rely.
To achieve these
goals, communication and cooperation among the watershed partners and
local residents are essential. All who live, work, or play in the
watershed are stakeholders in this process. Each member of the community
is in fact, a member of this partnership. The challenge is to put aside
all preconceptions and possible misconceptions about causes and sources of
NPS pollution and develop a scientific framework upon which to address
current and future demands on the Soque. |
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How do we get there from here?
There are three primary goals for this watershed partnership
effort:
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To develop a
clear scientific understanding of the relative health of the
Soque River Watershed.
To deliver this
understanding to the watershed community and to build
relationships that foster collaboration, communication and
cooperation.
To build
consensus on methods to restore degraded sections and to
preserve the health of non-degraded sections of the Soque Basin.
To accomplish these goals, the
partnership will call on a wealth of expertise and experience from
each of its partner groups and from a Technical Advisory Committee
(TAC). This TAC consisting of leading research scientists across
the state of Georgia will assist in the design of sampling
protocols used to formulate a comprehensive monitoring plan. This
monitoring plan will be based on the best and most current
scientific methodology available. |
We need
your help
Partner organizations in
the Soque River Watershed Partnership are encouraged to appoint an
individual to the partnership’s steering committee. This committee is the
backbone of the partnership and will meet quarterly to review progress and
recommend actions necessary to successfully meet our goals. Each
organization’s steering committee representative will be kept up-to-date
and asked to contribute their unique knowledge, guidance and assistance
towards the Partnership’s efforts. The steering committee will serve as an
example to the broader community of the type of collaboration and
cooperation achievable in planning for a sustainable watershed. Examples
of specific ways partner organizations may help include: serving as
liaisons between members of the community (e.g. property owners,
businesses) and the Watershed Coordinator, identifying potential sample
sites within locality boundaries, providing access to records necessary to
make informed decisions, encouraging the public to participate in the
process, “selling” the benefits of the project to all citizens, and
working together to address unforeseen challenges. |
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What to
expect
The success of this partnership
begins with scientifically defensible methods that gather and
analyze data for the purpose of improving the health of the
watershed. Ample opportunities will exist for public input and
airing of concerns. The Watershed Coordinator will be available
and accessible to promote the project and address issues as they
arise. Discussions that promote cooperation and partnership will
replace tendencies towards blame and finger pointing. Public
education and transparency of all elements of the project are
vital to building a consensus in the community for the protection
and enhancement of our most valuable natural resource. |
Project Benefits
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The development of a deeper understanding of the Soque
watershed
basin
for use in long-term stewardship and planning efforts.
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Each of the cities managing a public drinking water supply will be
better equipped to meet state requirements for source water
assessments. Data collected during this project should
dramatically decrease the expense for completing source water
assessments.
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Organizations
responsible for planning, including each of the localities, the US
Forest Service and the Georgia
Mountains Regional Development
Center, will possess more accurate information upon which to base
various resource management decisions.
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Public outreach to inform and educate members of the community
about the importance of the protection and wise use of local water
resources.
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The development of a strong partnership committed to stewardship
and conservation of local water resources. This partnership will
continue to seek grants that will allow for resource protection,
restoration efforts, and the effective management of threats
identified during the assessment.
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