Georgia River Basin Management Planning

Georgia uses a river basin planning approach to watershed protection. This approach provides the framework for identifying, assessing, and prioritizing water resource issues, developing implementation strategies, and providing opportunities for targeted, cooperative actions to reduce pollution, enhance aquatic habitat, and provide a dependable water supply.

River Basin Management Plans are prepared in accordance with legislation passed by the Georgia General Assembly that calls for the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) to prepare plans for each major river basin in Georgia.

The plans are developed in cooperation with the public and agency partners including the Georgia Forestry Commission, Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission, the DNR Wildlife Resources Division, U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U. S Geological Survey, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

  • Chattahoochee River Basin Management Plan (1997)*
  • Flint River Basin Management Plan (1997)*
  • Coosa River Basin Management Plan (1998)*
  • Tallapoosa River Basin Management Plan (1998)*
  • Oconee River Basin Management Plan (1998)*
  • Savannah River Basin Management Plan (2001)*
  • Ogeechee River Basin Management Plan (2001)*
  • Ochlockonee River Basin Management Plan - (2002)*
  • Suwannee River Basin Management Plan (2002)*
  • Satilla River Basin Management Plan (2002)*
  • St. Marys River Basin Management Plan (2002) *
  • Ocmulgee River Basin Management Plan (2004) *
  • Altamaha River Basin Management Plan (2004)*
  • Tennessee River Basin Management Plan (Available 2005)

*Note: Total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) established under the Clean Water Act for stream segments within these basins are included in the River Basin Plans and are incorporated by reference therein. Those stream segments are identified with a “3� in the 303(d) column in the tables in Appendix E of the plans. The TMDLs for the river basins are too voluminous to be attached to each plan, but copies of any or all of the TMDLs adopted by reference may be obtained from EPD by sending a request to the Water Protection Branch at 4220 International Parkway, Suite 101, Atlanta, Georgia 30354.

Source: Environmental Protection Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR)