Monday, September 11, 2000
A wing and a sprayer
Center of the univers(ity)
Campus Closeup
Newsmakers
Libraries name new directors for Digital Library, Media Archives
Dogs down under

Dry 2K
Severe drought forces state to face long-term water-resource challenges
By Helen Fosgate
hfosgate@smokey.forestry.uga.edu

The severe drought this year has focused attention on Georgia’s water supplies and on the health of some of the state’s rivers. Georgia faces many long-term water-resource challenges and issues. Columns discussed them with Todd Rasmussen, a hydrologist in the Warnell School of Forest Resources, who is working on a number of research projects related to water-resource management in our rapidly growing state.

Columns: How healthy are Georgia’s major streams and rivers?
Rasmussen: That depends upon where you are. In forested areas, research shows us that streams are generally very healthy. Streams draining agricultural areas are not in as good shape. They are more likely to have excess nutrients and bacterial contamination.
Urban streams, though, are in the worst condition. They contain large amounts of sediment, nutrients, pesticides, herbicides and bacterial contamination.
Generally, unhealthy rivers turn muddy when it rains and green when it doesn’t. Healthy streams are clear, have gravel or rock bottoms, and contain lots of logs, sticks and fallen leaves. Healthy streams have a forest canopy that shades the water, which prevents it from overheating and “cooking” fish and other aquatic life.
In forestry, we use guidelines called “Best Management Practices” to protect streams and rivers. When followed, they help to prevent soil erosion and chemical runoff into waterways. Right now the guidelines are voluntary, but there’s pressure from the Environmental Protection Agency to make them mandatory.

Columns: Aren’t there guidelines to prevent storm runoff and pollution in urban areas?
Rasmussen: Not yet, but there should be--because urban and suburban runoff are the main sources of pollution to the state’s major waterways. Storm runoff from roofs, lawns, streets and parking lots are full of yard pesticides, oil, and fecal coliform from animal and human waste. Runoff also contains a host of chemicals and soil from areas that are bare and unprotected, like new construction sites. All of this--and much more--runs into storm drains and then into our rivers.
While new construction requires the use of strong, well-placed silt fences, it’s difficult for counties to enforce this law with all the new construction that a strong economy brings. The biggest improvements, though, could come from people changing their behavior.

Columns: What can we as individuals do to improve the health of our streams?
Rasmussen: Four basic things:
• Prevent the water runoff from roofs, driveways and yards from reaching streams.
• Don’t water outside during a drought.
• Don’t waste water indoors.
• Protect stream corridors.

Columns: Why is preventing runoff so important?
Rasmussen: Overland flow from impervious surfaces is the major cause of pollution in urban areas. We can eliminate runoff by routing storm water runoff to porous areas like gardens, flower beds and landscaped areas. Heavy mulching, with at least three inches of wood bark, wood chips or compost will help improve the infiltration rate by promoting faster water uptake by the soil. However we do it, we should prevent this runoff from reaching a road or stream.

Columns: I’ve heard a lot recently about permeable pavements. What’s that all about?
Rasmussen: Some newer types of asphalt and paving materials are actually permeable. Their surfaces allow water to soak into the ground. They aren’t suitable for heavy traffic areas, like highways, but they’re great for driveways and parking areas. They should be integrated into all new parking areas. The heavily traveled parts can be made of conventional paving while the perimeter and lightly used parts can be permeable pavement.
Another simple rule should be to shade all pavement. Pavement gets so hot when exposed to direct sunshine that the storm water runoff increases stream temperatures to the point that it can literally cook the aquatic life in streams.

Columns: What’s so bad about outside watering during a drought?
Rasmussen: Rivers and streams fall to very low levels during a drought, causing problems for aquatic ecosystems. Some of the water loss is natural, but a large part is due to cities pumping water from the river for human use. Indoor water usually goes down a drain and is returned to the river. But outdoor water use never gets returned and is lost.

Columns: What can I do to help protect my neighborhood stream?
Rasmussen: Streams and rivers don’t end at their banks. The stream channel is linked to its surroundings by a floodplain or tree-lined buffer area called a riparian zone. Streams and rivers need to flood and meander. They also need trees to shade them and roots to hold their banks in place. Trees alongside rivers and streams should be protected to supply important woody debris to the riparian zone when they die and fall.

Columns: I always heard beavers were pests. What’s this about them being good for water quality?
Rasmussen: Before Europeans arrived, beavers were an important part of the landscape. Beaver ponds help to form wetlands that provide important habitat for other species. Beyond that, their dams and ponds also trap sediments, remove nutrients, increase flow during droughts, and lessen the incidence of flooding.
UGA Today ] News Bureau ] Master Calendar ] Columns ] Georgia Magazine ]
UGA Home ] Admissions ] Directories ] Sports ] Alumni ] Weather ]
Search this site ] Search UGA sites ]

Developed by University Communications News Bureau at the University of Georgia.
Beth Roberts: Columns editor, Juliett Dinkins: Columns managing editor,
Janet Beckley: Columns art director.
This site works best with the latest version of
Netscape Navigator 4.0 and Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0.