Government Congressional Clean Lakes Task Force Assignment

Lake Allatoona Phase I Diagnostic-Feasibility Study

Report for 1992 - 1997

Prepared for:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Georgia Environmental Protection Division

Contract #751-290083 &

Bartow County Government Cherokee County Water Authority

City of Cartersville Cobb County Government

Cobb-Marietta Water Authority

A.L. Burruss Institute of Public Service Kennesaw State University

1000 Chastain Road Kennesaw, Georgia 30144

(770) 423-6464

February 1999

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A.L. Burruss Institute of Public Service Kennesaw State University

Dr. Harold K. McGinnis, Director and Associate Professor of Public Administration Mrs. Christine Storey, Assistant Director for Administration & Grants Management Mr. Terry Sloope, Assistant Director for Research Mr. Patrick Burke, Former GIS Research Associate Mr. Harry Boxler, Former GIS Research Analyst Mr. Steve Pejza, Graduate Research Assistant Mr. Chuck Kerstann, Director, Georgia Regional Community Policing Institute (GRCPI) Mrs. Cheryl Cochran, Former Administrative Secretary to the Director Mrs. Patricia Gass, Senior Secretary Ms. Alicia Smith, Former Grants Writing Assistant Mrs. Sherry Williams, Administrative Secretary to GRCPI

Center for Watershed Assessment and Lake Studies

Mr. Paul S. Rose, Environmental Research Coordinator Mr. K. Chris Schepis, Former Environmental Consultant Mr. James Rosich, Former GIS/Planning Consultant

Faculty Researchers

Dr. Joe Dirnberger, Limnologist, Principal Field Investigator Dr. Ralph Rascati, Limnologist, Co-Principal Field Investigator Dr. Ron Matson, Ichthyologist Dr. P.E. Bostick, Geologist and Botanist Dr. Huggins Msimanga, Analytical Chemist

Laboratory & Field Technicians

Dan Baerwalde Richard Bowers Christopher Brooks Lisa Davis Camille Gasaway Susan Hamel Robyn Holtman Philip May Mark Music

Student Assistants

Kelton Alexander John Dixon Stacy Hoffman Anthony Hughes Kim Maynard Jaya Narwani Jamie Stagg-Gibson

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University of Georgia

Center for Remote Sensing and Mapping Science (Nonpoint Source and Sedimentation Model)

Dr. Roy Welch Dr. Nivaldo Fernandez Dr. Tommy Jordan

Agricultural Research Center (Laboratory Support)

Dr. Parshall Bush Dr. Egerton Whittle Ms. Natalie Bryant

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Acknowledgments

The A.L. Burruss Institute of Public Service would like to express our gratitude to the contributors for this study. It was

through their efforts that we were able to address water quality assessment and goals for the Lake Allatoona watershed. This study was

made possible with financial contributions from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ($350,000), the Georgia Environmental

Protection Division ($85,000), Bartow County Water & Sewer Department ($50,000), Cherokee County Water Authority ($50,000),

and the Cobb County Water System ($50,000).

We acknowledge the contributions and leadership provided by the following original partners:

Dr. Howard Marshall, EPA Region IV Dr. Jim Greenfield, EPA Region IV Mr. Mork Winn, Georgia EPD Dr. Dave Kamps, Georgia EPD Mr. Chip Cutcliff, Georgia EPD Ms. Linda Harn, Georgia EPD Mr. Kevin Farrell, Georgia EPD Mr. Gene Camp, Bartow County Water & Sewer Department Mr. Harrison Collett, Cherokee County Water Authority Mr. Dan Guill, Cobb County Water System Mr. Jim Carpenter, Welker & Associates and Cherokee County Water Authority

We appreciate the continued support from:

Mr. Bob Brice, Cobb County Water System Mr. Tom Heard, Cherokee County Water Authority Mr. Roy Fowler, Cobb-Marietta Water Authority Mr. James Stafford, City of Cartersville Water Department

Special Thanks to:

Mr. Narvell Lassiter, Allatoona Marina and Westrec for donation of boat slip for the duration of the Lake Allatoona Study

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary

Section

I. Introduction

II. Description of Lake Uses and Resources A. Population Demographics and Economics

1. Primary Lake Watershed 2. Downstream Watershed 3. Upstream Watershed

B. Public Access to Lake Allatoona C. Historical Use and Future User Population Impact

1. Lake Visitation and Activities 2. Water Usage and User Population

D. Water Use Comparison to Other Lakes in 80-km Radius 1. Lakes In the Allatoona Watershed 2. Lakes Outside the Allatoona Watershed

III. Watershed Use & Nonpoint & Point Sources of Pollution A. Description of Soils

1. Primary Lake Watershed 2. Upstream Watershed Areas 3. Downstream Watershed Areas

B. Description of Geology C. Land Use Analysis

1. Land Use Inventory D. Nonpoint Source Pollution Discharges

1. Database for the Lake Allatoona Watershed 2. Topography 3. Land Use/Land Cover 4. Soil Erodibility 5. Rainfall Erosivity 6. Gross Erosion and Sediment Discharge 7. Effects of Simulated Land Management Changes on Sediment Discharge 8. Phosphorus Discharge

E. Point Sources of Pollution 1. Inventory with map of basins, tributary sampling stations and dischargers

IV. Historical/Current Baseline Limnological Data A. Historical Limnological Data B. Limnological Data from Intensive Monitoring in 1992-93 C. Long-Term Trends in Lake and Tributary Water Quality from 1992-96 D. Limnological Data from Additional Sites and Dates E. Conclusions

V. Biological Resources A. Macrophyte Vegetation B. Allatoona Vegetation Analysis C. Assessment of Ichtyofaunal Composition of Streams/Lake Allatoona D. Summary of Rare and Endangered Species in the Lake Allatoona Watershed E. Natural & Endemic Species in the Lake Allatoona Watershed

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TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)

VI. Evaluation of Management Alternatives A. Identification and Discussion of Management Alternatives B. General Timeline for Alternatives C. Description of Relationships for Pollution Control Programs Funded by Federal, State or Local Funds D. Operation and Maintenance Plan for Proposed Implementation Plan

VII. Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Plan A. Limnological Data Establishing The Impact of Non-Point Sources B. Interactive Modeling of Sediment-Related Nonpoint Source Pollution in the Watersheds of Lake

Allatoona C. Identification and Discussion of Management Alternatives D. Itemized Inventory of County and Municipality Erosion and Sedimentation, Stormwater and Nonpoint

Source Pollution Control Ordinances in the Lake Allatoona Watershed

VIII. Public Meetings in the Lake Allatoona Watershed A. Public Involvement B. General Comments and Questions C. E-Mails and Telephone Communications D. Lake Allatoona General Comments and Questions from Public Meetings E. Public Comment Conclusions F. Lake Allatoona Clean Lakes Task Force G. Lake Allatoona Public Meeting Presentation

References

Technical Appendix

A.L. Burruss Institute of Public Service 1

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report covers the 1992 - 1996 studies on Lake Allatoona as part of an U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency (USEPA) Clean Lakes Program. The emphasis of the study is on the assessment of

water quality within the lake and the feasibility of watershed protection.

The Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources

(EPD), applied for and received a USEPA Section 314-Phase I Clean Lakes grant for work on Lake

Allatoona in 1992. The EPD contracted with the A.L. Burruss Institute of Public Service at Kennesaw

State University, Kennesaw, Georgia, in May 1992 to conduct a Phase I Clean Lakes Study of Lake

Allatoona. In 1994, the Institute submitted an interim Phase-I report to the EPD and the USEPA. In

1994, the EPD applied for and received additional Clean Lakes funding to continue the Phase I project

on Lake Allatoona. The EPD contract with the Burruss Institute was amended to provide for

continued monitoring in 1994 - 1996 and to provide for completion of the Phase I study report. The

study was facilitated by substantial matching funds from a multi-county Tri-Regional Association

consisting of members from: the Bartow County Water and Sewer Department; Cobb County Water

System; and the Cherokee County Water Authority. The objectives for the study were:

1. The compilation of existing geological and biological information on Lake Allatoona and its surrounding watershed and existing and future demographic and economic data;

2. An assessment of the historical and current limnological status of Lake Allatoona and an investigation of sources that impact the status of water quality, and uses of, in the Lake; and,

3. An examination of the feasibility of watershed management alternatives to maintain water quality at a level that would support the current multiple-use status of Lake Allatoona.

A.L. Burruss Institute of Public Service 2

Demographic Information

The "Primary" Lake Allatoona watershed area consists of Bartow, Cherokee, Cobb, and North

Fulton Counties. The "Upstream" watershed area is made up of: Dawson, Forsyth and Pickens

Counties. Both areas are growing more rapidly than the state of Georgia as a whole. From 1990 to

1994, population growth was 9.47% in the primary watershed and 19.5% in the upstream areas.

Along with this population growth came increases by greater than 38% in the number of households

(i.e. primary-44.2% and upstream-38.6%). Population densities for the primary watershed in 1994 are

estimated at 574.2 persons per square mile and 126.2 persons per square mile for upstream counties.

In fact, the state of Georgia is expected to be the ninth most populous state in the country by the year

2020.

Economic conditions in the primary watershed are amenable for business expansion with a

civilian labor force in 1995 of 399,345 and an overall unemployment rate of about 4.7%. By

comparison, upstream counties have a civilian labor force of 48,085 and an unemployment rate of

4.2%. Primary watershed counties' 1994 per capita income is $23,309 per person compared to

$19,503 for the upstream area. The primary watershed area per capita personal income was above the

1994 state average of $20,212 and the upstream watershed areas were just below this level.

Over the next sixteen years (1994-2010), both the upstream watershed areas and the primary

watershed areas are expected to increase by an average of 21.6% in population (20.48% primary and

22.7% for upstream). By the year 2010, the primary watershed counties are expected to reach 722.2

persons per square mile and the upstream counties are expected to have 163.4 persons per square mile.

This equates to a 20.5% increase in population density for upstream counties and a 22.7% increase for

upstream watershed areas. With this growth scenario will come increased needs for water supply,

sewage treatment capacity, and widespread nonpoint source pollution if left uncontrolled.

A.L. Burruss Institute of Public Service 3

Limnological Data

This portion of the study sampled twenty-five primary lake and tributary sites over 19 dates

between May 1992 and April 1993. In 1994 to 1996, the study focused on six major lake sites and

seven tributary sites, along with four upstream sites along the Etowah River. Additional sites and dates

were also sampled for selected parameters. Limited historical limnological data suggest Lake

Allatoona is becoming increasingly eutrophic. Based on all major indicators of trophic status from data

collected in this study, Lake Allatoona is classified as being in transition between mesotrophic and

eutrophic. In eutrophic lakes, the probability that use of the lake will be impaired is significant. In Lake

Allatoona, phosphorus is the primary limiting nutrient for algal growth, and hence the key factor in

controlling eutrophication. The Etowah River contributes most of the water and phosphorus load to

the lake, and limnological data suggest most of this phosphorus is released from nonpoint sources in

this mostly rural watershed. However, chlorophyll a concentrations in embayments receiving discharge

from other tributaries were generally higher. Because Lake Allatoona's morphometry is complex, these

semi-enclosed embayments appear to be largely independent of the main lake, and water quality in each

embayment is influenced to a greater extent by the shape of the embayment and the discharge of

tributaries entering the embayment from the urban/suburban parts of the watershed.

While rural nonpoint sources of pollution are largely responsible for the Lake's current overall

trophic status, influences of urban development on lake water quality were observed in the Little River

embayment of the lake. This embayment is strongly eutrophic as documented by chlorophyll a

concentrations generally twice as high as those at the dam pool. High concentrations of phosphorus in

water entering into the Little River embayment from Noonday Creek (a small watershed, which

contains more than one-third of all urban development within the entire watershed) originate from both

point sources and nonpoint sources associated with urban development. Poor water quality within this

embayment plainly demonstrates that urban development can shift trophic status in Lake Allatoona

from transitional mesotrophic-eutrophic to eutrophic.

From a human health perspective, there is need for some concern, but not alarm. Fecal

coliform bacteria levels rarely exceeded state criteria within the Lake. Higher levels measured in the

tributaries suggest the potential for sudden input of fecal coliform bacteria during storm events. Few

potential toxic substances were found above detectable levels in lake and tributary water. Only

A.L. Burruss Institute of Public Service 4

mercury and copper, at a single site, exceeded state water quality criteria. A single point source is not

indicated for any of these substances. Analyses of fish tissue revealed the presence of several

chemicals, including arsenic, mercury and PCBs, which have potential to cause toxicity to humans if

present in sufficient concentrations. However, only PCBs and mercury were detected in species of fish

monitored with frequency and in concentrations sufficient to cause concerns for human health from

consumption, when the potential for cancer and non-cancer risks were evaluated using currently

accepted risk-based approaches. These approaches assume consumption of fish with frequencies of

one meal per week or greater, for periods of 30 to 70 years, with no decrease in contaminant

concentrations during that time in the fish.

Feasibility & Management Alternatives

The original purposes for the construction of Lake Allatoona were flood control, power

generation, and downstream navigational needs. Since the original authorization by Congress,

additional demands on Lake Allatoona have emerged: drinking water withdrawal permits and

wastewater discharge permits for one of the fastest growing parts of the state and greatly expanded

recreational and habitat management responsibilities. Lake Allatoona is unique in several aspects. For

instance, Lake Allatoona is divided into twelve distinct sub-watersheds that cover 725,940 acres and

generally consist of forest, wetland, agricultural, water, and land use classifications. Each sub-

watershed is unique and should be managed according to its specific needs.

Section VI of this report highlights and specifies needs and actions to be taken to ensure quality

control of this resource. The Institute has derived twenty-six (26) recommendations for the Lake

Allatoona watershed. These recommendations have been categorized based upon needs for specific

areas in the Lake Allatoona watershed while maintaining the overall need for quality control. These

recommendations are categorized into nine (9) feasibility and management controls that include

Watershed Management and Protection, Nonpoint Source Pollution and Best Management Practices,

In-Lake Restoration, Point Source Controls and Management, Solid Waste Strategies, Natural Area

Preservation, Water Conservation, Continued Lake and Watershed Monitoring, and Public

Participation. Additionally, a Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Plan was developed based upon

limnological results and is presented in Section VII of this report.

A.L. Burruss Institute of Public Service 5

1. Watershed Management and Protection

Watershed protection and management plans are essential tools that can effectively address

water quality and quantity issues. Differing types of watershed protection and management measures

may be appropriate, depending on whether or not a particular area is relatively urban or rural, in

addition to how much growth is anticipated.

Before the established methods of reducing nonpoint source pollution and a watershed plan can

be put in place, goals (primary, secondary, and tertiary) must be identified and agreed upon by all the

stakeholders. The most successful reduction method will stress a multi-disciplinary approach,

emphasizing cooperation among all stakeholders. A coordinated plan would insure that common goals

were identified and executed. Once identified, the goals would be derived into specific tasks. The

stakeholders best suited to perform a particular task would be encouraged to address those issues.

Finally, progress on goals would be evaluated.

2. Nonpoint Source Pollution Prevention Using Best Management Practices (BMPs)

A best management practice (BMP) is considered to be a practice that decreases the pollutants

in transport through rainfall events or a structural device or nonstructural initiative that reduces the

quantity of pollutants in runoff prior to it being emptied to a lake, river, stream or creek. Realistic

goals for best management practices include developing controls for priority sources of pollutants, to

mitigate an existing water quality problem through pollutant reduction, to not create future pollution

problems where none exist, and to implement baseline controls to decrease pollutants in nonpoint

source runoff from urban or agricultural areas. Best management practices (BMPs) are used to

prevent loss of water uses due to nonpoint source pollution, and are used to restore and protect critical

aquatic resources including habitat, and to meet water quality needs. For urban nonpoint pollution,

effective techniques can be grouped into four types: detention basins, retention devices, vegetative

controls, and source controls. Factors that determine the type of control include the watershed area

drained, the permeability of soils and the acceptance of the control measures by residents.

Agricultural nonpoint sources of pollution include runoff from dry land and irrigated cropland,

livestock production or range and pasture land, small scale livestock and poultry confinement facilities,

agricultural processing plants, and manure disposal areas. For example, best management practices for

cropland might include maintaining vegetative cover, conservation tillage, furrow diking, contour

A.L. Burruss Institute of Public Service 6

plowing, and terracing to conserve rainfall and reduce loss of soil, nutrients and pesticides in

agricultural runoff. Using marginal croplands for hay production or for grazing cattle is a good best

management practice. Silviculture contributes to nonpoint source problems in the Lake Allatoona

watershed. Logging plans should be developed that follow guidelines, established by the Georgia

Forestry Commission, for nonpoint source control programs.

To make best management practices work within the Lake Allatoona watershed, education and

technical assistance efforts must reach the farmer in the field, the logger in the woods, builder of the lot,

and homeowner in the yard.

3. In-Lake Restoration

For in-lake restoration, food web manipulation or a "top-down" strategy is proposed. In an

effort to control algal growth, the food chain is manipulated through an increase in the sports fishery

population, thereby decreasing the over-production of algae. It may be suggested that in Lake

Allatoona the amount of algae in open water may be controlled at times by grazing zooplankton rather

than solely by the quantity of nutrients.

Another in-lake restoration strategy includes water level manipulation. The U.S. Army Corps

of Engineers could conduct an analysis on the flexibility of changing lake levels in the Fall and onset of

Spring. Initial refilling of lake levels in the Spring may be having adverse effects on phosphorus loading

in Lake Allatoona. Alternating or delaying the filling of the lake would aid in proper dispersal and

dilution of heavy phosphorus loads into Lake Allatoona.

4. Septic Tanks and Point Source Controls and Management

A great part of the northern section of the Lake Allatoona watershed relies on septic systems

for the treatment of waste. In order to ensure that these systems are in proper working order, and local

ordinances must be directed toward the maintenance and inspection of these systems. Residents with

septic systems need to be educated on the proper usage of septic systems. Simple tasks could be

handled by residents such as not discarding toxics (medicines, cleaning agents, oils, and paints) into

septic systems.

Projected increases in population may require upgrading treatment facilities to higher levels of

treatment and phosphorus removal to maintain current permitted discharge from wastewater treatment

facilities. However, current nutrient loads from wastewater treatment facilities (WWTF) could be

A.L. Burruss Institute of Public Service 7

maintained if nonpoint source loading can be reduced. If significant increases in nonpoint source

pollution occur from population growth, then further reductions at wastewater facilities may be

necessary to compensate for increased loads from nonpoint sources. Finally, private wastewater

facilities could be phased-out and service provided to these facilities from county or regional

wastewater facilities with greater levels of treatment.

5. Solid Waste Strategies

Water pollution problems can be reduced or eliminated by locating sanitary landfills away from

streams, lakes and wells. Test wells around the site can be used to monitor the movement of pollutants

away from the landfills. Drainage systems, natural buffers and landscaping can reduce the flow of

water over the surface of a landfill and reduce the amount of water penetrating it. Stream, lake and

river monitoring could be instituted to ensure that no leachate reaches surface waters. To protect

public health and drinking water supplies, local governments can establish stringent controls for landfill

siting and not permit landfills within the upslope areas of rivers, lakes or streams. These regulations

could also mandate recycling and composting as alternatives to solid waste dumps.

6. Natural Area Preservation

Construction standards and the increased need for tree preservation are essential for the Lake

Allatoona watershed. Enforcing construction standards and implementing spatial standards for tree

preservation works in a symbiotic relationship to control erosion, sedimentation, runoff, and promote

aesthetics. Counties could invoke more stringent tree preservation ordinances during construction and

efforts should be made to incorporate natural vegetative buffers within the developed site as well as on

the perimeter.

Green space and natural buffers are vital to the health and quality of water in streams, rivers

and lakes in Georgia. Also, soil stabilization is critical to lakes due to the accelerated aging that occurs

in lakes as a result of increased sedimentation. Local governments need to place greater emphasis on

buffer zones.

The preservation of natural streams is vital to the health of areas rich in water. It is essential

that these natural areas remain to ensure that future water quality standards for the watershed are met.

A.L. Burruss Institute of Public Service 8

7. Water Conservation Programs

Water conservation is another integral part of watershed management for Lake Allatoona.

Reducing water usage in areas adjacent to a reservoir may appear unnecessary; however, reducing

water usage also reduces wastewater discharges. Additionally, since the three major sub-watersheds

have a high percentage of septic systems, domestic water conservation techniques would actually

prolong the life of individual septic systems. Water conservation is particularly appropriate in cases

where existing treatment capacity is limited or near the maximum. Most water conservation

procedures are simple. Georgia State law already requires certain practices. Billing on a graduated

rate structure (Graduated Consumption Use Procedures) is where domestic rates are increased for

peak consumption higher than historic base (winter) consumption.

8. Continued Lake and Watershed Monitoring

Watershed management programs should be evaluated on the basis of continued monitoring,

so that the changes in limnological indicators can be periodically assessed. Thus, yearly variability can

be distinguished from long term trends. Generally, historical and current limnological data and

inventory information, including but not limited to biological and chemical parameters, water column

and upstream temperature, and physical and hydrological parameters, are measured. Benchmark

streams and sub-watersheds can be used to provide reference points in evaluating water quality criteria.

Citizens monitoring programs or other community sponsored water quality activities can be important

tools as part of any cost effective monitoring effort.

9. Public Participation Program

The use of interagency coordinating committees at the citizen, local, state and federal levels in

watershed management projects has proven to be effective in providing leadership and management for

water quality project implementation throughout the nation. In addition, watershed management plans

increase public awareness through participation in the watershed management process and may

improve public perception of overall environmental management efforts by showing that resources are

being focused on priority issues documented in the Clean Lakes Study process. The information

presented in plans should be presented in a manner that facilitates public participation and fosters

volunteer efforts such as citizens monitoring for Lake Allatoona.

A.L. Burruss Institute of Public Service 9

Public outreach will be a vital component in developing water quality standards, during the

implementation of actions to protect Lake Allatoona and it will bring the study's findings and

recommendations to the local county and municipal governments who are largely responsible for land

use, regulating wastewater discharges and stormwater and sedimentation controls within the

watershed. Cooperative efforts among local, regional, state, and federal agencies to provide leadership

for funding and technical assistance will be crucial to the full implementation of the study's findings.

1

Section I: Introduction

Early in 1990, the chairmen of the County Commission for Bartow and Cobb Counties in

Northwest Georgia and Chairman of the Cherokee Water Authority, formed the Tri-Regional

Association, a multi-county/regional development center committee to explore regional solutions to

the future challenges of water supply, transportation development, solid waste disposal and

wastewater treatment. Allatoona Lake, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir, was identified

by the association as a Regionally Important Resource (RIR), and placed in a high priority category

for study, and in planning considerations.

Local officials requested assistance from the A.L. Burruss Institute of Public Service, at

Kennesaw State University, to identify funding to accomplish a study of water quality in the lake. The

EPD applied for and was awarded a USEPA Clean Lakes Phase I Diagnostic-Feasibility Study grant

for Lake Allatoona in 1992. The EPD contracted with the Burruss Institute to conduct the study. This

funding originated from Section 314 of the Clean Water Act, Clean Lakes Program. Matching funds

were solicited by the Burruss Institute and local county authorities (Bartow County Water & Sewer

Department, Cherokee County Water Authority, and the Cobb County Water System) contributed

$50,000 each. These matching dollars cannot be overemphasized as an important investment for

counties faced with planning for explosive population growth. "In-kind" matching contributions were

provided by the Burruss Institute, as well as the recruitment of a project coordinator/grants manager

and a scientific research team that conducted the actual investigation.

Promptly, a Clean Lakes Task Force coordinated by the Institute, was formed through the

sponsorship of Congressman George (Buddy) Darden and later by Congressman Bob Barr,

and included all federal, state, and local agencies that held a portion of responsibility for lake

conditions and watershed protection programs: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps); U.S.

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, and Natural Resources Conservation Service; U.S. EPA;

U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Geological Survey; the Georgia

Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division; the Georgia Department of

Community Affairs; and appropriate regional development centers. An attempt to include every

political body bordering the lake and watershed, including upstream areas, was surprisingly successful.

The Lake Allatoona Phase I Clean Lakes Diagnostic-Feasibility Study describes the physical

characteristics of the lake (area, depth, mean flow); the general chemical and biological characteristics

of the lake (temperature, dissolved oxygen, nutrients, algal population, fish population); watershed Introduction

Introduction 2

characteristics (drainage area, land use, topography, geology and soils); and possible pollutant sources

(wastewater treatment plant discharge, nonpoint pollution sources). Also included are analyses of

research data and an overview of the feasibility of implementing management alternatives for water

quality protection in the watershed.

In 1994, the Lake Allatoona Interim Phase I Diagnostic-Feasibility Study Report was delivered

to the EPD and the USEPA. In 1994, the EPD applied for and received additional Clean Lakes

funding to continue the Phase I project on Lake Allatoona. The EPD contract with the Burruss

Institute was amended to provide for continued monitoring in 1994 - 1996 and to provide for

completion of the Phase I study report. Specific areas of interest were those identified as "critical"

areas on Lake Allatoona and upstream influences on the watershed.

Additionally, the Lake Allatoona Clean Lakes Task Force included agencies from the northern

most sections of the watershed (Dawson County, Forsyth County, Limestone Valley RC & D Council,

Georgia Mountains RDC and Pickens County). In January 1995, the Lake Allatoona Clean Lakes

Task Force changed sponsorship from Congressman George "Buddy" Darden to Congressman Bob

Barr. Efforts are being made to implement BMPs/Management Alternatives for the Lake Allatoona

watershed.

In 1996, the A.L. Burruss Institute of Public Service was funded for the continuation of

monitoring specific sites on Lake Allatoona and the Etowah River during the Summer months.

Funding was provided by the EPD, Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority, Bartow County Water &

Sewer Department and the City of Cartersville. All data collected from years 1992 - 1997 have been

added for the final Lake Allatoona Phase I Diagnostic-Feasibility report.

Because Lake Allatoona and its watershed encompass multiple political jurisdictions and levels

of government, proper and effective water quality management often demands considering diverse

mandates, such as: Congressional authorizations, economic and recreational concerns, and health

issues. Public and private partnerships in watershed management allow multiple concerns to be

addressed and hopefully resolved, before water quality degradation affects the health, economic and

recreational opportunities, and natural resource (drinking water) requirements of the populations that

make use of the lake's resources.