ATLANTA — For the first time since 2012, Georgia officials said farmers will be able to request permits to take water from the Lower Flint and Chattahoochee River basins to use in their fields.
The announcement came in a statement from Gov. Brian Kemp’s office.
According to officials, the EPD modified the 2012 suspension of agricultural water withdrawal permits in parts of the Lower Flint and Chattahoochee River basis to let farmers impacted by drought access “water resources essential to Georgia farmers.”
“As Georgia farmers continue to recover from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene, I could not be more proud to deliver this good news,” Kemp said in a statement. “I am grateful to the EPD for their diligent and hard work in ensuring that our state is on a path that protects both Georgia farmers and our water resources.”
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EPD has spent more than a decade gathering the data needed to “responsibly” make modifications to the 2012 suspension, according to Kemp’s office, focused on the long-term impacts.
In 2023, EPD started looking at ways to permit for frost protection in parts of the suspension area and to make responsible modifications, which officials said “laid the groundwork for the new adjustments announced.”
Overall, the governor’s office said the efforts from EPD showed the division’s commitment to balancing water resource management with the needs of Georgia’s farmers.
“A lot of work has been done since 2012, especially over the last couple years,” EPD Director Jeff Cown said. “EPD is confident with these updated recommendations, as our metering program has gathered extensive data strengthening our technical understanding of surface water and groundwater in the Lower Flint. The Regional Water and Habitat Conservation Plans support existing water users, including farmers, and set the stage to make room for new ones. We look forward to working with all water users as they obtain these newly, developed permits.”
Permit requests will be allowed beginning on April 1, 2025.
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