Water-related legislation of the 2001-2002 term of the Georgia General Assembly

Abstract

Compared to most terms of the Georgia General Assembly, the 2001-2002 legislative term saw relatively little water-related legislation but the importance of some of the legislation is likely to be far reaching. Two pieces of legislation passed during the 2001 legislative session should prove very significant in managing Georgia’s water resources in the future. First is Senate Bill 130 which created the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District to determine how the water challenges facing the metropolitan Atlanta region should be addressed. The second significant piece of legislation is Senate Resolution 142 which created the Joint Comprehensive Water Plan Study Committee and the Water Plan Advisory Committee. The study committee was given until September 2002 to finish its work. Consequently, a hold was placed on water-related legislation during the 2002 legislative session in order to give the study committee time to come forth with its recommendations. It is unclear at the time of this writing if legislators will focus on the water plan recommendations during the 2003 legislative session. The change in governors and composition of the General Assembly resulting from the November 2002 election, coupled with the current fiscal problems facing the state, may result in less focus on water. It is likely, however, that they will attempt to address some water issues, particularly relating to stormwater control and erosion and sedimentation.