Monitoring Erosion and Sedimentation
by Alan Toney, Chairman of the Fulton County Soil and Water District
We hear a lot about sewage problems in the Chattahoochee, but rarely will the media cover erosion and sedimentation problems. Mud may not grab the public's attention like sewage, but in Georgia it is the number one killer of a stream's ecology. It smothers habitat and grinds up aquatic insects and plants that fish and other wildlife depend upon for food. Silt suspended in floodwaters contributes to the scouring of stream banks causing even more erosion. It also provides transportation for pathogens and other pollutants.
In Georgia, regulations controlling erosion and sedimentation (land disturbing activities) are usually enforced at the local level. This can create a haphazard patchwork of inconsistent rules and levels of enforcement across a watershed. To make matters worse, many local governments in Georgia have a history of almost total non-enforcement.
The metropolitan Atlanta area Soil and Water Districts have worked hard to educate local governments and change attitudes of developers across our region. At the present time (December 1998), Fulton County and the City of Atlanta are on probation for not properly administering their programs. DeKalb County's program has been totally suspended. Fulton County has shown quite a bit of improvement and should be commended for their efforts to improve. DeKalb and the City of Atlanta still have a long way to go, but we have seen signs that they are at least finally willing to cooperate.
There is so much development going on in the metro region, it is very difficult to keep up with all of the projects underway. Often, it is private citizens who make us aware of violations. This is very important that everyone learn the best management practices for construction sites and who to contact when you see a violation. Call the following:
Fulton County - (404) 730-TELL (8355)
Cobb County - (770) 528-3300
DeKalb County - (770) 371-2881
Georgia Soil & Water Commission Regional Office - (770) 761-3020 (For Cobb, Fulton, DeKalb Districts)
Last updated: 30 Nov 99