Natural Resources & Environment Committee and Salt Water Intrusion Study Committee Hold Meetings in Coastal Georgia

ATLANTA – State Representative Lynn Smith (R-Newnan), Chairman of the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee and the House Study Committee on Saltwater Intrusion into Coastal Aquifers, recently brought together members of both committees for a  series of meetings in Coastal Georgia which included various site visits, presentations, and public testimony.

“Water planning and conservation in our state is critical to sustain our water supply for future generations,” said Rep. Smith.  “Salt water intrusion has been a concern among Coastal Georgians for many years.  It poses a very real threat to our water resources in this region, and we must take steps to carefully manage this issue and help Coastal Georgia maintain its luster and natural beauty.”

Members of the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee participated in a four-day meeting throughout Georgia’s coast. The committee visited the UGA Skidaway Island Institute of Oceanography and toured UGA Marine Extension’s oyster hatchery, and discussed shrimp trawling and marine science education. During the four-day meeting, members also visited the Port of Savannah and Ossabaw Island.

The House Study Committee on Saltwater Intrusion into Coastal Aquifers joined the Natural Resources and Environment Committee members for two days of meetings, coordinated by the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government. Together, the committees met with Tybee City Hall, where they discussed the Tybee Test Well Project, the Tybee beach re-nourishment work with the Army Corps of Engineers, efforts to control flooding, living shorelines, and the Shore Protection Act.  Committee members also visited the UGA Skidaway Island Institute of Oceanography to learn about the challenges faced by the Coastal Water Council as they work to conserve and manage water resources in order to sustain and enhance Coastal Georgia’s environment and economy. While at the UGA Skidaway Island Institute of Oceanography, the committees also attended a meeting of the Coastal Water Council and heard presentations including a salt water intrusion overview, an update on the Red and Yellow Zones, and a review of local water conservation measures.

The House Natural Resources and Environment Committee is assigned legislation pertaining to management, quality, and usage of Georgia’s natural resources.

The House Study Committee on Saltwater Intrusion into Coastal Aquifers was established by House Resolution 601 during the 2015 legislative session of the Georgia General Assembly. The committee is responsible for conducting a comprehensive review of saltwater intrusion into coastal aquifers in distressed counties, as indicated by inclusion in the Yellow Zone or Red Zone under the Coastal Georgia Regional Water Plan, which will help determine the steps needed to ensure the security of Georgia’s coastal drinking water supply for the present and future.

For more information on HR 601, please click here.

Representative Lynn Smith represents the citizens of District 70, which includes portions of Carroll and Coweta counties. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 1996, and currently serves as the Chairman of the Natural Resources & Environment Committee. She also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government and the Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment and Rules committees.

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