FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.1 What is the purpose of the Master Water Control Manual?
Q.2 Who provides authorization for Water Control Operations?
Q.3 Why is a Master Water Control Manual necessary?
Q.4 What will individual Water Control Manuals consist of?
Q.5 Which laws mandate the updates of the Water Control Manuals?
Q.6 How will the USACE involve the public in the Water Control Manual update?
Q.7 What are the communication goals for Public Involvement?
Q.8 How will the information be communicated to the public?
Q.9 What communication tools will be used to keep the public and stakeholders informed?
Q.10 What team from USACE will provide the Master Water Control Manual?
Q.11 What is the anticipated timeline and cost for completing the Master Water Control Manuals?
Q.12 How will water supply be addressed during the update process?
Q.1 What is the purpose of the Master Water Control Manual?
A.1 The operations at each federal reservoir managed by USACE are described in a Water Control Manual (WCM), which includes Water Control Manuals for the operation of the ACF system and of the individual USACE projects within that system. The individual manuals typically outline the regulation schedules for each project, including operating criteria, guidelines and guide curves for varying conditions as well as specifications for storage and releases from the reservoirs. The individual Water Control Manuals also outline the coordination protocol and data collection, management and dissemination associated with routine and specific water management activities such as flood control operations or drought contingency operations.
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Q.2 Who provides authorization for Water Control Operations?
A.2. Congress provides the authority for Water Control Operations for USACE-owned and operated reservoir projects in legislative authorization acts and referenced project documents. In addition to the authorizations provided in the specific project documents, the following authorities are generally applicable to USACE reservoir projects:
- Flood Control Act of 1944 (P.L. 78-534)
- Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958 (P.L. 85-624)
- Water Supply Act of 1958 (P.L. 85-500)
- Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (P.L. 92-500)
- Endangered Species Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-205)
- Water Resource Development Acts
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Q.3 Why is a Master Water Control Manual necessary?
A.3.A comprehensive, updated Master Water Control Manual allows USACE to operate the ACF system in a way that meets the authorized purposes of the projects.
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Q.4 What will individual Water Control Manuals consist of?
A.4. Updated individual Water Control Manuals will outline the regulation schedules for each project, including operating criteria, guidelines and guide curves for varying conditions as well as specifications for storage and releases from the reservoirs. The manuals will be updated to account for changed conditions and circumstances, including the following:
- Refinements to project/system operations over the years due to changes in basin hydrology and changes in withdrawals/consumption that resulted from years of growth/development
- Drought contingency requirements to account for new data and operational changes
- Updated data reflecting current basin conditions
- New/rehabilitated project structural features
- Environmental requirements for endangered species and fish spawns
- Procedures for capturing/using real-time data provided by additional gages and monitoring devices installed since the last manual updates
- Latest computer models and techniques to evaluate and establish guidelines for project operations
- Improved and streamlined methods for data exchange between USACE and other agencies
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Q.5 Which laws mandate the updates of the Water Control Manuals?
A.5. The authority for Water Control Operations for USACE-owned and operated reservoir projects is contained in legislative authorization acts and referenced project documents. The public laws and project documents usually contain provisions for the development of Water Control Manuals, and appropriate revision thereto, under the discretionary authority of the Chief of Engineers. In addition, section 7 of the "Flood Control Act of 1944" provides that, "On and after December 22, 1944, it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Army to prescribe regulations for the use of storage allocated for flood control or navigation at all reservoirs constructed wholly or in part with Federal funds provided on the basis of such purposes, and the operation of any such project shall be in accordance with such regulations:..." (33 U.S.C. 709). Water control plans and appendices are developed and updated in accordance with statutory ("Flood Control Act of 1944") and regulatory requirements ("Engineering Regulation (ER) 1110-2-240 and ER 1110-2- 8156"), to account for demographic, hydrologic, environmental, and technological changes that have occurred within the basins. Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), USACE is evaluating the impact to the human environment from the proposed changes to the operation of the ACF system of federal projects. The "Water Resources Development Acts of 1988 and 1990" also provide for public involvement of all interested stakeholders during the development of new or revised water control plans to reflect the current public interests within the basin.
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Q.6 How will USACE involve the public in the Water Control Manual update?
A.6. Public participation in the planning and NEPA process promotes open communication between the public and USACE and, consequently, better analysis and decision making. Public, federal, tribal, state and local community involvement is a critical, early, and continuing part of the Water Control Manual update process. USACE has already begun this process by soliciting public comment on the scope of the Environmental Impact Statement for the updated water control manuals, and ongoing communications with interested parties. A draft EIS and WCM will be made available for public comment at a date to be announced in the future.
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Q.7 What are the communication goals for Public Involvement?
A.7. There is a heightened sense of awareness within the general public of the importance of Water Control Manuals because of the severity of recent droughts and their effects on people's lives and livelihoods. The following goals for public outreach and involvement for the Water Control Manual update process have been identified:
- Increase awareness and understanding for the Water Control Manual update process, its goals, limitations, purposes and integration with other basin operations (i.e., hydro power projects)
- Provide timely information to the public regarding the Water Control Management Team's efforts
- Provide and promote effective intra- and interagency communication at the local, state, and federal level
- Develop communications plan and post relevant information and timelines on the Mobile District website
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Q.8 How will the information be communicated to the public?
A.8.A key component of this process will be a communications plan to outline the approach for transmitting information from the team to the public; receiving information from stakeholders and the public; informing the media, local governments, state, tribal, and federal partners; Congress; and other important decision makers.
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Q.9 What communication tools will be used to keep the public and stakeholders informed?
A.9.
- Web site—The Web site will be maintained as a repository of WCM update information. This will include an overview of the process, actions and needs. It will include all press releases, fact sheets and other informational items to meet the needs of the public and media to stay informed. As particular study elements are completed (i.e., hydrologic models, flood control analysis, pool level changes) they will be posted for public review/information.
- Newsletters that communicate new developments and the status of the WCM update will be distributed to parties that have indicated interest.
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Q.10 What team from USACE will provide the Master Water Control Manual?
A.10. The Mobile District has formed an interdisciplinary Project Delivery Team (PDT) to undertake the planning, analysis, and tasks necessary to develop an updated water control manual and plans for the ACF rivers system. The products manuals and EIS produced as a result of this effort will undergo quality control and assurance reviews in accordance with USACE policy.
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Q.11 What is the anticipated timeline for completing the Master Water Control Manuals?
A.11. The timeline to complete the Master Water Control Manual is approximately three years.
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Q.12 How will water supply be addressed during the update process?
A.12. The revised EIS will also consider, along with updated operations for all authorized purposes, an expanded range of water supply alternatives associated with the Buford Dam/Lake Lanier project, including current levels of water supply withdrawals and additional amounts that Georgia has requested from Lake Lanier and downstream at Atlanta.
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