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ACF Master Water Control Manual Update

Planning & Environmental

Master Water Control Manual Update Environmental Impact Statement for the Apalachicola – Chattahoochee – Flint River Basin

Thank you for comments. The public scoping period has ended.

On October 12, 2012, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) issued a Federal Register Notice of Intent (NOI) to reopen public scoping to account for a June 28, 2011 Decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit which concluded that water supply is an authorized purpose for Lake Lanier. USACE is updating the water control plans and manuals for the ACF Basin in order to improve operations for authorized purposes to reflect changed conditions since the manuals were last developed. The revised EIS will also consider, along with 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.

The Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) River Basin water management operations are described in a basin-wide Master Water Control Manual. Operations at USACE federally managed reservoirs are described in Water Control Manuals specific to each reservoir and included within the overall Master Water Control Manual.

Water Control Manuals outline the regulation schedules for each project and specifications for storage and releases from each reservoir. Water Control Manuals outline policies and data protocols for flood control operations and drought contingency operations. Updated Water Control Manuals are needed to enable managers to strike the best balance possible for the many purposes and demands. A complex set of factors is needed to determine appropriate water management at each lake. In addition to the authorized project purposes, power contract commitments, hydrologic and climatologic factors, downstream lake and basin-wide conditions, potential threats of flood and drought, and lake levels must all be considered. It is a tough balancing act.

About This Web Site

The purpose of this site is to keep members of the public and other interested parties up to date on the progress of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Master Water Control Manual Update for the ACF River Basin. The project background is presented here along with information on the Master Water Control Manual. Additionally, information on the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) process is available along with a listing and description of public involvement activities.

Through this site you can submit comments and sign up to receive updates on USACE progress by joining the mailing list; view documents currently published for this project (e.g., the Final Scoping Report, federal notices, newsletters, and Draft/Final EIS when available); and read answers to frequently asked questions about the project. A bibliography of data sources is provided that includes information regarding sources used in the study. All suggested sources will be considered and possibly added to the bibliography of data sources.

The information contained herein is for general informational purposes only and is subject to change.

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Project Background