Developers, Environmentalists Team to Save Water Supply, Species

"The goal is not to stop growth, but to ensure the least possible impact on water quality and aquatic habitat," says Curt Gervich of suburban Acworth, the outreach coordinator for the plan. "To do so, scientists, policy analysts and educators are working with community leaders to develop a recommended set of plans, ordinance and policies."

For example, some communities may start allowing developers to build clustered developments having more density and more profitability on one part of their land in return for building less densely elsewhere on their property. Another recommendation being studied would allow developers to use rain gardens instead of large and more costly retention ponds to control rainwater runoff.

"The final plan will be tailored to meet the needs of different county and city governments within the Etowah basin," Gervich says. "Once implemented, the permitting process should become more efficient for the construction of projects, imperiled species and will provide better conservation." He adds, "Taxpayers may save money over the long term."

"The cities and counties are the actual participants in the plan but developers already are sitting on committees and asking questions," Gervich tells GlobeSt.com. "In the long run, developers may be in a position to save on infrastructure costs and also be allowed to develop many of their original projects just by re-configuring their master plans."

Although a small river, the Etowah is considered by scientists to be one of the most biologically diverse in the US. According to one published report, the Etowah supports 76 native species of fish, some found nowhere else on the planet.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service is funding the conservation plan. Technical assistance is coming from the University of Georgia, Kennesaw State University, the Georgia Conservancy and the Fish and Wildlife Service.

The plan was motivated by the deteriorating Lake Allatoona which is fed by the Upper Etowah River. Phosphorous has been pouring into the lake from nearby agriculture and development projects, causing the algae to grow and clog the lake, area land brokers familiar with the problem, tell GlobeSt.com.

Among the plan's partners to date are the counties of Bartow, Cherokee, Cobb (Atlanta), Dawson, Forsyth, Lumpkin, Paulding and Pickens. Cities that have signed up are Canton, Cartersville, Dallas, Dawsonville, Emerson, Holly Springs, Kennesaw, Marietta, Roswell, Waleska and Woodstock.

Other participating agencies and organizations, many of whom influence local development project decisions, are the Atlanta Regional Commission, Cherokee County Water and Sewer Authority, Chestatee-Chattahoochee Resource Conservation and Development Center, Etowah Water and Sewer Authority, the Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources, Georgia Land Trust, Georgia Mountains Regional Development Center and Georgia Regional Transportation Authority.