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Dear Summer,
Welcome to the Georgia Conservation Voters
Legislative Newsletter. This letter will be
circulated frequently during the 2006 legislative
session in efforts to keep you abreast on issues of
particular interest to you
on environmental legislation.
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Pending Water Legislation Turns Up the Heat
Five Bills Emerge that Could Threaten Georgia's Water
Last week we witnessed the unveiling of not one, not
two, but FIVE bills that stand to impact water
resources in Georgia. Senate bills 492 - and its
counterpart 516 - 493, 510, and 512 were all
introduced last week and were referred to the
Senate committee on Natural Resources and the
Environment.
Environmental groups around the state are up in arms
over the bills, which are more and less threatening
to water quality. The bill that has the most
potential impact is SB 510, a bill by Senator Chip
Pearson (District 51) that would rollback stream
buffers on river corridors from 100 feet to 25 feet
on waters other than trout streams, and 50 feet on
trout streams.
This legislation is particularly frustrating in
light of a recent study by Judy Meyer of the
University of Georgia revealing the effects of reducing
stream buffers on trout populations. The findings
show that reduction in trees and vegetation that
the buffers provide reduces young trout populations
by as much as 88%. Further evidence indicates that
reducing stream buffers by half - from 100 to 50
feet - can increase water temperatures by a
devastating 4.2 degrees.
According to an AJC article on the study, it is
estimated that "only 9 percent of streams in North
Georgia that have 50-foot buffers are likely to
support trout reproduction, compared with 63 percent
of streams that have 100-foot buffers."
There is clear cause for alarm about the direction
this legislation will take us. SB 510,
especially when coupled with another
recently-introduced bill, HB 1123 that leases
marshlands and water bottoms for $1, leaves a bad
taste in the mouths of Georgians. If passed, bad
water bills will result in bad water health, wealth,
and legacy. We at GCV will play our part in keeping you
informed on the movements of these, and other,
environmental bills.
Find the bills...
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Georgia Conservation Voters (GCV) is a non-partisan
citizens' organization dedicated to protecting
Georgia's environment and the health of all
Georgians by advocating in the legislature and in
the media for strong environmental protections;
helping to elect conservation-minded leaders to
Georgia's General Assembly and selected local races;
and by holding our elected officials accountable for
how well they worked to protect and restore
Georgia's environment.
Sincerely,
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