Numeric Criteria Development

The information presented below gives a summary of state progress towards the development of numeric criteria. The information comes from EPA’s “State Adoption of Numeric Nutrient Standards (1998-2008)” report, current water quality standards, program activity measures, and nutrient criteria development plans. Links to the Georgia’s Nutrient Criteria Plan and state water quality standards are also provided.

• Existing Numeric Criteria
• Links to the Plan and Criteria
• Milestone Information

Existing Numeric Criteria

S = Statewide    W = For selected waterbody    N ⁄ A=Not Applicable

Note: See Statewide Criteria and Site-specific Criteria tabs for more information.

Top of Page

Links to Numeric Nutrient Criteria Plan and Existing Nutrient Criteria

Plans:

• Nutrient Criteria Development Plan for the State of Georgia 2008
• Nutrient Criteria Development Plan for the State of Georgia 2006

WQS: Georgia Water Quality Standards
Environmental Protection Division: Georgia Department of Natural Resources: Watershed Protection Branch Exit

Statewide Criteria

The information on this tab shows EPA-approved nutrient criteria for Georgia’s waterbodies. The language presented below comes directly from state water quality standards and applies to all waterbodies within the state (unless a waterbody type or designated use is noted). Criteria applicable to specific waterbodies within the state can be found on the “Site-specific Criteria” tab. For more information, refer to the Georgia water quality standards.

The following information reflects Georgia’s water quality standards posted to the Water Quality Standards Repository as of November 2010 (EPA-approved August 2002).

391-3-6-.03 Water use Classifications and Water Quality Standards

(5) General Criteria for All Waters. The following criteria are deemed to be necessary and applicable to all waters of the State:

(c) All waters shall be free from material related to municipal, industrial or other discharges which produce turbidity, color, odor or other objectionable conditions which interfere with legitimate water uses.

Site-specific Criteria

The information on this tab shows EPA-approved site-specific nutrient criteria for Georgia’s waterbodies. Criteria on this page apply only to the waterbodies listed below. Criteria applicable to all waterbodies within the state are found on the “Statewide Criteria” tab. For more information, refer to the Georgia water quality standards.

The following information reflects Georgia’s water quality standards posted to the Water Quality Standards Repository as of November 2010 (EPA-approved August 2002).

391-3-6-.03 Water Use Classifications and Water Quality Standards.* Amended.

(17) Specific Criteria for Lakes and Major Lake Tributaries. In addition to the general criteria, the following lake specific criteria are deemed necessary and shall be required for the specific water usage as shown:

(a) West Point Lake

(i) Chlorophyll a: For the months of April through October, the average of monthly photic zone composite samples shall not exceed 27 ug/L at the LaGrange Water Intake.
(iii) Total Nitrogen: Not to exceed 4.0 mg/L as Nitrogen in the photic zone
(iv) Phosphorus: Total lake loading shall not exceed 2.4 pounds per acre foot of lake volume per year.
(viii) Major Lake Tributaries: For the following tributaries, the annual total phosphorus loading to West Point Lake shall not exceed the following:

1. Yellow Jacket Creek at Hammet Road	11,000 pounds
2. New River at Hwy 100	14,000 pounds
3. Chattahoochee River at U.S. 27	1,400,000 pounds

(b) Lake Walter F. George

(i) Chlorophyll a: for the months of April through October, the average of monthly photic zone composite samples shall not exceed 18 ug/L at mid-river at U.S. Highway 82 or 15 ug/L at mid-river in the dam forebay.
(iii) Total Nitrogen: Not to exceed 3.0 mg/L as nitrogen in the photic zone.
(iv) Phosphorus: Total lake loading shall not exceed 2.4 pounds per acre-foot of lake volume per year.
(viii) Major Lake Tributary: The annual total phosphorus loading to Lake Walter F. George, monitored at the Chattahoochee River at Georgia Highway 39, shall not exceed 2,000,000 pounds.

(c) Lake Jackson

(i) Chlorophyll a: For the months of April through October, the average monthly mid-channel photic zone composite samples shall not exceed 20 ug/L at a location approximately 2 miles downstream of the confluence of the South and Yellow Rivers at the junction of Butts, Newton and Jasper Counties.
(iii) Total Nitrogen: Not to exceed 4.0 mg/L as nitrogen in the photic zone.
(iv) Phosphorus: Total lake loading shall not exceed 5.5 pounds per acre-foot of lake volume per year.
(viii) Major Lake Tributaries: for the following major tributaries, the annual total phosphorus loading to Lake Jackson shall not exceed the following:

1. South River at Island Shoals	179,000 pounds
2. Yellow River at Georgia Highway 212	116,000 pounds
3. Alcovy River at Newton Factory Bridge Road	55,000 pounds
4. Tussahaw Creek at Fincherville Road	7,000 pounds

(d) Lake Allatoona

(i) Chlorophyll a: for the months of April through October, the average monthly mid-channel photic zone composite samples shall not exceed the chlorophyll a concentrations at the locations listed below:

1. Upstream from the Dam	10 ug/L
2. Allatoona Creek upstream from I-75	10 ug/L
3. Mid-Lake downstream from Kellogg Creek	10 ug/L
4. Little River upstream from Highway 205	15 ug/L
5. Etoway River upstream from Sweetwater Creek	12 ug/L

(iii) Total Nitrogen: Not to exceed 4 mg/L as nitrogen in the photic zone.
(iv) Phosphorus: Total lake loading shall not exceed 1.3 pounds per acre-foot of lake volume per year.
(viii) Major Lake Tributaries: For the following major tributaries, the annual total phosphorus loading to Lake Allatoona shall not exceed the following:

1. Etowah River at State Highway 5 spur and 140, at the USGS gage	340,000 lbs/yr
2. Little River at State Highway 5 (Highway 754)	42,000 lbs/yr
3. Noonday Creek at North Rope Mill Road	38,000 lbs/yr
4. Shoal Creek at State Highway 108 (Fincher Road)	9,200 lbs/yr

(e) Lake Sidney Lanier

(i) Chlorophyll a: For the months of April through October, the average monthly mid-channel photic zone composite samples shall not exceed the Chlorophyll a concentrations at the locations listed below:

1. Upstream from the Buford Dam forebay	5 ug/L
2. Upstream from the Flowery Branch confluence	5 ug/L
3. At Browns Bridge Road (State Road 369)	5 ug/L
4. At Bolling Bridge (State Road 53) on Chestatee River	10 ug/L
5. At Lanier Bridge (State Road 53) on Chattahoochee River	10 ug/L

(iii) Total Nitrogen: not to exceed 4 mg/L as nitrogen in the photic zone.
(iv) Phosphorus: Total lake loading shall not exceed 0.25 pounds per acre-foot of lake volume per year.
(viii) Major Lake Tributaries: for the following major tributaries, the annual total phosphorus loading to Lake Sidney Lanier shall not exceed the following:

1. Chattahoochee River at Belton Bridge Road	178,000 pounds
2. Chestatee River at Georgia Highway 400	118,000 pounds
3. Flat Creek at McEver Road	14,400 pounds

(f) Carters Lake

(i) Chlorophyll a: For the months of April through October, the average of monthly mid-channel photic zone composite samples shall not exceed the Chlorophyll a concentrations at the locations listed below:

1. Carters Lake upstream from Woodring Branch	5 ug/L
2. Carters Lake at Coosawattee River embayment mouth	10 ug/L

(iii) Total Nitrogen: Not to exceed 4.0 mg/L as nitrogen in the photic zone.
(iv) Phosphorus: Total lake loading shall not exceed 172,500 pounds or 0.46 pounds per acre-foot of lake volume per year.
(viii) Major Lake Tributaries: For the following major tributaries, the annual total phosphorus loading at the compliance monitoring location shall not exceed the following:

1. Coosawattee River at Old Highway 5	151,500 pounds
2. Mountaintown Creek at U.S. Highway 76	8,000 pounds