To that end, the Environmental Protection Agency initiated the Savannah River Basin Watershed Project (SRBWP) in 1993 to begin a process for cooperative and comprehensive management of the basin. Basin stakeholders have been identifying and prioritizing resource issues in the basin, and a structure has been put in place to address these issues. Additionally, each agency and organization involved in the project is utilizing the project structure and process to address issues pertinent to their individual organization. basin stakeholders are expressing their views on the important emerging issues for their agency or organization and the relevance of the Savannah River basin Watershed Project for addressing these issues.

A comprehensive water resources study of the Savannah River Basin has been authorized by the 1996 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) directing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to develop an updated plan addressing current and future needs in the basin, examine reallocation of storage, and to develop a better management structure to deal with basin water resources issues. To date the need for a study has been discussed among various Federal and state agencies, and, the states took action to obtain study authority from the U.S. Congress. This authority also directed that the results be coordinated with the Watershed Project.

There are many efforts underway to address environmental and water management issues in the Savannah River basin, both by individual agencies and organizations as well as by the cooperative efforts of the SRBWP. What distinguishes these actions apart from the past is that the basin stakeholders are working with a cooperative understanding of how their actions affect the actions of others. Through the framework of the SRBWP, the issues and problem-solving efforts are being approached through cooperation and mutual understanding, hopefully leading to improving the overall health of the Savannah River basin.

Under each study, various state and Federal agencies are being brought together to develop a suitable basin scope of studies. Participating agencies will then explore their own budget proposals with a view to supporting activities which would compliment a comprehensive basin study. At this point we anticipate the participation of Corps of Engineers, EPA, U.S. Geological Survey, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Georgia and South Carolina Departments of Natural Resources at a minimum.

Below are links to the specific basin action plans cooperatively being developed to address the priority issues identified as of importance the overall health and water use of the basin.

Potential Water Resources Management Issues to be Addressed in the SRB Comprehensive Study

Water Management Issues Identified by the Water Quantity Action Team as part of the SRBWP