Georgia Water/Laws/Flint River Drought Protection Act

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Flint River Drought Protection Act, O.C.G.A. § 12-5-540

Summary of the Act[edit | edit source]

The purpose of this Act is to maintain in-stream flow in times of drought by providing incentives for farmers to take acres out of irrigation. It allows EPD to pay farmers to stop irrigating. After a drought is declared, EPD can hold a voluntary seller’s auction, allowing farmers to offer prices per acre at which they are willing to stop irrigating. If the target is not achieved, EPD has authority to make further reductions on a “non-voluntary” basis.

History of the Act[edit | edit source]

A 2001 auction eliminated irrigation from surface water on 33,101 acres at an average price of $135 per acre and a total cost of $4.5 million. The funding came from Georgia’s share of the tobacco settlement money.

Specific provisions of the Act[edit | edit source]

Administration of the Act[edit | edit source]

Effectiveness of the Act[edit | edit source]

Relevance for State Water Plan[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]