UGA Extension specialist Wes Porter provided an update on the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD), focusing on drought response, agricultural water withdrawal permits, regional water planning and coastal water management.
Porter reviewed Georgia’s drought response system and the conditions that EPD monitors, including precipitation, stream flows, groundwater levels, reservoir levels, soil moisture and water supply conditions. Georgia reached a Level 1 drought response in April 2026 and, while recent rainfall has provided some relief, several areas of southwest Georgia continue to experience low stream flows and groundwater concerns.
A major focus was the agricultural water withdrawal permitting program. Georgia currently has more than 27,000 agricultural water withdrawal permits, with permits generally required for withdrawals exceeding 70 gallons per minute or 100,000 gallons per day. Porter also discussed recent changes affecting the Flint River Basin suspension area, including new opportunities for certain permits and different options for unrestricted, drought-restricted and volumetric-limited permits.
Porter emphasized the importance of maintaining compliance and encouraged producers with questions or permits that may be out of compliance to contact UGA Extension or EPD. He also highlighted the state’s agricultural water metering program and noted that the state is responsible for maintaining permitted water meters.
The presentation concluded with updates on regional water planning and groundwater management in southeast Georgia, including efforts to protect the Floridan aquifer and reduce the risk of saltwater intrusion near the Savannah area.