Following are brief descriptions of particular projects and programs. The reader is referred to the indicated person for details, results, or plans for the activities. Many programs are multidisciplinary and involve many personnel. Only one or two names are listed as a starting contact. As mentioned above, the activities are associated with current efforts. This listing is not alphabetical, and is not in any priority order.

Policy, Economic and Financial Issues

Economic, policy and financial issues in the international arena which has an effect on future agricultural and industrial programs in Georgia and the U.S. Sellers, J. et al.

• Forecasting irrigation water demand. Wetzstein, M. et al. Techniques are being developed to link physical models with economic models for improved estimates of future irrigation water demand.
• Forecasting livestock water demand. Houston, J. et al. Techniques are being developed to link physical models with economic models for improved estimates of future livestock water demand.
• The value of irrigation water. Keeler, A. et al. Research is being conducted to gather, analyze, and compare the costs and opportunity costs associated with agricultural irrigation.
• Chattooga River Watershed Planning. Bramblett, J. et al. In conjunction with NRCS, technical assistance is being provided to the Blue Ridge Soil and Water Conservation District, City of Clayton, and Rabun County with water quality modeling and economic analyses to determine costs and benefits associated with improving water quality and meeting TMDL requirements.
  
• Tobesofkee Creek Watershed Land Treatment. Bramblett, J. et al. In conjunction with NRCS, technical assistance is being provided to Lamar County and the Towaliga Soil and Water Conservation Districts by conducting public meetings, water quality modeling and economic analyses to determine costs and benefits associated with improving water quality and meeting TMDL requirements.
  
• Research and education programs to improve conflict resolution and negotiation efforts for water allocation to meet demands of different parties. Jordan, J. L. Current Activities include the development of a course for students to participate in an actual conflict resolution (the tri-state ACT ACF basins are the basis). Also, includes the preparation of the book “Water Allocation in the Southeast: New Issues, New Methods, New Models.”
  
• Cooperation with EPD in the improvement of Agricultural Water Withdrawal Permitting Process. Development of a data base management system for agricultural permits. Hook, J. E.
  
• Enforcement mechanisms for pollutant reduction. Centner, T. J., J. D. Mullen. Preliminary Results indicate that reductions in pollution could come from more effective enforcement approaches rather than simply adopting more regulations. Additional results indicate that policies to safeguard water quality might draw upon actual pollution by looking at impaired waters and identifiable sources of pollutants rather than foisting permit requirements on broad categories of potential discharge sources.
  
• Development of SWAT models of the ACF/ACT basins for policy analysis. Jordan, J. L.
  
• Development of water banking/water marketing and transfer policies for the ACF/ACT. Jordan, J. L.
  
• Development and evaluation of water conservation policies and pricing schedules for efficient water use. Jordan, J. L.
  
• Economic factors associated with protection of ground water from contamination. Bergstrom, J., et al.
  
• Development of computer models and decision support systems to maximize yield and net returns and minimize water use and natural resources. Hoogenboom, G., et al.
  
• Evaluation and development of model systems for analyzing crop water use characteristics across the ACT and ACF river basins in Georgia, Alabama and Florida including economic impacts of water use restrictions. Hook, J. E. et al.
  
• Water Resources Management and Policy Graduate Program, Albany State University. Adjunct faculty and instructors for WRMP 6400, Hydrology and Irrigation Fundamentals. D. L. Thomas, K. A. Harrison.