Headwaters
Other major projects handled by our Headwaters Office have included the Source Water Protection Project in Habersham County, Biodiversity: Assessment of Threatened Fish Species, and the ongoing West Fork Little River Restoration Project in Hall County. Also, see Headwaters Education Programs described below.
Contact: Darcie Holcomb, Headwaters Conservation Director
615F Oak Street, Suite 1000 Gainesville, GA 30501
Phone: 770.531.1064; Fax: 770.531.1503
Geographic Description
The Headwaters region encompasses the upstream portion of the Chattahoochee River Basin, defined as the area above Buford Dam and Lake Lanier, and comprises a 1036 square mile land area. This important area of the basin is where the Chattahoochee and many of its tributaries originate as small mountain springs and streams in the Blue Ridge physiographic region.
The Chattahoochee River Basin upstream of Buford Dam includes Lake Lanier and parts of six counties including White, Habersham, Lumpkin, Dawson, Forsyth and Hall. The Chattahoochee and its headwater tributaries (including the sub-watersheds of the Soque and Chestatee Rivers) support reproducing populations of rainbow, brown and brook trout. The primary water quality problems in the Headwaters region are due to erosion and sedimentation, elevated fecal coliform, increased temperatures and nutrient levels.
Tributaries
The Chattahoochee River originates just off of the Appalachian Trail in the North Georgia Mountains within the Chattahoochee National Forest. National Forest lands encompass the very upstream portion of the basin, and provide excellent recreation opportunities including fishing and hiking.
Many Headwaters tributaries such as Dukes, Dicks, Boggs, Jasus Creeks and others are defined by the state as trout streams, meaning they are cold enough (generally below 70 degrees) to support either reproducing and/or stocked trout. Trout streams are afforded extra protection by the state under the Georgia Erosion and Sedimentation Control Act. To see a list and map of Georgia's trout streams by county, go to the Department of Natural Resources web page and look under fishing regulations.
Lake Lanier
Lake Lanier, one of fourteen mainstem reservoirs on the Chattahoochee River, is the first major impoundment on the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) river system. Lake Lanier is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Studies have shown that water quality in Lake Lanier is suffering because of the high level of pollutants entering the lake from both point and nonpoint sources. Although point source discharges have been shown to be a source of pollution to the lake, nonpoint source runoff from the watershed has been identified as the primary source of water quality degradation. When sediment, a significant nonpoint pollutant, enters Lake Lanier, large deposits accumulate in the embayments as well as in the forebay area of Buford Dam. Scientific research shows that riparian buffers help to reduce streambank and lake erosion, as well as trap sediment carried in stormwater runoff.
Working with University of Georgia's Institute of Ecology, UCR conducted a study to evaluate nutrient trading policies for Lake Lanier and provide recommendations for sound nutrient trading strategy.
See Monitoring for detailed information about UCR’s Nutrient Monitoring Program on Lake Lanier.
To read about other Lake Lanier water quality issues in detail, you can access U.S. EPA's Clean Lakes Study or review recently collected water quality data by North Georgia College and State University for the Upper Chattahoochee Basin Group
Founded in 1996, the Lake Lanier Association is another group that active on reservoir issues. Adopt-A-Lake volunteers have been monitoring Chlorophyl-a and several other water quality parameters at stations located throughout the lake for several years. This data is also available through the Association’s website.
Special Headwaters Programs
Riparian Restoration & Education Project/Soque River Restoration Project
What Are Riparian Buffer Zones?
Source Water Protection Program in Habersham County
Biodiversity: Assessment of Threatened Fish Species
West Fork Little River Restoration in Hall County
