Water Management and habitat suitability study along theOcmulgee river

摘要

According to the Middle Ocmulgee Regional Water Plan, the population in the region is projected to double by 2050 which will result in a water demand increase of 38% and wastewater generation increase of 62% by 2050. Therefore, it is important to examine trade-offs in water management in order to support both sustainable ecosystems and economic development of the Middle Georgia region.In support of the Ocmulgee Water Trail Initiative, we evaluated existing landings and worked on specific recommendations for new landings that can improve recreational access and tourism between Macon and Hawkinsville. As a result, we identified high potential locations for future improvements which will guide the Ocmulgee National Park Initiative to take further strides towards establishing the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park.Additionally, we focused on the river reach from Macon, GA to Hawkinsville, GA and studied the influence ofpower plant operation on the Ocmulgee river flow and fish habitat. We conducted a hydrographic field survey in order to obtain bathymetry data. Weused the Hydrologic Engineering Center's River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) and Ecosystem Function Model (HEC-EFM) developed by the US Army Corps of Engineering. As a result, we performed analysis on how reservoir operation can influence local hydrology andfish communities as this information is useful for quantifying economic and ecological trade-offs involved in water management.