GA Tech Plan Keeps Green Space, Water Conservation Efforts Moving Forward

Although Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue announced on June 10 the state drought was over, Georgia Tech will continue its path of conservation, both by continuing landscaping projects to increase the Institute’s green space and expanding upon new water conservation and reclamation methods.

These projects ”the Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons (CULC), the Challenge Course, the Marcus Nanotechnology Building, the Old Civil Engineering building and Tech’s Eco-Commons” fall under the Institute’s Landscape Master Plan.

Proposed in 2004 and established in 2006, Tech’s Plan goes beyond that of most universities and organizations, striving to develop “an integrated, ecologically based landscape and open space system that helps Tech achieve its goal of environmental sustainability; a landscape that enhances the living, working and learning environment; and a landscape that unifies the campus and gives it a distinct sense of place.”

Specific goals include reclaiming impervious surfaces ”parking lots and paved areas” for green space and establishing the goal of 55 percent tree canopy and 22 percent woodlands coverage around the campus.

“It’s a very unique feature,” said Landscape Architect and Master Planner Anne Boykin-Smith. “Most campuses cite their outdoor furniture ”benches, accessories, that sort of thing. Ours explains how we treat the soil in different zones of campus before we plant, and what plants are preferred.”

In addition to separating the campus into zones, Boykin-Smith says the plan defines campus “design corridors,” to establish a consistent style among streetscapes throughout campus. The document also aids with Landscape Services in Facilities to maintain what has been planned, planted and built. The Campus Tree Care Plan, required to be named a Tree Campus USA (for which Tech was nationally recognized in 2008), was established as a collaborative effort between Facilities and Campus Planning & Space Management.

During the planning process in 2004 for the Campus Master Plan, CPSM hired landscape architect and Institute consultant Rob Fisher of Robinson Fisher Associates of Athens, Georgia to craft the Landscape Master Plan. Now in its third year, the plan will be updated in the coming months to include lessons learned and other long-range project opportunities.

“We’re really just cutting our teeth on it,” she said. “Many projects ”[landscaping at] Klaus, Old CE and others” were well under way when we started the Plan. The CULC is one of the first buildings [started] under the plan.”

During the nearly two-year drought, Tech has continues to move toward more sustainable solutions for irrigation, such as using cisterns for capturing rain water and air-conditioning condensate, as well as using an underground aquifer for watering the stadium. With the plan, Boykin-Smith and CPSM Director Howard Wertheimer are taking a more strategic look at cistern locations around campus, both above and below ground.

“During the drought, Georgia Tech developed and implemented numerous campus-wide water conservation strategies to reduce our reliance on potable water,” Wertheimer said. “As such, we will continue on our existing course of water conservation, while looking for even greater opportunities to develop new water conservation strategies.

"One such strategy is the development and implementation of a Geographic Information Systems “based Cistern Master Plan where we will systematically capture rainwater and building condensation to meet our landscape irrigation needs and for campus water features, combined with computerized irrigation water management systems that control and monitor real-time environmental conditions such as flows, daily weather and soil moisture content.”

The current campus approach places cisterns near buildings as they are constructed or renovated. Boykin-Smith says that the strategic plan, utilizing the College of Architecture’s Center for Geographic Information Systems (CGIS) mapping technology, will place cisterns more regionally, rather than within the limits of a typical building project. Cisterns placed near CULC, for instance, will help water more than just the building-specific landscaping.

“The ultimate goal is to fully eliminate the Institute’s use of potable water to manage our irrigation needs,” Wertheimer said.

Current projects


Landscaping for the Old Civil Engineering Building and the Marcus Nanotechnology Building, as well as the Atlantic Drive Promenade streetscape, has been completed. On West Campus, work has been completed on Alumni Park, allowing for better use of the two sand volleyball courts. “We solved the drainage problems and made it larger,” Boykin-Smith said.

While utility work is ongoing for the planned CULC, CPSM is currently working with Facilities on the building’s planned hardscaping, (paving and walkway surfaces).

Construction continues on the Institute’s Challenge Course, with a completion anticipated in early August.

A cantilevered concrete deck is being constructed behind the Molecular Science and Engineering building, overlooking the proposed Institute Eco-Commons. Expected completion is late July.

Upcoming projects

Tech’s Eco-Commons is a storm-water management and green space reclamation project, with the primary basin stretching from Couch Park to the President’s Glade. A prominent water feature near the overlook at the Molecular Science and Engineering building and a network of shade trees will help manage the storm water runoff better. “Water that goes into cisterns or into trees doesn’t go into pipes,” Boykin-Smith said. In addition to providing storm water management and a wooded area for campus, a main affect of the Eco-Commons is to reduce Tech’s contribution to the city’s combined sewer system, thereby reducing the quantity of water that must be chemically treated.

Tech Green, the open area west of the CULC, will be graded into more of an open-field space, Boykin-Smith said. The Current Campus Master Plan identifies a frontal addition to the Van Leer building, which will eventually form a steps-and-stage area at the northern end of Tech Green.

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Governor Announces Approval of Water, Sewer Infrastructure Projects

Total of $91.5 million approved to help cities, counties meet critical needs

Governor Sonny Perdue today announced the approval of eleven state and federally funded environmental infrastructure projects totaling $91.5 million. Five of the projects were either fully or partially financed by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) at a total of $40.5 million.

The Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA) board of directors approved the commitments to help finance water and sewer infrastructure projects in Cobb County, Colquitt County and Gwinnett County, and the cities of Camilla, Hiawassee, Port Wentworth, Portal, Sparta, Stillmore, Valdosta and West Point.

“Investment in infrastructure creates jobs, promotes economic development and increases our citizens’ quality of life,” said Governor Perdue. “Improving public health and safety is critical to a community’s economic growth and prosperity.”

“The state and federal water and sewer programs administered by GEFA assist local governments with improving their environmental infrastructure,” said GEFA Executive Director Phil Foil. “Financing water and sewer projects encourages economic growth and the stewardship of our environment.”

“The projects that we agreed to finance today illustrate how GEFA helps communities of all sizes, in all areas of the state,” said Matt Beasley, chairman of the GEFA board of directors and mayor of the city of Hartwell. “From the smallest of communities to the largest, GEFA is investing in communities that are willing to invest in themselves.”

GEFA helps communities prepare for economic growth and development through the provision of low interest loans. The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) is a federal loan program administered by GEFA for wastewater infrastructure and water pollution abatement projects. Eligible projects include a wide variety of storm water and wastewater collection and treatment projects. The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) is a federal loan program administered by GEFA for water infrastructure projects. Eligible projects include public health-related water supply construction. The Georgia Fund is a state funded program administered by GEFA for water, wastewater and solid waste infrastructure projects. The Georgia Fund provides loans and grants to local governments for projects such as water and sewer lines, treatment plants, pumping stations, wells, water storage tanks and water meters. Low interest loans from this program are available up to $10 million.

In February the Congress approved and the President signed the ARRA, which included a substantial investment in the CWSRF and the DWSRF programs. The ARRA also directs the states to reserve 20 percent of the ARRA funding for “…projects to address green infrastructure, water or energy efficiency improvements or other environmentally innovative activities.”

Under the ARRA financing terms adopted by the GEFA board of directors, cities or counties that are OneGeorgia-eligible qualify for a 70 percent subsidy. Cities or counties that are not OneGeorgia-eligible qualify for a 40 percent subsidy. Green projects receive a 60 percent subsidy. For example, if a OneGeorgia-eligible community applies for a $1 million loan, then 70 percent of the loan will be forgiven and the community will close on a 20-year loan of $300,000 at a three percent interest rate. OneGeorgia-eligible communities are located outside the state’s metropolitan areas and have a population of 50,000 or less with a poverty rate of 10 percent or greater. The unprecedented amounts of subsidy in the ARRA financing terms will help Georgia meet the ARRA’s short-term goals of job creation and economic stimulus.

Georgia local governments expressed a tremendous amount of interest in the ARRA funds. Cities and counties submitted more than 1,600 clean water, drinking water and green projects with a total cost that exceeded $6 billion. Total available funding for projects through the ARRA is $144 million. Funding is obligated to projects on a first-come-first-served basis.
Details of the loans approved today are below:

City of Camilla

The city of Camilla was approved for a Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan of $10,000,000 for renovations and upgrades to a wastewater treatment facility. The city will pay a three percent interest rate on the 20-year loan. The total project cost is $10,000,000 with GEFA providing the entire amount.

Cobb County

Financed partially through the ARRA, Cobb County was approved for a Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan of $35,000,000, which includes $10 million financed through the ARRA. The loan package will finance the third phase of construction of a 30,000 foot sewer tunnel, connecting tunnels, and a 130 million gallons-per-day lift station at the South Cobb Water Reclamation Facility. Consistent with GEFA’s ARRA financing terms for communities that are not OneGeorgia-eligible, 40 percent ($4,000,000) of the principal on the ARRA portion of the loan will be forgiven and the county will pay three percent interest on a 20-year loan of $6,000,000. The non-ARRA CWSRF loan of $25,000,000 is a 20-year loan with a three percent interest rate. The total project cost is $35,000,000 with GEFA providing the entire amount.

City of Colquitt

The city of Colquitt was approved for a Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) loan of $641,068 and a DWSRF subsidy of $150,000 for the construction of a new well and water main. The city will pay zero percent interest on the 20-year loan. The total project cost is $791,068, with GEFA providing the entire amount.

Gwinnett County

Financed through the ARRA, Gwinnett County was approved for a Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan of $6,000,000 and a CWSRF subsidy of $4,000,000 for the third phase of construction of a sewer tunnel to store and convey wastewater to the site of the future No Business Creek Regional Pump Station. The total project cost is $55,000,000 with GEFA providing the entire amount. GEFA approved a phase one loan of $22,000,000 on September 29, 2005, and a phase two loan of $23,000,000 on June 17, 2008. Consistent with GEFA’s ARRA financing terms for communities that are not OneGeorgia-eligible, 40 percent ($4,000,000) of the principal will be forgiven and the county will pay three percent interest on a 20-year loan of $6,000,000.

City of Hiawassee

Financed through the ARRA, the city of Hiawassee was approved for a Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan of $160,500 and a CWSRF subsidy of $374,500 for the rehabilitation of existing sewer infrastructure. Consistent with GEFA’s ARRA financing terms for communities that are OneGeorgia eligible, 70 percent ($374,500) of the principal will be forgiven and the city will pay three percent interest on a 20-year loan of $160,500. The total project cost is $535,000 with GEFA providing the entire amount.

City of Port Wentworth

Financed partially through the ARRA, the city of Port Wentworth was approved for a Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan of $6,000,000 and a CWSRF subsidy of $4,000,000 for the construction of a two million gallon-per-day wastewater treatment system. The total project cost is $17,592,300 with GEFA providing $10,000,000 and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development providing $7,592,300. Consistent with GEFA’s ARRA financing terms for communities that are not OneGeorgia-eligible, 40 percent ($4,000,000) of the principal will be forgiven and the city will pay three percent interest on a 20-year loan of $6,000,000.

City of Portal

The city of Portal was approved for a Georgia Fund loan of $350,000 for improvements to the city’s sanitary sewer system. The city will pay a 3.81 percent interest rate on the 20-year loan. The total project cost is $2,078,000, with $500,000 provided by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, $100,000 provided by GEFA through a Georgia Fund Sewer Grant and $1,128,000 provided from local option sales tax funds set aside for this purpose.

City of Sparta

The city of Sparta was approved for a Georgia Fund sewer grant of $100,000. The grant will fund improvements to the city’s sanitary sewer system including manhole and sewer line replacement. The Georgia Fund Sewer Grant program provides funds to small sewer projects that extend service to areas already served by the community’s water system. The total project cost is $100,000 with GEFA providing the entire amount.

City of Stillmore

The city of Stillmore was approved for a Georgia Fund loan of $236,000 for renovations and upgrades to the city’s sanitary sewer system. The city will pay a two percent interest rate on the 20-year loan. The total project cost is $736,000, with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs committing $500,000 through a Community Development Block Grant.

City of Valdosta

Financed partially through the ARRA, the city of Valdosta was approved for a Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan of $22,500,000 to increase the capacity of the Mud Creek Water Pollution Control Plant from 3.2 million gallons per day (MGD) to 5.7 MGD. The loan committment includes $10 million financed through the ARRA and $12,500,000 financed by a regular CWSRF loan. Consistent with GEFA’s ARRA financing terms for communities that are not OneGeorgia-eligible, 40 percent ($4,000,000) of the principal on the ARRA portion of the loan will be forgiven and the city will pay three percent interest on a 20-year loan of $6,000,000. The non-ARRA CWSRF loan of $12,500,000 is a 20-year loan with a three percent interest rate. The total project cost is $45,000,000 with GEFA providing $22,500,000 for phase one of the project.

City of West Point

The city of West Point was approved for a Georgia Fund short-term loan of $2,000,000 to interim-finance improvements to the city’s water and sanitary sewer systems until reimbursement for the work is received from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA). The city will pay a 3.81 percent interest rate on the loan, which will be paid off by proceeds from a $2,000,000 EDA grant. The total project cost is $11,549,445 with a OneGeorgia Grant providing $1,000,000, a Department of Community Affairs grant providing $500,000 and a previous Georgia Fund loan providing $8,049,445.

Cities and counties interested in more information regarding GEFA loans should visit www.gefa.org or call (404) 584-1000.

The Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA) provides financial assistance and administers programs that encourage stewardship of the environment and promote economic development statewide. GEFA is the lead state agency for energy planning and alternative fuels; manages the Governor’s Energy Challenge and the Georgia Land Conservation Program; maintains state-owned fuel storage tanks; and offers financing for reservoir and water supply, water quality, storm water and solid waste infrastructure.
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May was wet, windy month in Georgia

May in Georgia was very wet. Temperatures were normal to 2 degrees Fahrenheit above normal. There were reports of hail or strong winds somewhere in Georgia on at least 16 days.
The monthly average temperature in Atlanta was 70.2 degrees (.4 degrees above normal); in Athens 70.5 degrees (1.4 degrees above normal); Columbus 72.3 degrees (normal); Macon 72.4 degrees (1.4 degrees above normal); Savannah 74.2 degrees (1.4 degrees above normal); Brunswick 74.9 degrees (1.2 degrees above normal); Alma 73.8 degrees (normal); and in Augusta 72.2 degrees (1.7 degrees above normal). Several record-low maximum temperatures in the 60s were recorded in Savannah, Alma and Brunswick on May 18 and 19.

Except for a band south of Atlanta and in southwest Georgia, rainfall across the state was above normal according to radar estimates. Over 10 inches of rain was observed by radar in northeast Georgia and along the coast as well as a few isolated areas in Charlton and Terrell counties.

The highest monthly total from National Weather Service reporting stations was 9.69 inches in Savannah (6.08 inches above normal). The lowest was in Athens at 3.58 inches (.28 inches below normal).

According to the NWS, Columbus received 5.10 inches (1.48 inches above normal); Macon 5.73 inches (2.75 inches above normal); Alma 8.14 inches (5.10 inches above normal); Brunswick 5.33 inches (2.64 inches above normal); and Augusta 4.38 inches (1.31 inches above normal). Several daily records of rainfall were set during the month at these stations, including 2.08 inches at Alma on May 23.

The highest one-day total rainfall from the CoCoRaHS network was 3.77 inches measured at two stations on Skidaway Island on May 22. There was also a one-day total of 3.75 inches at Waycross on May 27. The highest monthly rainfall total was 13.08 inches near Dillard in northern Rabun County. Several other monthly rainfall amounts of over 10 inches were reported at Rabun Gap as well as near Savannah. The Georgia Automated Environmental Monitoring Network station in Rabun County reported 10.43 inches for May.

The rainy conditions in April and May contributed to problems with mosquitoes in south Georgia. Health authorities in Lowndes County reported a health emergency on May 6. Prior to the wet conditions about nine mosquitoes per trap were found in the county. After the onset of wet conditions, traps averaged 786 mosquitoes. Mosquitoes can act as carriers for multiple illnesses, including the West Nile virus.

No tornadoes were reported. The strongest storms occurred on May 2 and 3 with the passage of a strong derecho through north and middle Georgia. A derecho is a bow-shaped line of strong thunderstorms that move at speeds up to 60 miles per hour and can cause significant damage from straight-line winds. Numerous trees were reported down with the high winds observed throughout the month.

The drought conditions of the past few years may have contributed to the number of trees that were weakened and sustained damage. Some damage to vegetable crops was noted, and three center-pivot irrigation systems in central Georgia were destroyed by high winds and hail during the third week of May.

During the first of the month, farmers had trouble doing field work and planting due to dry conditions. After the first week, they had difficulty doing field work due to heavy rains. Powdery mildew and other plant diseases and the washing of fertilizer out of the fields were reported by a number of observers in the Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin this month. Some farmers reported hay rotting in the fields and small grains sprouting from the heads as well as drowned tobacco plants.

By Pam Knox
University of Georgia

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