Environment

GEMA: Georgians should prepare as hurricane season hurries in

Submitted by Holly Pennebaker, Community Web Producer

Friday, May 24th, 2013, 8:10pm

GEMA: Georgians should prepare as hurricane season hurries in

ATLANTA -- The Georgia Emergency Management Agency stresses the importance of safety just before Hurricane Preparedness Week hits.

During the week, May 26 - June 1, education will be offered to all residents through Georgia who plan to camp outdoors, throw cookouts and spend time at the lakes or in the backyard. Severe weather can make its way here anytime, a Ready Georgia spokeswoman said, which puts Georgians at risk statewide.

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Outdoor burn ban to begin in Forsyth County

Submitted by Holly Pennebaker, Community Web Producer

Tuesday, April 30th, 2013, 3:54pm

Outdoor burn ban to begin in Forsyth County

CUMMING, Ga. -- A burn ban will begin on May 1 in Forsyth County and run through September 30.

During that time, residents shall not burn leaves, trash or yard debris outdoors. The ban is imposed by the Georgia Environmental Protection Agency, and enforced to comply with Federal Clean Air Regulations.

Burning done outside can contribute to pollutants forming in the ozone, which can be unhealthy during summer months.

For more information, see outdoor burning regulations.

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Lake Lanier at lowest level since historic drought

Submitted by Associated Press

Monday, November 26th, 2012, 12:13pm

Lake Lanier at lowest level since historic drought

GAINESVILLE, Ga. -- Authorities say Lake Lanier is now at its lowest level since March 2009 after dropping two feet in two weeks.

Officials say the lake is now at 1,058 feet above sea level, or 13 feet below full pool.

The Times of Gainesville reports that the last time Lake Lanier hit such a low mark was during the 2007-09 drought, when the lake was at 1,050.79 feet.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers predicts that Lanier could drop to 1,055.2 feet by Dec. 21.

The agency says there's been very little rain anywhere in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River basin in recent days. The basin includes portions of Georgia, Florida and Alabama.

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Atlanta Chefs Celebrate First Pastured Poultry Week, June 11-17

Submitted by Brooks McAlister, Social Media Manager

Thursday, May 31st, 2012, 9:38am

Atlanta Chefs Celebrate First Pastured Poultry Week, June 11-17

Georgians for Pastured Poultry (GPP), an alliance that is promoting the use of high-welfare, pasture raised poultry in Georgia, has created Pastured Poultry Week to take place Monday, June 11 through Sunday, June 17, 2012.

As part of this annual event, Atlanta restaurants will help spread the word about the many virtues of pastured poultry – its superior taste, the natural life of the chickens, and the positive impact on both human health and the health of the environment – by serving it on their menus every day during this designated week. Additionally, chef demonstrations at local farmers markets throughout the spring and summer will educate consumers on ways to prepare pastured poultry in order to continue raising awareness.

Participating restaurants include:

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15 counties must clean their air

Submitted by 11Alive News Staff

Saturday, May 5th, 2012, 11:41am

ATLANTA -- Air Quality Awareness Week recently came to a close, and 15 metro Atlanta counties didn't quite make the clean air cut.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently changed its standards of attainment for ozone standards from .08 parts per billion to .075 parts.

The change means that 15 formerly compliant counties were re-designated at nonattainment for ground-level ozone: Bartow, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding and Rockdale.

To clean up the air, residents can try carpooling to work or taking MARTA if possible; fewer cars on the roads means more breathable air for everyone in metro Atlanta.

Learn more about how to reduce emissions and cut down on ozone at www.cleanaircampaign.org.

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FEMA encourages Chattahoochee-area residents to learn flood risks

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Tuesday, December 27th, 2011, 2:44pm

FEMA encourages Chattahoochee-area residents to learn flood risks

ATLANTA -- As 2011 draws to a close, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) encourages all Americans to understand the risks that surround them -- and for residents of the Upper Chattahoochee River Region, those risks include the possibility of flooding.

FEMA worked with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to create maps of the 107-mile stretch of the Chattahoochee River between the Buford Dam and Coweta County, which includes Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Forsyth, Fulton and Gwinnett counties.

These updated maps detail flood hazard and risk data with the ultimate goal of protecting homeowners from flooding.

Maps for those who live in the Chattahoochee flood region are available at www.georgiadfirm.com. Learn more about steps to prevent flood damage at www.ready.gov/floods.

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Army Corps limits water flow from Lake Lanier

Submitted by Associated Press

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011, 4:14pm

Army Corps limits water flow from Lake Lanier

ATLANTA -- The flow of water from a reservoir that serves much of Metro Atlanta will be restricted as a conservation step during an ongoing drought.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Wednesday that it will cut the flow of water from the dam at Lake Lanier from 750 cubic feet per second to 650 cubic feet per second. Army Corps spokesman Pat Robbins said the goal is to save water in case the drought gets worse.

If more water is available in Lake Lanier, more can be released later on to supplement river systems.

Georgia officials asked for the conservation step earlier this month.

Army officials said they evaluated information from Georgia authorities and determined that decreasing the flow of water into the Chattahoochee River will not harm the environment.

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