In what could be the last bit of direct Georgia impact from the President Joe Biden administration, the Coastal Georgia Flooding Prevention Act has been signed into law as part of the Water Resources Development Act. The Coastal Georgia piece, pushed by Georgia Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, will establish a new authority within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct water infrastructure projects in the six Georgia coastal counties – Chatham, Bryan, Liberty, McIntosh, Glynn and Camden (from north to south).
“Amidst a surge of economic development across Coastal Georgia, we need to ensure our water infrastructure keeps up with increased demand,” Ossoff said. “That’s why Senator Reverend Warnock and I passed into law our bill to help Coastal Georgia communities partner with the U.S. Army Corps on vital projects to improve resilience and quality of life for families and businesses across the region.”
The law will allow Congress to directly appropriate funding for the Army Corps to partner with these counties on water infrastructure projects. These projects will help not only manage the water demands with a rapidly expanding population and economy on the coast, but also help with resiliency in the face of hurricanes and flood prevention.
“We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Senator Ossoff for his leadership and commitment to addressing critical infrastructure needs in our community,” said Damon Rahn, Chairman, Effingham County. “This milestone represents meaningful progress toward ensuring the resilience and sustainability of our region. Thank you, Senator Ossoff, for your dedication to this effort and for championing the needs of our community. Your work is deeply appreciated.”
The project is among several that have been directed towards water or sewer issues on the coast. Savannah received $3 million to increase sewer capacity earlier this year and the Institute for Water and Health at Georgia Southern University received an additional $2 million for research and education around these issues. Coastal construction always comes with additional challenges but water in particular has issues that inland dwellers are not concerned with, notably saltwater intrusion into the aquifer and the impact that sand and salt has on infrastructure.
“By funding advanced flood prevention measures and sustainable infrastructure projects, we not only safeguard our homes and businesses but also ensure the long-term health and stability of our coastal ecosystems. As a son of coastal Georgia, I want to thank Senator Ossoff for his partnership on this investment for the well-being and security of our coastal regions,” said Warnock.
