Water Supply Projects

Big Indian Creek Mitigation Site Project
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CCWA received the Section 404 Permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ("USACE") on June 17, 2021 authorizing work associated with the Indian Creek Reservoir Project designed to provide long-term water supplies for Carroll County.  Stream and wetland impacts associated with the project’s work will be mitigated through the construction of the Big Indian Creek Mitigation Site (“BICMS”) in accordance with the approved Compensatory Mitigation Plan.  Construction of the BICMS must be completed prior to other project work commencing.  The BICMS was designed by Sustainable Streams, LLC and is being constructed by C.S. Britton, Inc.  Funds for construction of the BICMS are provided through bond financing secured by CCWA.  BICMS construction is expected to be completed during the second quarter of 2024.  

Below are links to maps showing the BICMS and streams and wetland improvements being constructed at the site:

BICMS Location Map
BICMS Aerial Map
BICMS Site Map with Improvements

Indian Creek Reservoir Project

The Carroll County Water Authority is responsible for planning and preparing to meet the long-term water supply needs of Carroll County.  While current water resources are adequate, demand will increase as Carroll County continues to grow.  In late 2007, the Authority engaged consultants to evaluate water needs over a 50-year planning horizon. Based on a thorough evaluation of options, we identified the Indian Creek Reservoir as the least environmentally damaging, practicable alternative capable of meeting an unmet 2060 water need of 18 million gallons per day (“mgd”).

In 2008, we began pursuit of the required regulatory approvals to construct the Indian Creek Reservoir. The regulatory approval process is extremely complex and demanding.  One of the greatest challenges has been the multiple changes in population projections for Carroll County.  In 2010, 2013 and again in 2015, the State of Georgia commissioned the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget to update county-level population projections. The updated population projections were significantly lower, based on their heavy reliance on trends during the late 2000s economic downturn, than those used in the original projections.  Consistent with the State’s new, lower projections, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division certified a 2065 need for the Authority’s service area of 6 mgd in early 2016.

In early 2017, the Authority reviewed its options for meeting the reduced unmet water need, and commissioned a new, comprehensive study of the potential water supply alternatives in the Tallapoosa Basin portion of Carroll County.  Our consultants identified several preliminary reservoir sites that required detailed investigation.  Following a thorough review of each site, the Authority has short-listed reservoir sites that warrant further investigation. All of these sites were included in the original evaluation which began in 2007. To further evaluate these sites, the Authority’s consultants must visit the sites to look at the potential impacts to environmental resources and public and private property.

A public meeting to update residents on the status of our long-term water supply efforts was held on November 6, 2017 at the Carroll County School System Performing Arts Center. Presentation documents from that meeting are available as listed below.

CCWA received the Section 404 Permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ("USACE") on June 17, 2021 authorizing work associated with the Indian Creek Project designed to provide long-term water supplies for Carroll County. If you have questions about the project, please contact Matt Windom, CCWA Executive Director, at 678-890-0061 or by email at reservoir@ccwageorgia.com or visit www.indiancreekreservoir.com.

Water Supply Project

Water Supply Project Update (11/6/17)
Indian Creek Reservoir Aerial