Section 12-5-546.1 - Enhancement of programming and incentives; scheduling irrigation efficiencies; modifying water withdrawal permits; coordination of efforts(a) The Department of Agriculture and the State Soil and Water Conservation Commission shall coordinate with the division in examining current practices, programs, policies, rules, and regulations to identify opportunities to enhance programming and incentives that will: (1) Support implementation of the agricultural water efficiency measures in water conservation or management plans prepared in accordance with Code Sections 12-5-31, 12-5-96, and 12-5-522;(2) Support implementation of pilot projects demonstrating the efficacy of emerging innovative irrigation technologies where appropriate and affordable;(3) Identify ways the State Soil and Water Conservation Commission's program for measuring agricultural uses of water as authorized under Code Section 12-5-105 can further enhance efforts to improve agricultural water use efficiency; and(4) Encourage a scheduled program for the voluntary retirement of unused surface-water and ground-water farm use permits in accordance with Code Sections 12-5-31 and 12-5-105.(b) The director may modify all active surface-water and ground-water withdrawal permits for farm use in the affected areas to require all irrigation systems applying water withdrawn pursuant to such permits to achieve irrigation efficiencies of 80 percent or greater by the year 2020. The schedule for achieving the irrigation efficiencies provided in this subsection shall be as follows: (1) Irrigation systems applying water withdrawn pursuant to all active permits issued after 2005 shall achieve a minimum irrigation efficiency of 80 percent by January 1, 2016;(2) Irrigation systems applying water withdrawn pursuant to all active permits issued from 1991 through 2005 shall achieve a minimum irrigation efficiency of 80 percent by January 1, 2018; and(3) Irrigation systems applying water withdrawn pursuant to all active permits issued before 1991 shall achieve a minimum irrigation efficiency of 80 percent by January 1, 2020.(c) Notwithstanding subsection (b) of this Code section, the director may modify specified active surface-water and ground-water withdrawal permits for farm use in the affected areas to require all mobile irrigation systems and solid-set irrigation sprinklers operating under such permits to achieve irrigation efficiencies of 60 percent or greater by the year 2020. The schedule for achieving such efficiencies shall be as follows: (1) Irrigation systems applying water withdrawn pursuant to all active permits issued after 2005 shall achieve a minimum irrigation efficiency of 60 percent by January 1, 2016;(2) Irrigation systems applying water withdrawn pursuant to all active permits issued from 1991 through 2005 shall achieve a minimum irrigation efficiency of 60 percent by January 1, 2018; and(3) Irrigation systems applying water withdrawn pursuant to all active permits issued before 1991 shall achieve a minimum irrigation efficiency of 60 percent by January 1, 2020.(d) Notwithstanding the irrigation efficiency rates required in subsection (c) of this Code section or any other provision of this Code section to the contrary, the minimum irrigation efficiency rate for mobile irrigation systems and solid-set irrigation sprinklers applying water withdrawn pursuant to new permits shall be 60 percent.(e) When issuing any permit application for a new surface-water or ground-water withdrawal for farm use in the affected areas, the division shall require that the irrigation system applying water withdrawn pursuant to any such permit has an irrigation efficiency of at least 80 percent.(f) The division shall, in cooperation with other state and federal agencies, universities, the Georgia Water Planning and Policy Center, the Lower Flint-Ochlockonee Regional Water Council, and other appropriate entities, provide to the board for consideration for adoption in its rules requirements pertaining to methods an applicant may utilize to demonstrate that the required irrigation efficiency has been achieved. Requirements shall consider current technologies, best management practices, and the effects of soil type and topography, among other factors deemed necessary.(g) The division shall coordinate with any federal or state agencies offering incentive programs that support the purposes of this article, to identify opportunities to refine and target relevant programs as practicable and to assist permittees with achieving irrigation efficiency requirements.Added by 2014 Ga. Laws 537,§ 5, eff. 7/1/2014.