Albany State University hosts Floridan Aquifer Collaborative Engagement for Sustainability Workshop

FACETS at ASU

Workshop for the Floridan Aquifer Collaborative Engagement for Sustainability project

ALBANY, Ga. – On April 2 and 3, Albany State University (ASU) hosted a workshop for the Floridan Aquifer Collaborative Engagement for Sustainability project (FACETS). Attendees included researchers, extension specialists, and representatives of agricultural, environmental, silvicultural, regulatory, and scientific organizations.

“This workshop was held to discuss the project’s efforts to ensure economic sustainability of agriculture and silviculture in North Florida and South Georgia while protecting water quantity, quality, and habitat in the Upper Floridan Aquifer as well as the springs and rivers it feeds”, said Mark Masters, director of ASU’s Water Planning and Policy Center.

The workshop included sessions focused on project research and modeling, best management practices for water quality and conservation, and participatory modeling of the Floridan Aquifer. A field tour was taken to the Hooks-Hanner Environmental Resource Center in Terrell County, where workshop participants learned firsthand about research and field testing of agricultural water quality and conservation practices. As a part of the workshop, the participants also visited the Flint RiverQuarium to participate in a river basin modeling exercise and learn about research opportunities available through the RiverQuarium’s partnership with ASU.

The event was a part of a series of workshops that will be held by the FACETS project to engage regional stakeholders in researching, modeling, and planning for economic and environmental sustainability in the Upper Floridan Aquifer region.

The FACETS project is a joint effort of four universities, including Albany State University, Auburn University, the University of Georgia, and the University of Florida. The Georgia Water Planning and Policy Center at Albany State University is playing a leading role in project implementation, outreach, and research. The FACETS project is supported by a multi-year, $5 million grant from the US Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The Department of Agriculture recognizes the project as a Regional Center of Excellence.

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