Unless we can develop workable strategies in the very near term, Atlanta will begin losing it's ability to accommodate new growth and commerce. More than 1,000 miles of rivers and streams in the metro area fail to meet water quality standards because of uncontrolled stormwater runoff. Pollutants include oil and metals from streets and parking lots, fertilizers and pesticides from lawns and soil washed from uncovered construction sites. Beck is also leading a research effort that's examining development upstream of Lake Lanier.
Lake users are especially concerned about new growth's effect on water quality and supply.
New development means more septic tanks, animal wastes and sediment from construction sites, all of which could threaten the ecological conditions in Lake Lanier. Beck's group is assessing the long-term health of the lake and developing tools to guide future lake management.