Georgia Water
Georgia claims the federal government is draining too much water from the major reservoirs along the Chattahoochee River to protect endangered species downstream in Florida. Many feel if changes aren't made soon lake levels will be too low this summer, leading to water shortages and other problems.
Drought conditions throughout the state have led to the US Corps of Engineers releasing more water than normal from Lake Lanier, West Point Lake, Walter F. George Reservoir and Lake Seminole to maintain stream levels in Florida's Apalachicola River for endangered mussels and the Gulf sturgeon. Georgia's Chattahoochee River becomes the Apalachicola at the Florida border.
Corps officials believe Georgia is using incorrect modeling to predict how low reservoirs will run. the agency's simulations show the reservoirs affected will not drain any lower than they did during the state's heavy drought in 2000.
June 8, 2006 6:44 AM | Category: Lake
Comments
Threats of lawsuits are getting more press than any talk of conservation. It seems there is much willingness to burn resources on zero-sum game of squabbling over the supply of water rather than curtailing potential demand through some painless changes.
Quotes in the following article (http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/14765683.htm) make it appear as though all of the Atlanta metro water usage is for drinking water as opposed to watering non-drought resistant lanscaping and any other number of wasteful uses.
Posted by: Frank Galea at June 20, 2006 6:46 PM