Water Plan Gives Much Fought Over Water To Atlanta

December 8th, 2016

A key document in the decades-long water wars between Florida, Georgia and Alabama has just been released, and it seems to go Georgia’s way. It’s the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s plan for how to manage the reservoirs in the Chattahoochee, Flint and Apalachicola River Basin — that includes Lake Lanier, the source of most of metro Atlanta’s water.

The document lays out how much water the Atlanta area can draw from Lanier and from the Chattahoochee River. Alabama has argued that water supply is not what Lanier was created for, and so Atlanta should look elsewhere for water.

“It confirms that Lake Lanier and the Chattahoochee River are available to meet our water needs well into the future,” said Katherine Zitsch, director of the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District.

Metro Atlanta will be allowed to use the amount of water it’s asked for through the year 2050, said Zitsch.

Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Jason Ulseth said he’s worried that this plan won’t leave enough water in the river for other needs.

“That could have harmful impacts on recreation through the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, and it’s going to send less water downstream to our downstream neighbors,” he said.

Alabama and Florida have both said they believe Georgia uses too much water, especially South Georgia farmers and people and businesses in Atlanta.

Florida is suing Georgia in the U.S. Supreme Court over the same water, though that case is separate from this Army Corps of Engineers plan. Oral arguments in the Supreme Court case ended last week, and a recommendation from the Special Master, who manages the case on behalf of the Court, could come in the next few months.

Alabama was not happy with the draft version of this plan. Once the plan is finalized, it’s possible that unhappy states will sue the federal government over it.

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