Tri-State Water Wars (AL, GA, FL)
Advocating for the Long-Term Health of Two Major River Basins
Water ruling reveals Alabama’s lack of planning
A ruling yesterday by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in the decades-long water fight between Georgia, Alabama and Florida was viewed by politicians as a "win" for Georgia and "loss" for Alabama. But the real message is that both states must get serious about managing the region's shared water resources more responsibly, and sustainably.
The court ruled that Atlanta can use Lake Lanier--a reservoir in the Chattahoochee River watershed--for drinking water, overruling a lower court's finding. It gave the Corps of Engineers a year to determine how much lake water Atlanta can use.
Alamaba, which shares the Chattahoochee River with Georgia, will likely appeal the ruling. As SELC's Gil Rogers told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, that, while legal fight can go on for years, both states should continue to work toward a settlement and do a better job of managing their water resources for the long haul.
Read SELC's press statement here.
Case Summary
For almost two decades, Georgia, Alabama and Florida have been battling over the future allocation of water in two major river basins that cross their borders. Georgia wants to have enough water to allow metro Atlanta to continue growing, while Alabama and Florida - the downstream users - want enough water flowing for their own economic well-being. The dispute involves several federal agencies, courts and mediators, and its outcome is one of the most important environmental issues in the region today.
Each state has its own concerns about the proper allocation of water:
- Georgia - As the upstream user, Georgia wants to have enough water to continue growing, particularly in booming metro Atlanta.
- Alabama – A downstream user, Alabama is concerned that Atlanta’s ever-increasing thirst for water will severely limit its own use of water for power generation, fisheries and other uses.
- Florida - Another downstream user, Florida wants enough freshwater to reach the Apalachicola Bay to sustain its multi-million dollar shellfish industry.
What’s Being Done
SELC serves on the steering committee of the Tri-State Conservation Coalition, which is keeping close tabs on this issue. We want to ensure that the final outcome protects water quality and quantity in the two basins, which provide habitat for countless species of fish and wildlife, as well as recreation, drinking water and irrigation for millions of Southerners. We submitted a “friend of the court” brief in a federal court proceeding in support of the call from Alabama and Florida for more water flow in the Chattahoochee; the court ruled for the states in early 2008.
The Army Corps of Engineers is now revising its drought contingency plan and water control manuals for both river basins. SELC will give these a thorough analysis and critique.
More background on this case:
Tri-State Water Wars (AL, GA, FL): Background >>